Yesterday’s superb performance by the Singapore boys football team in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) third and fourth place playoff against Montenegro was accompanied by a wonderful announcement that work on the long delayed and much needed Sports Hub would finally be starting. Hopefully, the wonderful and spirited performance by the young cubs will along with the announcement about the sports hub, herald a new chapter in Singapore’s sporting scene. There is no doubt that the great YOG show put on, despite the lack of proper sports facilities and a few hiccups along the way, has done a great job in revitalising sports and interest in sports in Singapore and stellar performances by the young cubs and the other Singapore athletes promises a new age in sports.
The pitch of the National Stadium has been stripped and the signs are there that we may see the last of the stadium soon.
While I have expressed a tinge of sadness that the beloved National Stadium will soon be gone, her demolition is scheduled to start in October – the evidence of her final days have been there for a few months: the once pristine pitch has been stripped (see report in the 16 July edition of Today), and signs have been erected to notify the public of what is planned in her place, what is good to know is the promise of things to come. The successor to the grand old lady would certainly be grander … and bring about a stadium and facilities that are much needed to give the sports scene in Singapore a big boost.
The signs have been there for a month or so ...
Artist impression of the new sports hub as seen on the signs around the old National Stadium.
One thing that I was certainly glad to have last evening was the opportunity to witness the magnificent performance by the Singapore boys in the 4-1 triumph over a much bigger and a very robust Montenegran side. Where in the semi-final match against Haiti, in which the Singapore team was expected to win, the cubs, perhaps overawed by the occasion, displayed a lack of composure, in securing the victory and the bronze medal, they demonstrated a maturity and a team spirit that is an example for many to follow. I wasn’t there at the semi-finals, being too late to get tickets, but I was certainly glad for my son’s insistence on getting tickets for the final early enough. While reports would possibly have you think that the stadium wasn’t packed to the rafters, perhaps due to the early start … the atmosphere is certainly more than any 6000 seater stadium could deliver. Overcoming the loss of skipper Jeffrey Lightfoot early on after a strong challenge by a Montenegran player, and despite being pegged by by a Montenegran equaliser soon after Brandon Koh came on in place of Lightfoot, the splendid controlled game saw Singapore emerge with a well deserved victory. So well done boys and well done Singapore! Now all that is left is to see a good job done on the Sports Hub, to which I will look forward to going to after it is completed in April 2014, just in time to catch what should be an exciting football team of the future, based on the promise that our boys have shown in their superb team performance and third place finish in the YOG.
Tickets for the final matches had been sold out and crowds had gathered early to get their hands on spare tickets being released on the day.
Empty seats before the match.
The fans were soon out in force to show their support despite the early start.
A sign of things to come? A Montenegran player looking lost during the warm-up.
Majulah Singapura!
Singapore team captain Jeffrey Lightfoot going off after receiving a gash on the head early in the match.
Lightfoot was replaced by a favourite of the girls ... Brandon Koh.
The referee didn't win any fans with some of his decisions ...
The second half started as the floodlights came on and the sun set ...
The kick-off for the second half ...
The cubs started the second half with a quick goal which was soon followed by the award of a penalty ....
... which was duly converted to make it 3-1 to Singapore!
Much to the disappointment of the Montenegran team ...
The spirited display saw the cubs chasing for every ball ...
... leaving the goalkeeper with very little to do ... but he did respond with a few good saves when tested ...
The final kicks of the match ...
The match ended with the cubs scoring four for an emphatic triumph over a much bigger Montenegran side.
The final whistle brought with it scenes of jubilation reminiscent of Singapore's rare Malaysia cup triumphs!
The cubs celebrated their much deserved victory as their fans paid tribute to them ...
The Long and Winding Road 