S-League Preview – Geylang Utd vs Balestier Khalsa and Home Utd vs Dalian

Last two matches of S-League were not kind to me and it’s about time we do something about it.

Geylang Utd vs Balestier Khalsa

Geylang are tipped to do better this year as they have brought the right mix of players into the team. Amos Boon will start in goal ably protected by Aide Iskandar, Baihakki, Noh Rahman in defence. Returning Noor Ali and new signing Ratislav Belicak will anchor the midfield and provide support to Miroslav Latiak, Luiz Machado Junior and Fazrul Nawaz.

Balestier, on the other hand, have dropped all their experienced players. They have retained their cameroonian exports, Kaze and Mba, recruited Paul Ekollo (from Sengkang Punggol) and Seto Haruki from J.League.

Market talk for this game is high scoring game with AOS very possible.

Home United vs Dalian Shide

Nothing is known about Dalian Shide and is best that you keep your money for some other matches. Though reports have been good about the young Chinese side, it is still a new environment for the players and they have been given a tough task of playing S-League’s Top Two side.

Home Utd have a new coach in PN Sivaji and he will be looking forward to competitive football again. Return of Peres de Oliveira means he will be involved in all free-kicks and penalties, they will miss Indra Shahdan as he is on trial in the US. Farhan Farook will most probably link up with Peres upfront.

Because of the unknown factor of the visiting side tonite, I am hesitant to give any concrete tips. If you have a dime to spare, take +1.5 on Dalian or draw !!

S-League – Gombak vs Tampines – Review

Well, Singapore Pools were right after all … Tampines deserved to be the favourites against Gombak yesterday night !!!

After watching the game yesterday night at the Jurong West stadium, I was not impressed with Gombak’s performance. If they are unable to beat a very weakened Tampines side, I do not think they will be able to break into the top three this year also.

New keeper Fadhil Salim was the cause for Tampines’ first goal as he came out of his line too early which enabled the league’s shortest striker, Aliff Shafein, to lob the ball over him. Early red card for Kinglsley Njoku did not help either and they would have lost by a bigger margin if only Tampines had taken their chances. Cheif culprit for Tampines was new signing “blonde-haired” Qiu Li, who missed a couple of good chances.

Overall, Gombak were pathetic. They missed Precious Emujeraye at the back and word is that Agu Casmir did not sign up and will have to wait till the next signing period. I felt it was a mistake for Gombak to release Adi Salleh, who is a better goalkeeper than Fadhil Salim.

Apologies again for the “over-confident” bet on Gombak .. !

S-League 2008 – Gombak Utd vs Tampines Rovers

It was a surprise to see Singapore Pools having Tampines as the favourites for this game !

Tampines 2008 edition is not the same as any of the previous seasons and they will definitely struggle to finish in the top three this season. The loss of key players such as, Alam Shah, Mirko Grobovac, Peres de Oliveira and Nazri Nasir have weakened the side from the East. Gombak are essentially the same squad as the last season with Gabrieal Obadin Aikhena moving to Young Lions.

For today’s game, Tampines are further weakened with the non-availability of Rafi Ali, Ibrahim Noh, Razif Mahmud (all yet to pass the Beep Test), Sead Muratovic and Shariff Samad (both injured). Tampines’ top three top-scorers have left the club and this season’s goal scoring responsibility will be handed to the S-league’s shortest striker Aliff Shafein and the chinese misfit, Qiu Li.

Gombak’s Precious Emujeraye will miss this game through suspension carried over from last season. He will be most probably replaced by recent sigining Bah Mahmoudou. Fadhil Salim takes over the goalkeeping role from Adi Salleh and should be a safe pair of hands.

Gombak are S-League possible answer to BPL’s Portsmouth as they have the most number of africans in their team. Precious and Emmanuel Emujeraye, Gabriel Obatula, Richard Kingsley, Agu Casmir and Bah Mahmoudou make up the strong african contingent though Precious, Casmir and Mahmoudou are now “naturalised Singaporeans”.

With so many injuries and unavailabilty of players, Tampines would be very happy to come back from Jurong West with a point. However, Gombak are already eyeing the Tampines’ third position in the league and have a good chance of beating Tampines at home.

Go for the Bulls to maul down the Stags !!

S-League 2008 – Match 2 – Young Lions vs Sengkang Punggol

The 2nd match of the season much changed sides of Young Lions and Sengkang Punggol. Young Lions have let go a few players including Baihakki, Fazrul Nawaz, Moudourou Moisse, Tengku Mushadad. However, they have brought in Obadin Aikhena (frm Gombak) and Swee Swee (Home) while retaining Hariss Harun, Khairul Amri, Jasper Chan, Isa Halim as the core team.

Sengkang have done a major overhaul of their players and have brought in some unknown foreigners to boost their team strength. Mirko Grobovac has moved to Sengkang this season as player-assistant coach but will not playing tonight as he has not passed the mandatory Beep test. Adi Salleh replaces Amos Boon, who has moved to Geylang, in goal.

Young Lions have an upper hand in this match as they are playing at home on the artificial turf and also they look younger and fresher. Go for Young Lions to beat Sengkang Punggol !!

S-League Pre-season Transfers

For all those who were dying for the Kelong league to start, see the transfers that took place between clubs during the off-season. The information given below is as accurate as possible to my knowledge and I apologise for descrepancies.

SAFFC

IN

• PN Sivaji (Coach)
• Peres de Oliveira (Tampines Rovers)
• Farhan Farook (Sengkang Punggol)
• Syed Fadhil (Geylang)
• Fazli Jaffar (Gombak Utd)
• Tengku Mushadad (Young Lions)
• Kornprom Jaroonpong (Bangkok Assumption College)
• Valery Hiek (Cameroonian Foreign Import)

OUT 

• Kone Hamed (Chornburi FC)
• Diakite Bengaly (Undisclosed)
• Qiu Li (Tampines Rovers)
• Goh Swee Swee (Young Lions)

HOME UNITED

IN

• Qiu Li (Home United)
• Imran Sahib (Woodlands)
• Razif Mahmud (SAFFC)

OUT

• Peres de Oliveira (Home United)
• Mirko Grobavac (Sengkang Punggol)
• Noh Alam Shah (Suspended)
• Nazri Nasir (Retired)
• Ahmadulhaq Che Omar (Woodlands)
• Ahmad Famie (National Service)
• Nauful Omar (National Service)

SAFFC

IN

• Masahiro Fukasawa (Bangkok University)
• Razaleigh Khalik (Geylang)

OUT

• Masrezwan Masturi (Geylang Utd)
• Mohd Noor Ali (Geylang Utd)
• Faizal Hamid (Gombak Utd)
• Razif Mahmud (Tampines Rovers)

GEYLANG UNITED

IN

• Masrezwan Masturi (SAFFC)
• Faizal Basri (Balestier Khalsa)
• Amos Boon (Sengkang Punggol)
• Baihakki Khaizan (Young Lions)
• Mohd Noor Ali (SAFFC)
• Fazrul Nawaz (Young Lions)
• Faizal Senin (Gombak Utd)
• Fabian Tan (Young Lions)
• Miroslav Latiak (Slovakian)
• Ratislav Belicak (Slovakian)
• Rivaldo (Brazilian)
• Junior (Brazilian)

OUT

• Razaleigh Khalik (SAFFC)
• Syed Fadhil (Home Utd)
• Fadzuhasny Juraimie (Woodlands Wellington)

GOMBAK UNITED

IN

• Faizal Hamid (SAFFC)

OUT

• Salim Moin (Coach – Moved to National Football Academy)
• Fazli Jaffar (Home United)
• Gabriel Obadin Aikhena (Young Lions)
• Faizal Senin (Geylang United)

BALESTIER KHALSA

IN

• Nasaruddin Jalil (Coach)

OUT

• Abdul Karrim Razzak (Korean Reds – Technical Director)
• J.Kalaiselvan (NFL)
• Fathi Yunos (NFL)
• Ratna Suffian (Sengkang Punggol)
• Farizal Basri (Geylang United)
• Ibrahim Dawood (Released)
• Rahman Hassan (Released)
• Faizal Fadhil (NFL)
• S.Senthilan (NFL)
• Sathiaraj K (Young Lions)

YOUNG LIONS

IN

• Sathiaraj K (Balestier Khalsa)
• Goh Swee Swee (Home Utd)
• Ashley Ow (Sengkang Punggol)
• Gabriel Obadin Aikhena (Gombak Utd)

OUT

• Baihakki Khaizan (Geylang Utd)
• Fazrul Nawaz (Geylang Utd)
• Modourou Moisse (Undisclosed)
• Fabian Tan (Geylang Utd)
• Tengku Mushadad (Home Utd)

WOODLANDS WELLINGTON

IN

• Fadzuhasny Juraimie (Geylang Utd)
• Ahmadulhaq Che Omar (Tampines)

OUT

• Imran Sahib (Tampines Rovers)

SENGKANG PUNGGOL

IN

• Mirko Grobavac (Tampines Rovers)
• Ratna Suffian (Balestier Khalsa)

OUT

• Amos Boon (Geylang Utd)
• Farhan Farook (Home Utd)
• Ashley Ow (Young Lions)

Kelong League (S-League) – Start liao !!

The very first game of this season’s s-league happens to see last year’s whipping boys Korean Reds welcoming last year’s controversial team Woodlands Wellington at Yishun Stadium.

According to the media, Korean Reds have recruited a stronger, experienced players compared to the University/Amatuer players brought last season. Jeon Kyeong Joon, who played for Home United two seasons back is the Head Coach now with former Balestier Coach Karim Abdul Razzak coming in as the Technical Director of the Korean Reds.

Woodlands Wellington have more of the same team with Lakkad, Park, Akihiro and Dronca forming the backbone of this club. Their star player, Ahmad Latiff has moved across the Causeway, so has Imran Sahib to Tampines Rovers. Injury prone striker Fadzuhasny Juraimie has moved to Woodlands but is yet to convince.

Woodlands will struggle this season as they have lost a few important players and their existing players like Park and Akihiro are getting older and are not the same match winners as they used to be. They will be playing for a draw on the hard pitch at Yishun.

I am going for an upset and tipping the Korean Reds to beat Woodlands tonight !! 

S-League 2008 – Dalian Shide to replace Liaoning Guangyuan

As announced by S-League, Dalian Shide will replace Liaoning Guangyuan in Singapore’s S-League. Dalian operational model is expected to be similar to that of another S-League foreign franchisee, Albirex Niigata.

Let’s hope they are better than the previous two, Sinchi and Liaoning …

Announcement from S-League

Quote

China’s most successful club side Dalian Shide will be fielding a team in Singapore’s NTUC Income – YEO’S S.League for the 2008 season. Dalian will take the place of Liaoning Guangyuan as the 12th team in the S.League and they will play their home matches at Queenstown Stadium.

Dalian comes with a strong reputation in Chinese football, having been crowned champions on eight occasions in the past 14 years.

China internationals who have hailed from Dalian Shide include the likes of Sun Jihai and Dong Fangzhuo who are both currently plying their trade in the English Premiership with giants Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.

One of China’s best ever strikers – Hao Haidong – played for Dalian for nine years (1996-2005) where he won seven league titles, three Super Cups and two FA Cups. He won more than 90 caps for China and was instrumental in them qualifying for their first World Cup Finals appearance in 2002.

Dalian Shide’s model in the S.League will be similar to that of Albirex Niigata who will be embarking on their fifth season in Singapore’s professional league. The team will be made up mainly of young upcoming players on the fringes of Dalian’s first team supplemented by several experienced players.

Says S.League CEO Winston Lee, “We’ll like to welcome Dalian Shide to the S.League. They are a well-known football brand in Asia and they come with a good reputation and track record in China. We are impressed with their football and management capabilities as well as their plans and ambitions. I will like to wish them all the best in the coming season.”

Says Dalian Shide General Manager, Li Ming, “Singapore football is constantly improving and the S.League is one of the best leagues in Asia. We are delighted to be accepted to play in the S.League. We are looking forward to the challenge and we know it will not be easy in our first season. We will do our best and we want to bring the Dalian brand of football to entertain the fans in Singapore.” 

Unquote.