Since today is National Day, let me contribute something to Singapore. Through football; writing about Singapore football.
'Pop' Lim Yong Liang, Rahim Omar, Lee Kok Seng, Wilfred Skinner, Majid Ariff, Mohammed Noh, the Quah brothers, Dollah Kassim, Fandi Ahmad, Terry Pathmanathan, V Sundramoorthy. These names may not sound familiar to you, but in my father’s generation, they were the idols. The best Singapore had ever produced.
Ever since the Malaysia Cup tournament began, Singapore has lifted the trophy for an incredible 24 times (twice shared with Selangor), before departing the tournament after their final win in 1994.
Singapore has entered a football team for the Asian Games just four times in its long history, but the 1966 team of a newly independent nation is fondly remembered as one of the best Lions teams ever. With favourable conditions of hot and humid weather, Bangkok was the place Singapore made its mark in Asian football. Leading the great team was Quah Kim Song and legendary keeper Wilfred Skinner, midfield maestro Majid Ariff made up the spine of that Asian Games team, which beat the likes of hosts Thailand and South Vietnam, before falling to regional powerhouses Burma in the semi-finals. The Lions were then pipped to the bronze medal by Japan 2-0. Majid Ariff was also the only Singaporean to represent the Asian All-Stars.
Since then, major achievements on the regional stage (let alone international) have been rare, and the best showings came from our 1998 and 2004 Tiger Cup victories. Always written off before the tournament, Singapore managed to battle their way to the finals and clinch the ultimate trophy of South-East Asia.
Recent results have not been very kind to the Lions and the fans, but under coach Radojko Avramovic, the team has shown much improvement through their positive displays. I do hope Singapore football can move back up to what it was, to show Asia what it is capable of; firstly by qualifying for the Asian Cup 2007. That will be the great achievement the 60’s and 70’s Lions couldn’t do.
