Damned if you do, Damned if you don't....

So we will do...

After all the sweat and tears and hard work and energy put on by the lads, what do we get?

We get PUBLIC COMPLAINTS about our behaviour at the stands.

So my question to Singaporeans is this..What do you actually want?

You say that we don't have atmosphere in football matches that are alike your favourite English Premier Leagues, your La Ligas, your Bundesligas and that you say even our neighbours have even better football than us.

You somehow enjoy having a laugh at Singapore football. You enjoy dissing Singaporean fans. You enjoy criticizing the players and judging them personally.

So what was our response? We try our best to support local football even better.

We try our best to show our support and make the players know that we are behind them. We try to create the atmosphere just like the European Leagues and the atmosphere at football stadiums at our neighbouring countries.

And after all that, PUBLIC COMPLAINTS..??

Honestly? Really?

This, certainly PISSES ME OFF!

People have actually asked whether there are rules on drums, loud hailers, poppers and what have you in stadiums.

Hello? IS THIS A LIBRARY?!

If you want to have a peacful atmosphere then go to your nearest neighbourhood library or stay at home and watch your football on the television.

We did not even once boo our players. We did not. Every mistake was responded with a " come on guys!" and "it is ok" or we sang a song for the player to encourage him.

But what do other people around us say " WHat is he doing?" or " Like that how to go World Cup" or " Aiyah, waste time lah this boys" and many more. And please do not get me started " Now players not as good as last time!".. Owh wells, my response is ALL PLAYERS ARE DIFFERENT AND YOU CAN'T COMPARE THEM!

But when we get the medals, these glory hunters will be first in line.

It is a long and tiring process to change mentality of "fans". It is.

But then, we still have to try.

Just look at the video below. What they do for their country is applauded but what we do are being labelled as public nuisance. Well, in my own humble view, the glory hunters are the PUBLIC NUISANCE !



But at the end of the day, we do receive some comments that the very people that matter appreciate our efforts. From ministers and MPs to the players to their parents and to like minded Singaporeans who want to walk the walk instead of just talking.

That is all that matters.

So damned if we do, damned if we don't.... WE WILL CONTINUE DOING!

Back to Reality .. BUT IT IS ALL GOOD AS WELL!

One week off from the S.League but things are not looking that bad!


The future certainly looks bright if you look at the outcome of the Lion City Cup.

The present, in fact, doesn't look that bad as well!

Interesting things are happening in the professional football scene as well.

First, You have the title race that is really heating up. From what looked like the Stags running away with a big lead, Tampines are now facing a likelihood of dropping to third place after two straight losses to two title challengers.

The inconsistent SAFFC are now looking more and more like title challenges after some inspired performances and results that have gone their way.

Home United looks set to go into full gear while Tampines are facing a mini crisis in the treatment table in spite signing one of the biggest names in the transfer window.

Geylang have notched up wins and are slowly climbing up the table while both Hougang and Etoile who have done fairly well will have their points deducted.

Such drama in our S.LEAGUE!

On top of that, I have to give credit to the NEW PAPER. They have admirably come out with a special pull-out feature on the S.LEAGUE every Tuesday!

Finally, some decent coverage of the league. AT LEAST, they are doing something and like it or not, I have to give credit where it is due.

Back to the S.LEAGUE, interesting player switches have taken place.

Rock solid Hougang Japanese defender, Kobayashi, have moved on to Woodlands while Vitor Borgess have traded the red of the Tigers to the Orange of the Cheetahs!

Former key Etoile player, Cyril Bagnost, too have switched from being a title challenger to a possible battle to stay away from the bottom as he now plays for Tanjong Pagar.

After a week away for the Lion City Cup, I am glad that I am returning to some interesting S.League action!

And owh yes, Venga may be back but this time with a new look Sembawang FC! Hope this materialises!

Only Just the Beginning....

Lion City Cup Success is a new dawn for Singapore football and their supporters...

Finally, a sense of hope. Finally, Singaporeans can have the belief that their very own can go up against the very best in the world in football.

Both Singaporean teams as you can see have heart, passion, speed and skills.

Who says that these teams do not deserve the medals they rightfully earned?!

Just based on hard work and determination alone, they are up there with the very best in the game.

They ran for every ball, tried numerous tricks to break down and unlock defences.

So what if they look as if they are trying too hard? So what if their shots skewed wide? So what if their tricks did not work and so what if they ran aimlessly?

At the end of the day, they are just youth footballers.

At the end of the day, they are just trying their best for their country and hoping to please thousands of people in the stands and millions back at home.

Yet, there are many who call themselves Singaporeans that are trying to take away credit from these brave young boys.

Why? I will never know.

But the success in this tournament signals a new beginning. That Singapore football is on the rise again.

And what about the fans.

Just take a look before the final game between Flamengo. Many cramped to stand alongside the passionate LATW.

They ignored the heat, the stuffiness, the smell of a drunk uncle and the noise of our cheering and drumming.

Many wanted to be part and many wished they are at the centre of it all.

This is a testament as well that fans in Singapore have come to realize that they indeed can do their part in motivating the players on the pitch. They have now come to realize that supporters should be there for the team they love whether they win or lose.

The Lion City Cup may have just ended.

But I am certain and absolutely sure that with belief and faith, anything is possible.

On top of this, the LATW Crew will like to give special mention to the captain, OUR captain, Dhukilan Jeevamani as he threw us his captain's armband.

One day, if and when we have our own clubhouse (as suggested by one of our members, Merv), this will be the prized asset in our Museum!

Untuk Bangsa dan Negara,

Majulah Singapura!

No Matter What, The Boys Deserve their Final Spot...

Enough with all those cynical comments....

Just when I thought that the Under 16s would become the toast of the nation, the usual cynical observers are now babbling their way and having a go at the Under 16s.

Calls of cheat and bias refereeing towards the Singapore team have been plenty. Some have even hurled abuse and said that the Singapore team did not deserve their final spot.

And even BERITA HARIAN have said that " Apakah nikmatnya kalau menang dengan bantuan pengadil?" and "Apakah seronoknya kalau kejayaan dicapai bukan dengan usaha sendiri".


For all my non- Malay readers, let me roughly translate the two sentences.

The first sentence means " What joy is there if the team wins because of the referee's help?"

The second sentence means " where is the pride if our success is not of our own hardwork?"

On youtube, people have said that this result is a disgrace and that this whole story is a joke.

Well, my response to these people is... SHUT UP!

The boys did nothing wrong and don't deserve to have their victory eclipsed by such allegations.

Football games are won because of hard work and how dare these journalist question the hardwork of boys that have trained and trained and have to juggle with their school work.

If Singapore really do not deserve to win and were lacklustre and lazy, then they would have been walloped handsomely by the Juventus side. But no, they raced to a two goal lead.

It is what it is.

Yes, the referee MAY have made an error here and there but decisions have gone against the Singapore teams as well if you have noticed.

At the end of the day, this is a youth tournament and credit should be given where it is due.

Those who are trying to burst the bubble, shame on you.

Of course we do not condone cheating but the Singapore team certainly did not cheat in that match!

And tomorrow, Cup final day, the LATW Crew hope that the Under 16boys will not be affected by this.

I do hope that the BERITA HARIAN journalist apologize to the readers for his unnecessary comments in his article.....

Bittersweet Lion City Cup Semi-finals....

Glory belongs to the Under 16s but both teams should be proud of their displays...

All Singapore football teams in the future have just one certainty. The true die-hard fans from the LATW Crew will never ever leave you behind regardless the outcome of the result!

We will stand beside you through thick and thin. We will celebrate with you when you win and we will encourage you when you lose. And last night, we let our actions do the talking.

In the first fixture that featured the under-16s, we roared the team on as they raced to a two-nil lead. We were proud supporters. To go two-nil up against the Juventus Under 15s just showed that there is no such thing that our Singaporean footballers cannot compete with their counterparts from Europe.

Yes, there may be circumstances that may favour the team but in actuality, in any tournament or match, you can only beat what is in front of you.

Hazim Faiz, Hanafi Akbar Muhaimin were simply brilliant on the night. Led on by Ilyas Lee who had a brilliant game in the heart of defence, stepping up when captain Dhukilan was forced out injured, was certainly an inspiration to all. What more after he converted the crucial spot kick in the shoot out, raising his arms, getting the crowd to get behind the team was a scene to behold.

We were proud, Singaporeans in the stands celebrated, we were united.

Then came the Under 15s.

The LATW Crew then took a short break during this interval, many clearly were tired after all those supporting that we have given in the 3 previous matchdays but when we look at our country boys, or should I say countrymen, putting their bodies on the line for their country, we too were inspired and so we shook off our fatigue to cheer on for the next 90 minutes.

Initially, we were overpowered by the Flamengo drums and samba boys. But unity prevailed.

Respect that we gave to  the Newcastle and Everton boys paid off as they too joined in the fun at our stands and helped to cheer on the boys that we love.

One-nil down. LATW sang and cheered.

Two-nil down. LATW sang and cheered.

Three-nil down. A handful of Singaporeans stood up, walked out of the stadium but LATW STILL SANG AND CHEERED.

We will never die like one of our songs claim and yes, we did not die last night.

We were told that the boys were really down after the loss and so we stayed on and waited till close to midnight, singing our songs and letting the Under 15s know that they are not alone.

We sang, and we sang and we sang and when the boys finally emerged from their dressing room, we sang even louder. And when the lights were turned off, we lighted sparklers...

The boys put up a brave smile for us eventhough we knew that deep down, the disappointment was still there.

Coach Dejan, a coach the LATW has come to LOVE AND RESPECT told the boys to take a good look at the LATW who was singing and cheering and told his charges to applaud us.

And as a united Singaporean front, the LATW Crew and the Under 15 team led by their captain, did a huddle together. That was certainly magic and priceless.

To cap it off, defender Ehvin Sasidharan took my hand and gave me a hug. That I thought just summed up how  appreciative the Under 15 team are of our efforts and we vow to push you on for that bronze medal.

We shall not be moved...

and Singapura till we die, We will not leave you behind....

Untuk Bangsa dan Negara, MAJULAH!

regards,

Arief,
Founder and Proud Member of the LATW!

SEMI-FINALS, HERE WE COME!

Singapore Under 15s and Under 16s qualify for semis!

It was a proud moment for all Singaporean fans who witnessed the drama that unfolded at the Jalan Besar Stadium last night. Two Singapore teams qualified for the semi-finals of the 23rd Canon Lion City Cup!

Singapore Under 15s first took to the field against a physically bigger Juventus side. Yes, we were dominated against but the passion and determination of our boys in defending were excellent.

Special mention will definitely go to Sadik Said, the rock solid centreback wearing the number four jersey for Singapore under-15s. In spite of the red card, he was by far the best player on the night going into challenges. And clearly as well, his style of play and attitude makes him a favourite amongst the LATW Crew!

HE'S BIG, HE'S BAD, HE'S SADIK!
THE HARDEST MAN IN LIONS!
WITH A MAT REP FACE BEWARE!
COME AND HAVE A GO IF YOU DARE!

The loss aside, the LATW Crew is proud of the efforts shown by these boys.

Next, the Under 16s too took to the field bravely.

They needed just a point and got it, deservedly. In fact, victory was in sight if it had not been for the unlucky finishing in front of goal.

Again, we were trailing and roared on by the crowd, the boys scored just one minute after conceding.

Again, they held on their nerves and managed to come away with the point needed to qualify and the LATW Crew is proud to support you!

At the end of the game, the LATW Crew stayed long after the referee blew the final whistle just to sing and celebrate outside the Jalan Besar Stadium, the place we call home.

The feeling was unlike any other.

Brothers of the LATW Crew from different backgrounds, different ethnicity, different ages were up in arms, embracing one another and singing all night long. Singapore football fans have never seen anything like this.

Football truly unites all of us and last night's scenes at the end of the game was a testament to that.

Before football, we lead different lives but we come together and we share one voice...... even if it is for 2 matches straight!

UNTUK BANGSA DAN NEGARA, MAJULAH!

Well Done Boys.....

Lets go all out for the EVERTON game...

(picture taken from Football Association of Singapore facebook page)

A job well done to the YOG boys or the Singapore Under 16 team.

Against all odds, against the tournament favourites, the pride of the nation has done it once again by getting a valuable point in their Group B encounter.

Another hero was born on the night in Dhukilan, our new captain for the Lion City Cup.

He did not put a single foot wrong and was on hand to nullify every attack that came in his territory.

He certainly deserved his man-of-the-match award.

Another superstar of the night was of course Jonathan Tan.

He maybe a Singaporean but people can be forgiven if they think he is actually the Brazilian on the pitch.

His brilliant skills and trickery created the opening goal of the Cubs and he certainly set the crowd alight as well with his speed.

And Muhaimin showed just how good a striker he is. Quiet for most of the game, all he needed was one chance and he scored with it. And remember, it was his run that forced the Flamengo player to make that challenge which resulted in his sending off.

And for that, the boys deserve every support from the LATW Crew.

We hope that every single Singaporean who comes through the Jalan Besar gates will cheer these boys on Wednesday and be the 12th, 13th, 14th or 15th man for the Singapore teams.

Supporting is not just about celebrating when we score.

Supporting is also about lifting the boys up when the odds are stacked or when they concede goals.

And supporting is also not about comparing the performances and determination of the different Singapore teams because every game is different and every opponent and team is different.

And of course, we did what we do best again by continuing to sing outside the stadium while we wait for the boys to have their dinner long after their game was over.

At that point in time as well, Mr Zainudin brought Mr Teo Ser Luck to see us singing and he applauded our efforts.

On behalf of the LATW Crew, I would like to say that we appreciate the presence of the both of you and your undying support for our cause to make Singapore football great once again.

Another consolation was that a passer by actually told us that the LATW Crew was "the star of the game!"

We appreciate and are grateful for all those kind words and we will continue to be back bigger, stronger and louder.

Remember, the LATW Crew is here not for myself, not for anyone of the members but for the country and the country's football.

The LATW Crew is here for Singapura....

Untuk Bangsa Dan Negara, MAJULAH...

believe and we'll keep the red flag flying high......

best regards,

Arief
founder and PROUD MEMBER of the LATW CREW....

UNDER 16s vs Flamengo!

Everyone must be there to show support to these Cubs

The under 15s performed remarkably and got the nation talking about local football once again.

Hopefully the interest doesn't die down as now, their seniors will take on the Flamengo team in their Group B game.

It will be Jonathan Tan, Hanafi Akbar, Amirul and gang that will lead the line against the Brazilians tomorrow.

Talismanic captain Jeffrey Lightfoot is out with an injury and it remains to be seen who will wear the captain's armband.

Watch out for the ever determined Brandon Koh on the wings and Muhaimin's cool ball control in front as they begin their charge towards the championship.

The LATW Crew's message to ALL SINGAPOREANS IS THIS:

Help Us.

Help Us cheer on these boys for the sake of the country because clearly, 20 odd guys singing and cheering for the full 90 minutes may not just be enough.

We need the help of every single Singaporean and their voices to roar these boys on and push them across the finishing line.

The game on Saturday night was a clear testament the with the hardwork and spirit of the players and the support and belief of the fans, the match on the pitch can be won for the country.

We need you, Singapore.

Untuk Bangsa dan Negara, MAJULAH!

WE'LL NEVER DIE AND WE'LL KEEP THE RED FLAG FLYING HIGH!

3-1 down and......

we BELIEVE!

90 minutes of non stop singing.

We trailed one nil. Then we rejoiced when we equalised.

We trailed two-one. Then three-one. And all hope seemed lost.

But LATW Crew kept on singing and cheered and roared the boys on.

We scored one. Then another. Then the unthinkable happened. Or should I say what we BELIEVED all along did happen.

4-3, game-set and match!

"Singapura till we die!", " We'll never die, we'll never die!" " We only come to see the Lions (or the cubs)!"

Those lines that reflect patriotism and spirit shall live long.

we'll sing for 90 minutes!!!

Heroes were made instantly.

Sadik Said, Adam Swandi, Zulfadhmi Suzliman and many more became heroes not just for the nation but especially in the hearts of the LATW Crew.

And of course, two priceless moments came during the match.

One, the parents applauding our efforts and two, one of the technical staff actually waving the LATW hand-sewn flag on the pitch.....

PROUD MOMENT

At the end of the game, we did what we do best, supporting and singing, greeting the boys outside the dressing room to the appreciation of the players and to the amazement of many others.

This, IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

If you BELIEVE, there is always hope.........

best regards!

best regards,

Arief,
founder LATW Crew
UNTUK BANGSA DAN NEGARA, MAJULAH!

Mouth Watering Quarter-final...

Home Win ensures "top of the table" quarter-final!

In what would be a promising final fixture will come early as Tampines Rovers will play rivals Home United in the quaterfinals of the Singapore Cup.

Both teams are leading the pack now for the 2011 Great Eastern Yeos S.League and this will definitely be the tie to watch in the quater finals.

Home United may be trailing the Stags in the league and may have been outplayed when these two sides met in the league in the first round, fans will be wise to not be drawn into any statistics when these two sides meet.

Anything can happen and with a squad so big and strong from Home and a squad that has abundance in quality but just thin in the Tampines outfit, fans can expect a match that will be end to end and nerve wrecking all throughout the entire 90 minute.

As a Tampines fan, my heart says that Tampines will surely win this tie but my brain says that the game is in the balance.

Anything can happen between now and the tie including a host of injury problems.



And with the opening up of the transfer window, Tampines MUST be able to recruit in order to maintain their lead and be ahead of Home United in this tie.

Also, even a loss for both sides may not necessarily be the end of the world because at the end of the day, it could also be a blessing in disguise without the Singapore Cup as a distraction in the respective team's charge for their number one priority; the S.League Crown.

Have you noticed? ....

Got to give credit where credit is due...


The FAS have gotten a stick alot especially after our exit from the AFF Suzuki Cup.

But I hope that everyone will agree with me that there have been a significant improvement especially in reaching out to fans lately.

Have you noticed the revamp and change in their social media network lately?

Their website now looks far better than the previous one and news are updated as and when is possible.

Next, they have also tried to reach out to more fans with their latest facebook page:

They have used the facebook page effectively to update latest news as well as upload pictures and allowing fans to give their feedback and I especially like how the moderator have used it as a platform for good fruitful discussion.

Plus, the uploaded of videos of goals are also something that we fans welcome very much.

It is clear that the FAS have looked into this matter and suggestion by fans which is something really really positive.

All of these are positive from the FAS and we hope this is just a start of bigger and better things.

And to the people in FAS, thank you for this wonderful effort and I hope that fans can give them credit where credit is due as well.

Lets work with them to bring Singapore football to the next level and give them feedback where and when necessary.

Lets leave the mentality of criticizing without giving suggestions behind us.

Kudos to the FAS!

Appreciation and Approval From Players and Parents!

LATW Appreciates your kind words ; We will be bigger, better and louder in the future!

I have been getting emails, facebook messages and reading tweets and facebook updates about the efforts of the LATW and myself for all the hardwork we have put in over the months.

On behalf  of the LATW Crew, I would like to say thank you to those who have given us a stamp of your approval for all our efforts.

Many from the football fraternity from the players to the players' parents have conveyed to me their appreciation of what we have done thus far for Singapore football and told us of their hopes of a better football culture in Singapore one day.

One parent whose son is in the under-15 team even told me that if each and every fan of Singapore football is like us, then Singapore football would be great and popular again.

Those words are the exact tonic that will fuel us from the LATW and myself to strive even harder to even be better supporters.

Amidst all those kind words, I am most deeply touched by strangers and like minded fans who are inspired by us and are now willing to join the cause for a better Singapore football.

Mind you, the LATW was founded when Singapore football was at its low and many did not want to be associated with Singapore football.

Fast forward a few months, the presence of a few brave souls and now we are back on track.

I am thankful especially for members of the U4U who have willingly contributed their efforts to their cause and in particular, my friend, Mervin.

And of course, the many friends I have come to know and forge relationships in this journey, you know who you are and all of you are all brilliant.

So my message to all fellow Singaporeans who really care about their countrymen, join us, the LATW Crew, in creating something special for the Lions as we take the next step in our journey to become a great football nation and one who's supporters are willing to give whatever it takes for a greater good!

Untuk Bangsa dan Negara, Majulah!

Stars and Crescent On our Chests.. lets just give our best!

The Cubs Need our support

The YOG football experience I had was phenomenal.

In five days time, two youth teams from Singapore will carry the hopes of the nation as well as represent the future of Singapore football ; the under-15 team and the under-16 team (YOG Team).

They will be donning the colours of Singapore in the Lion City cups against some of the best youth teams in the world.

When I was at the 938fm studio on Saturday morning, I had a chat with none other than two legends, V.Sundramoorthy as well as S.Subramani.

I asked them " do fans really really matter during the game?"

The answer was " The fans are the most important... when you see a packed stadium, you will feel pumped up!"

Well, to be honest, I have never played football competitively.

Not even at school level.

But my interest in football is always there and there is that different feeling when you are cheering and roaring your team on, shouting and trying your best to motivate them.

So, I will not know what is it like to be on the receiving end but with messages of appreciation by players, I just knew that whatever it is that I am doing and what the other fans are doing just makes a difference.

So, when the players are out there giving their best, all we can do is just give them that extra 5% of energy to push them across the finishing line.

And in five days time, the LATW Crew hopes to do our part in helping these boys play their very best and bring home something.

You can do your part too.

Even an additional voice can be of a difference so you'll never know.

Anyone that represents our country will have the full support of all the fans and will definitely be heroes to the LATW Crew.

Join us as we again do our part for our countrymen and our boys who have sacrificed so much to fly the nation's flag.

Join us at the Lion City Cup 2011!

(PHOTOS TAKEN FROM LION CITY CUP FB PAGE)

This is the Prime League

Standard, passion is commendable in the Prime League

It has been a while since I last truly sit down to catch a Prime League match. Maybe a couple of years ago? I can't remember exactly.

But this Sunday, I was there at the Tampines Stadium catching the game between the Stags and the Tigers as they went head to head in a Prime League clash.

For those of you who are not too sure, the Prime League is a competition for the S.League reserve and Youth players to ply their trade in.

As such, budding footballers usually start their professional career in the Prime League before moving on to the tougher S.League.

So, you would naturally expect the standard to be poor and matches to be boring.

Well, in all honesty, the S.League has a far superior standard but then again, matches may not necessarily lack the quality and be boring.

For example, I was surprised that many unknown players in the Tampines Rovers side have shown glimpses of brilliance.

The Tampines prime league team were just a mini version of their S.League squad and play great attacking football.

But what impressed me most was the level of commitment and passion the boys showed during the match.

They were shouting at each other and motivating each other. Both teams also battled hard for every ball and tackles were flying all over the place.

This, is a good sign for Singapore football.

However, such signs will be just false dawns if nothing is being done to help these footballers make that step up and succeed.

Also, these players themselves have to consistently maintain their discipline and not get too big for their boots especially after earning a professional contract.

So that wraps up another tiring yet eventful week in Singapore football for me!

Don't Really Care You Are From Where...

 Ideal to have an all Singaporean-born team, but......


Don't get me wrong but like many of you out there, it would be great if the team we have are all Singaporean-born. You will definitely be more proud so on and so forth but I feel that the most important thing to have is players who are not just Singaporean by blood but Singaporeans AT HEART.

So what if we have a team of 11 players that are born in Singapore but does not put in 100% effort. Note that I am not saying the Singaporeans we have are not putting 100%. I am just saying that what we want is a team that regardless of where you are born, as long as you wear that sacred red jersey with pride and willing to put your body on the line for this country, the supporters should be there for you.

Just take a look at the recent game against Maldives.

All three of our scorers are foreign-born. They play with as much pride and determination as all their other Singaporean born teammates and I feel that it is wrong for people to say that they are not proud of the victory because the scorers are foreigners.

In my view, just as the song we have created for our foreign talent, we don't really care where they are from. They are still wearing the red just like everyone of us and are still Singaporean at heart.

It is also wrong to take away credit from the Singaporean team just because we are dependent on foreign talent. Mind you, the core of the team is still local born and we should be proud of that as well. The foreigners that we have are clearly in my eyes very Singaporean just like me and you.

Just look at the pride of players like Duric when he talks about Singapore.

This is the kind of players we want where it is not just blood that matters but heart and love as well.

So, lets all unite and get behind these players that represent us with all their heart. It doesn't matter where they are from, what background they may have or even what age or race they are.

Remember, they are wearing RED just like we are!

Simply Amazing.....

the LATW CREW singing their hearts out!

And it is all for the country .....

Country before self.

With that sort of mentality, anything is possible.

Words simply cannot describe the feeling I have right now as well as the feeling that is in the hearts of every single one of the LATW crew members.

Each and everyone of the crew members stayed up late  the night after the game to tweet and also update their respective facebook statuses of how proud they are of themselves.

And I am grateful for the support that we at LATW have received over the past year to finally make things possible for us to support the Lions in our very own way.

The fact that players and even officials are tweeting and "facebooking" about us touched our hearts even more and this is the exact tonic that will fuel us to come back stronger, bigger and louder in the games to come.

As the founder of this crew, I really hope that in future, more can join us in cheering on the Lions. I really hope as well that hand in hand with the official fan club of Singapore, we can create a better atmosphere at matches and motivate the players to perform better.

This might sound a little exagerrated but I swear that I was almost brought to tears seeing the passion in the eyes of the crew members.

Honestly, the 4-0 scoreline meant very little compared with the atmosphere that is filled with pride, passion and love for the country and our players.

Probably, Maldives also picked the wrong date to have a friendly with Singapore!

The past few months have been amazing working with you guys and every single one of you deserves credit.

Those that contributed the designs, those that have contributed the songs, those who led the songs and those who simply just lent their voices and left it there at the stadium.

And those who stayed after the final whistle to sing for the players when they came out of their dressing room.

You know who you are and to me, no amount of money or words can describe my appreciation to you guys.

All of you are simply amazing.

And for the Lions, we would like you to know that we are here for you ALL THE WAY.

Win, lose or draw, you will have us backing you up and we all just hope that you will give your best in every single game you play in.

You are our heroes. Thank you for putting your bodies on the line to represent us.

The LATW Crew loves you.

best regards,

Arief

Are you ready? .....................

Lions, fear not... we're behind you... ALL THE WAY...

To the Lions who will be donning the red jersey this Tuesday, this coming July and in the months and years to come, fear not when you compete and fight at stadiums.

No longer will you see a stadium so quiet.

No longer will you see a crowd that is there only when you are in the semi-finals.

No longer will you see a crowd that is ready to boo and desert you when times are bad.

Because the LATW crew is here.

WE, are not the official fan club. We are here to BOOST AND SUPPORT the current fan club that has been fantastic and loyal all these years.

We are here to provide a different dimension and complement the support.

With us around, we will motivate and create the atmosphere and adrenaline that every single footballer craves.

Look out for us when times are bad during the game because with us, there is no such thing as a loss of hope.

We will be there all the way......

Stand up, be counted and prove that YOU are worthy to be represented!

(video taken from youtube from the nooze on the episode on singapore football)

Now that all the jokes and the dust have settled and we have a national team with a different look, lets just focus on taking Singapore football to a higher level.

Some players we hope to be in the team may not be selected but that doesn't mean that we should boycott those who will be donning the red jersey anyway.

When we bowed out of the AFF Suzuki Cup and when the national team was rocked by saga after saga, thousands of Singaporeans came out of their shells with all guns blazing to have a go at the FAS and the national team. They took turns to have their views heard and vented their frustrations. Some were sincere, some had evidences while most, I must say, are just joining in the fun.

Well, that's all part and parcel and as a loyal supporter myself, I was hurt that instead of looking at things at the bigger picture, many just chose to play the blame game.

They forget that these players have sacrificed alot as well. They forget that the fans too have a part to play in the rebuilding process and the fans are also the foundation of a successful football league and football setup.

Well, they may have a point that  the league management or the clubs' management or the players themselves have to be blamed and shoulder responsibility for the state of football we are in.

All true.

But many also fail to see that it takes two hands to clap and people forget that both parties (the fans and the players/management) are interependent on one another.

The media too have a huge role to play especially in terms of promoting local football.

But no, everyone just wants to run away from being blamed and shoulder any responsibility.

I, as a supporter, too have been guilty at times for criticising the league. Many loyal fans out there also wish that they can do more than what they are doing right now.

But then, lets look at it this way. Lets stop all this nonsense and do something.

And you can begin by turning up in at least one S.League game per week.

You can also start by showing your support for the national team by choosing to buy the national team jersey at stores instead of prioritizing the ang mohs jersey of the EPL that do not even know you exist in this world.

Try this for a change.

Try look at things positively. Try to understand local football.

And of course, you can start by TURNING UP THIS TUESDAY NIGHT IN RED AT THE JALAN BESAR STADIUM IN OUR FRIENDLY AGAINST MALDIVES!


You want a World Class Team? Then start behaving like World Class Supporters!

Believe, Untuk Bangsa dan Negara: MAJULAH!

YOUNG STRIKERS IMPRESS AT NIKE SUPERFLY

Singapore (May 31, 2011) – It was a battle of speed and endurance at Jalan Besar Stadium today, as 40 talented young players from schools taking part in the Manchester United Premier Cup showcased their skills during the Nike Superfly event with Singapore’s striker specialist coach Sundram.

The players, who were a mixture of defenders, midfielders and strikers selected by their coaches, competed in customised striker drills developed by Sundram, as well as Nike’s Elite Training Live Speed drills, conceptualised by players such as Robinho from the Brazilian national team. 15-year-old Muhammad Shameer Aqiz, a striker representing Seng Kang Secondary clinched the Superfly title, by setting himself apart from the rest with an outstanding performance during the drills and fitness test.

“I was very impressed by his desire to perform. Shameer showed great endurance during the fitness test, and also displayed agility and good touches on the ball. He was selected because he showed the potential to be a great striker,” explained Sundram.

The shy and humble Shameer expressed surprise when his name was announced as the winner. “I came here just to have fun and do my best today, and wasn’t expecting to win. It was a great experience, getting to try the different drills, and making friends with players from the various different schools today,” he said.

The players who attended the event today were selected by coaches of schools taking part in the Manchester United Premier Cup, a regional tournament that gives participating teams the chance to compete at the World Finals in Old Trafford. The Singapore Sports School has emerged as local champions, and will be representing Singapore at the regional finals in Bangkok this June.

The players’ session today was the finale of a 2-day event, which saw 15 coaches from top local schools learn from Sundram and National Coach Raddy about training and selecting strikers. The local school coaches also participated in the Nike Elite Training Live drills and Sundram’s customised drills, learning how to better impart those skills to their players.

Among the coaches that participated was Donald Wan, 37, coach of Seng Kang Secondary, and assistant coach of Geylang United’s Prime League team. Donald, whose protege Shameer won the Superfly competition, took pride in his player’s win.

He commented, “I was really surprised by the level of talent that I saw today, and Shameer has put in a lot of hard work. He trains five times a week, for three each hours each session, and is a very determined player. I’m very proud of him today.”

As part of his prize, Superfly Shameer was rewarded with the Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly III boots, worth SGD 599, capping off a priceless experience.

story and Pictures courtesy of IMSG- NIKE SINGAPORE

No Shame in defeat!

Fighting Spirit, humility and betterment ... that's all that matters!

Writing for the Courts Young Lions have been a joy for me over the past few weeks.

First, I had to understand why results have been as such for the Courts Young Lions team.

Mind you, coach Robin's job, I feel, is the toughest one the league.

Granted, expectations may not be that high for the Courts Young Lions but balancing the act of achieving reasonable results as well as off-the-field cicumstances is no easy feat.

Of all the teams in the S.League, the Couts Young Lions will always be the hardest that will be hit by off field circumstances.

Think about it.

You have gone months and months of training to eventually see your team broken up due to national service duies and the occasional examinations.

Well, you might say that that is the problems that comes part and parcel of being in the Courts Young Lions team but let me just state tht the coaching staff just have no choice but to go on with their tough work.

Sometimes, people just do not understand but then again, I don't blame them too because of the lack of real information from the mainstream.

But then, things start to kick in. They won against Balestier and then against Gombak and maybe the game against Albirex was a mountain too high.

However, what I saw in the game at Jurong East was a thrilling and competitive one with the COurts Young Lions trying their very best and putting up a strong fight against the White Swans even without Hariss Harun and Izzdin Shfiq (the two first choice central midfielders).

There is nothing to be ashamed in that defeat.

Especially when there was a really doubtful penalty decision.

Again, these experiences should be learnt from and Coach Robin MUST carry on motivating his boys like what he has been doing.

His approach has been suitable and remarkable especially in these circumstances.

Well, I just have to say, carry on fightin Courts Young Lions.

Fight for your place to be in the future national teams and do not take your place for granted.

With his attitude you will go far. But if you get carried away, then it will just be talent wasted. Again.