TR EMERITUS

By MJ [email protected] After the commendable result against Chinese Super League side Henan Jianye away from home on Match Day 1, SAFFC approached tonight’s AFC Champions League Group G clash against South Korean giants Suwon Samsung Bluewings at the Jalan Besar Stadium with guarded confidence. The Suwon squad was superior on paper in every department, featuring a host of current South Korean international players in their line-up. In the corresponding match last season, Suwon won the match 2-0 despite resting several of their regular first team players. SAFFC started the match brightly, pressurizing their opponents and chased for every ball, keeping them pretty much at bay. As the match wore on, the quality of the Korean side showed as they settled into a possession game and began to test SAFFC’s defence with crosses in the box and neat one-twos through the middle. From then on, it was always going to be a long night for SAFFC and it was evident that there will only be one winner in this contest. To SAFFC’s credit, they managed to hold off with a combination of some outstanding saves from keeper Sharil Jantan and some poor finishing from Suwon. The tide only turned tremendously in Suwon’s favour in the last min of the first half when Brazilian import Vendrechovski Junior Anselmo struck an unstoppable free kick into the top corner of SAFFC’s goal. The second half was very much the same story as Suwon looked to increase their lead to kill off the tie. SAFFC were left with a huge mountain to climb when Ivan Lovric was sent off for a second bookable offence. In the 73rd min, Suwon’s Brazilian forward Rodrigues Mota Junior Jose Roberto scored Suwon’s second of the night with a superb effort that gave Sharil no chance. SAFFC did manage to break away occasionally throughout but were always out numbered by the solid Korean defence. Suwon did not look anywhere near their best, probably affected by the humid Singapore weather and the punishing artificial turf at the Jalan Besar Stadium. In the end, Suwon deserved to win perhaps by a larger score line with an accomplished and professional display. Analysis from the sideline This game provides a useful insight into SAFFC’s overall progress as a team, as they also played Suwon last season. A year ago, they were totally outplayed and couldn’t even get out of their own half to create chances. Suwon also played much better than they did last year and their class was evident in the middle of park, where their players exchanged neat passes and kept possession well. Despite an overhaul in personnel, SAFFC looked better prepared this season. They were certainly not overawed by the occasion and the players kept to their task and were more than a match for the Koreans. They were not content to just sit back and defend, creating a few good scoring chances of their own. The final result may have been identical to last year’s, but SAFFC can take pride in this performance and understand that they should only get better from here. J-League giants Gamba Osaka are the next to visit Singapore and they will no doubt provide a stiffer challenge to SAFFC. It will be easy to reiterate that the gulf between SAFFC and the rest of the East Asian club sides is still wide, but it can be said that this gap is closing slowly but surely. Yesterday, Indonesian club side Persipura Jayapura were hammered 9-0 in China. With this in mind, SAFFC’s performance here looks a whole lot more respectable. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the author – MJ has watched more S-League games than anyone he knows and hopes to see it blossom into one of the strongest leagues in the region. He is however annoyed by the lack coverage in the mainstream media and hopes to be the alternative voice. Also by MJ Lions on the verge of making history FAS fails to learn from past mistakes  Read More →

Dear Madam Low,   I refer to your Straits Times letter dated 8 Mar 2010.   I understand your empathy for Mr Mah since both of you grew up in very overcrowded conditions.  However, you need to understand that the improvement in each family's living conditions over the years is not just a matter of studying hard and working hard but more importantly of diminishing family sizes encouraged in no small part by our "stop at two" policy.   The supposed Singapore story of studying hard and working hard to pull ourselves out of poverty is no different from the stories in other East Asian societies.  Studying hard is not the sole premise of Singaporeans, it is the premise of East Asians in general.  Furthermore, Mr Mah's success is fundamentally different from those of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs since Mr Mah merely took over the reins of an already successful organisation whereas Bill Gates and Steve Jobs created something out of nothing.  In other words, it really didn't matter whether we had Mr Mah or not, his existence as far as the HDB or Singapore is concerned, is non-essential.  Bill Gates and Steve Jobs on the other hand are essential without which there would have been no Microsoft or Apple respectively.  Therefore, Mr Mah's story is far from Singapore's story since the former created nothing as far as the latter is concerned.  Mr Mah builds flats that are smaller, far from the city centre that took longer to build and are a lot more expensive.  His 'success' turned out to be the sorrow and nightmare for many Singaporeans.   It is not enough to remind the younger generation of where we come from.  It is more important to let them understand that in an increasingly competitive world, it is not enough to simply ace one's exams just so as to win a privileged seat to rot in.  Being in a privileged position calls for a sense of duty to fellow Singaporeans, to create something for the benefit of all.   So while you give thanks to Singapore for living in a maisonette today, think about who you would thank if you were to start all over again by drawing today's starting salary and paying today's price for a maisonette.  I can guarantee you, your tears will be no less than those you shed for Mr Mah last Saturday which you have no one else but Mr Mah to thank for.     Thank you     Ng Kok Lim  Read More →

Background PBM Jack Neo, who was embroiled in a series of sensational sex scandals lately was portrayed as being interviewed by CNN about his affair in this hilarious video parody produced by Kl!k.tv:  Read More →