hilmi_official™: 2014

Tuesday, 22 July 2014

SINGAPORE UNDER-23 TEAM PUTS TSV TO THE SWORD

SINGAPORE UNDER-23 TEAM PUTS TSV TO THE SWORD

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, 21 JULY 2014: The Singapore National Under-23 Team played a friendly match today against TSV Freilassing at the Flachau training ground and convincingly beat the German club 5-0. It was the third and final fixture of the team’s training tour to Austria.

Singapore started brightly, with Iqbal Hussain scoring in the 2nd minute after a low cross was sent in from Stanely Ng following some good work on the left wing. Five minutes later, a well-flighted diagonal ball found Shameer Aziq on the right flank. He fed the ball to the overlapping Fadli Kamis who crossed, but it was cleared by TSV.

Singapore team was on the ascendancy, with wave after wave of attacks buffeting the German side’s defence and resulting in the second goal. A TSV clearance in the 10th minute was intercepted by Iqbal, who put Shameer through on goal. He raced free of the last defender to slot home and put Singapore 2-0 up.

TSV’s first attempt on goal came in the 12th minute, as a freekick was conceded in a dangerous area. Goalkeeper Syazwan was equal to the shot though, and quickly released the ball. It was worked to Iqbal who duly scored his second goal to give Singapore a comfortable 3-0 cushion. The shock of conceding three goals in the opening exchanges of the game spurred TSV to life, and they slowly attempted to get back in the match. A 20th minute freekick was well collected by Syazwan, and another 10 minutes later saw him being forced to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Iqbal was a constant thorn in TSV’s skin, running almost half the length of the field in the 33rd minute with the ball before it was sent to Muhaimin Suhaimi on the right flank. Unfortunately, Muhaimin’s cut-back was soft and the TSV goalkeeper Sergen Batur gratefully collected the ball.

TSV made their physical advantage count in the 40th minute when a header off a freekick sailed just over the bar. It proved to be the final attempt on goal by either side in the first half.

It was a much-changed Singapore Under-23 side the emerged for the second half, with five substitutions including goalkeeper Syazwan coming off to be replaced by Rudy Khairullah, who celebrated his 20th birthday just two days ago. A chastened TSV was very cautious and did not allow Singapore any shots on target until the 57th minute, when a scramble on the edge of the penalty area saw the ball fall to substitute Suria Prakash. However, Batur was left thanking the stars when Suria’s shot went straight at him.

That fortune was not to last much longer, as Muhaimin made it 4-0 in the 59th minute when a ball over the top caught the TSV defence out and he fired home. Shahfiq Ghani, one of the five half-time substitutes, showed the last defender a clean set of heels in the 62nd minute but TSV goalkeeper Batur saved his defender’s blushes by saving with his feet in the one-on-one situation.

The fluency of Singapore’s play was not affected by continued substitutions as Irfan Fandi, who had come on just five minutes earlier, centred the ball in the 70th minute for fellow substitute Suria, who was brought down before he could take a shot. Five minutes later, the lively Suria robbed a TSV midfielder in the centre of the pitch and went on a mazy run before sending the ball to the right wing, but the resulting cross was cleared.

Not to be outdone, Ikhsan Fandi – who had replaced Ali Hudzaifi – went one better as he embarked on a long run of his own in the 83rd minute, shrugging off several challenges before scoring a beautiful fifth goal for the Under-23s.

It could have been 6-0 just two minutes later as Delwinder Singh almost scored from a corner, but the ball went just over. Play quickly switched to the other end of the field, with TSV missing the chance to score a consolation goal as a TSV player rose unchallenged to meet a corner, only to miss the target as well. Suria then went on another run in the 87thminute, again beating a few TSV players down the left flank but finally just ran out of space as the ball went out for a goal kick. A frenetic five minutes of action was capped when Irfan fed the ball to his brother Ikhsan, whose shot fizzed inches over the bar before the referee blew for full-time shortly after.

“I think it was a good game for the boys. Everybody got a chance to play, which is important especially when you go on a tour like this. We started very well, but slowed down after the first 20 minutes or so. If we continued playing that way the entire game, we could have had an even better result, but I am pleased because everybody got the opportunity to play,” said coach S. Subramani after the match.

Singapore National Under-23 Team Line-up
30. Syazwan Buhari (GK) (replaced by Rudy Khairullah in 45th minute)
2. Fadli Kamis (replaced by Sim Teck Yi in 67th minute)
3. Sheikh Abdul Hadi (C)
7. Shameer Aziq (replaced by Irfan Fandi in 65th minute)
9. Stanely Ng (replaced by Suria Prakash in 45th minute)
10. Nur Na'iim Ishak (replaced by Adam Swandi in 45th minute)
14. Iqbal Hussain (replaced by Shahfiq Ghani in 45th minute)
16. Amirul Adli (replaced by Delwinder Singh in 45th minute)
19. Amy Recha Pristifana (replaced by Muhaimin Suhaimi in 22nd minute)
24. Ammirul Emmran (replaced by Hafiz Abu Sujad in 53rd minute)
26. Ali Hudzaifi (replaced by Ikhsan Fandi in 71st minute)

Substitutes:
1. Shahul Rayyan (GK)
4. Delwinder Singh
8. Hafiz Abu Sujad
11. Shahfiq Ghani
12. Suria Prakash
17. Irfan Fandi
18. Rudy Khairullah (GK) (replaced by Shahul Rayyan in 78th minute)
21. Ikhsan Fandi
23. Muhaimin Suhaimi
27. Adam Swandi
28. Sim Teck Yi

Monday, 21 July 2014

LIONS FALL TO RUSSIAN SIDE

LIONS FALL TO RUSSIAN SIDE

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, 18 JULY 2014: The Singapore National Team played a friendly match against FC Torpedo Moscow earlier today. Torpedo Moscow was recently promoted to the top flight Russian Premier League, its third promotion in five years, after finishing third in the Russian First Division in the 2013-2014 season and winning a subsequent promotion playoff.

Torpedo and Singapore started the match warily, with both sides taking the measure of the other with probing passes and attempts to keep possession. The Lions matched the Russian side in the opening exchanges as both teams created good chances, with Safuwan nicking the ball off a Torpedo attacker in a dangerous area in the 16th minute. Ten minutes later Khairul Amri received a fine pass from a Shaiful Esah free-kick, but was forced wide and the danger dissipated.

Right-back Faritz Hameed was replaced by Shakir Hamzah in the 30th minute after failing to shake off a knock suffered in a clash with a Torpedo player, and Torpedo started to grow in stature after the substitution. Izwan Mahbud had to make a smart save in a one-on-one situation following a through ball, but Torpedo made the breakthrough just two minutes later in the 37th minute when Igor Shevchenko opened the scoring with a shot inside the penalty area.

The Russians began the second half brightly, with Shevchenko doubling his own as well as his club's tally in the 50th minute. His free-kick was flighted into the top right corner of Izwan's goal, leaving the Singapore custodian with no chance.

Just five minutes later it was 3-0 as Shakir conceded a penalty that was duly despatched by Alexander Salugin, who was until 2009 the youngest player to ever score in the Russian Premier League.

The best chance of the game for Singapore came in the 66th minute when Amri unleashed a fierce shot on goal following good work on the right flank and a pull-back by substitute Al-Qaasimy Rahman, who had come on just a minute earlier for Shaiful Esah. Unfortunately for Singapore, Torpedo goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov, the captain of the Belarus national team, proved equal to it and punched the shot clear.

Al-Qaasimy showed his quality again in the 74th minute as his strong challenge denied a Torpedo attacker a clear shot on goal, and it was not until the 87th minute that Singapore's goal faced another clear attack, but Izwan pulled off a fantastic double save to keep the final score 3-0 to Torpedo Moscow.

The Singapore National Team’s next match will be against Dinamo Moscow on 21 July, while the Singapore Under-23 team will play against German team TSV Freilassing on 20 July.

Singapore National Team Line-up

1. Izwan Mahbud (GK)
3. Shaiful Esah (replaced by Al-Qaasimy Rahman in 65th min)
5. Baihakki Khaizan
8. Shahdan Sulaiman
9. Faritz Hameed (replaced by Shakir Hamzah in 30th min)
12. Sahil Suhaimi (replaced by Zulfahmi Arifin in 60th min)
14. Hariss Harun (replaced by Afiq Yunos in 73rd min)
17. Shahril Ishak (C) (replaced by Fazrul Nawaz in 79th min)
19. Khairul Amri
21. Safuwan Baharudin
27. Faris Ramli (replaced by Shahfiq Ghani in 84th min)

Substitutes:
18. Hassan Sunny (GK)
2. Shakir Hamzah
7. Gabriel Quak
10. Fazrul Nawaz
13. Hafiz Abu Sujad
15. Afiq Yunos
23. Zulfahmi Arifin
28. Al-Qaasimy Rahman

Source: http://www.fas.org.sg/news/lions-fall-russian-side

MIGHTY DORTMUND PROVE TOO STRONG FOR UNDER-23 TEAM

Mighty Dortmund Prove Too Strong for Under-23 Team

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, 15 JULY 2014: In what was perhaps the most hotly-anticipated match of the Austrian training trip for them, the Under-23 squad faced off against the Under-23 team of Borussia Dortmind, one of the best teams in Europe. Already World Cup champions, the entire German football fraternity was in high spirits and this could be seen from the Dortmund youths. Played in the highlands of Uttendorf with scenic mountains and lakes surrounding the pitch, the game had a surreal feel to it as the Singapore Under-23 squad was prepared to give it their all and give their opponents something to think about.

The gulf in physicality was clear to see as the Dortmund players, with just a few exceptions, towered over our Under-23 players. Swift, powerful and strong, they were intent on laying siege to the Singapore goal mouth from the start.

Our boys have to be credited with some stout defending as the back four of Al-Qaasimy Rahman, Shakir Hamzah, Amirul Adli Azmi and Fadli Kamis fended off wave after wave of attack from their opponents. However, the breakthrough for Dortmund came in the 17th minute when a brilliant solo effort by Ufuk Ozbek gave the German side the lead.

Having received the ball on his chest and his back toward goal, he spun with consummate skill and powered home a volley into the bottom right hand corner of Rudy Khairullah’s goal, leaving the Singapore custodian with no chance as the ball hit the inside side netting of the goal.

However, the Singapore players were unfazed and stepped up their intensity, with Adam Swandi proving to be a thorn in the side of the Dortmund attack. His crunching tackles were putting off the Germans on the left flank, and they were forced to switch play to the right side where they were met with stout defending from Al-Qaasimy.

Singapore’s first chance came in the 23rd minute when Iqbal Hussain found himself through on goal only to see his first time effort creep inches wide of the goal. Ten minutes later, he made an intelligent run after being slipped in via a through pass by Faris Ramli, only to see his effort saved by the German goalkeeper.

Singapore would rue their missed chances as Dortmund scored the second goal in a swift counter attack as goal scorer turned provider. Ufuk Ozbek threaded a delightful pass to his right winger, Kaled Narey, who slotted the ball past Rudy into the far corner in the 41st minute.

At the start of the second half, Singapore was once again showing intent but would be dealt a hammer blow as Dortmund’s David Solga fired a thunderbolt from 25 metres out to score the third goal for the Germans. He would then turn provider for his compatriot, Patrick Frenke who increased the lead to 4-0 in the 60th minute.

Still pressing hard despite the scoreline, the Singapore team continuously pushed forward as Suria Prakash, coming on for Iqbal, was presented with a golden opportunity to score but missed the target after a mix-up on the Dortmund penalty box when Faris Ramli bamboozled the Dortmund defence with a mazy run.

Shakir Hamzah also came close with a header as Sahil found him from a free kick, but his effort went agonisingly wide in the 82nd minute.

Dortmund then scored their 5th goal of the match when Jan Reeviert connected well with a cross to head home the last goal of the match.

“The team competed well but there was a very obvious difference in physicality between the two teams. The Dortmund team was not only physical but also played a very explosive game of football. We had our chances to score but did not convert which was the difference between the two sides. As compared to the first game against FC Pribram, we performed so much better and they did well.” said coach Aide Iskandar as he shared his thoughts after the game.

With their third opponents still to be confirmed, the U23s will be training hard once again over the next few days in Flachau, Austria.

Singapore Under-23 Team Line-Up

18. Rudy Khairullah (GK)

2. Shakir Hamzah

6. M. Aumanthan

7. Sahil Suhaimi

10. Faris Ramli

14. Iqbal Hussain

19. Nur Na'iim Ishak

20. Al-Qaasimy Rahman

23. Fadli Kamis

25. Amirul Adli Azmi

27. Adam Swandi

Substitutes:

1. Syazwan Buhari (GK)

3. Sheikh Abdul Hadi

4. Delwinder Singh

8. Suria Prakash

9. Stanely Ng

11. Shahfiq Ghani

12. Ali Hudzaifi

21. Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad

24. Shameer Aziq

26. Muhaimin Suhaimi

28. Sim Teck Yi

30. Shahul Rayyan (GK)

Source: http://www.fas.org.sg/news/mighty-dortmund-prove-too-strong-under-23-team

Monday, 14 July 2014

FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil FINAL: Germany vs Argentina LIVE STREAMING LINKS

FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil FINAL: Germany vs Argentina LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://streams.tv/channel/361-bbc-1-north-ireland/soccer

http://streams.tv/channel/14-bbc-one/soccer

LionsXII to face Pahang, Felda and JDT II in Malaysia Cup

The Singapore side will come up against national captain Shahril Ishak who plies his trade for the second string Johor side

LionsXII will be taking on Pahang FA, Felda United and Johor Darul Ta'zim II (JDT II) in the 2014 Malaysia Cup.

Fandi Ahmad's boys were handed the draw earlier on Sunday where 16 teams were split into four groups of four teams each. The top teams from each group progress to the knockout stages after a series home and away matches.

“We are pleased with the draw," said Nazri Nasir, LionsXII assistant coach. "There are no easy teams in a cup competition, but we are quietly confident. Although results did not go our way in the Malaysian Super League, we won our final game so I hope we will maintain that momentum going into the Cup. The players are hungry to prove a point, and I hope our fans will pack the stands at Jalan Besar Stadium to give us the extra push.”

LionsXII are in Group A in the competition which will be entering its 88th edition, with a Singapore team having won it 24 times, the second highest tally.

“We have had a tough time in the League with several players out at different times, but now everyone is back and ready to up their game for the Cup campaign,” said LionsXII captain Isa Halim, himself also having missed a large part of the league campaign through injury and was in attendance at the draw held in Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) headquarters.

“The bulk of the team has experienced what it’s like to go through a Malaysia Cup campaign. We were unfortunate to be knocked out in the semi-final and quarter-final in the past two seasons, but with the fans behind us and with the benefit of our experience, I am confident that we will be able to do well."

The fixtures will be announced at a later date.

Malaysia Cup 2014 Groupings
Group A
Pahang FA
LionsXII
KL Felda United FC
Johor Darul Ta’zim II FC

Group B
Terengganu FA
Sarawak FA
Perak FA
Kedah FA

Group C
Johor Darul Ta’zim I FC
Kelantan FA
ATM FA
Penang FA

Group D
Selangor FA
KL Sime Darby FC
PDRM FA
T-Team FC

Source: http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2014/07/13/4955754/lionsxii-to-face-pahang-felda-and-jdt-ii-in-malaysia-cup?ICID=SP_HN_1

Sunday, 13 July 2014

Third and Fourth Playoff FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil: Brazil vs Netherlands LIVE STREAMING LINKS

Third and Fourth Playoff FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil: Brazil vs Netherlands LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://www.ifeed2all.eu/type/football.html

http://www.ifeed2all.eu/watch/269318/1/watch-brazil-vs-netherlands---fifa-wc-2014-.html

http://www.ifeed2all.eu/watch/269318/3/watch-brazil-vs-netherlands---fifa-wc-2014-.html

LIONS EARNED RESPECTABLE DRAW AGAINST FC BRNO

LIONS EARNED RESPECTABLE DRAW AGAINST FC BRNO

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, 12 JULY 2014: The Singapore National Team took on FC Zbrojovka Brno, a top flight professional team in the Czech premier football league, in a friendly match earlier today. FC Brno finished 9th out of 16 teams in the Czech’s premier division in the 2013-2014 season.

The Lions looked unfazed in the opening exchanges against the Czech side, and matched them in terms of possession and 50-50 challenges. The Lions defence also coped well whenever FC Brno is in possession with Baihakki Khaizan, Hariss Harun and Hassan Sunny doing very well. Although both sides created good chances at either end, it was Singapore who drew first blood in the 43rd minute, when Shahril Ishak displayed some excellent footwork to set up Khairul Amri. Amri did well to bring the ball under control and finishing it past the keeper Martin Dolezal.

Early in the second half, there was a penalty call for Singapore which was waved away by the referee. Almost immediately after, FC Brno was awarded a penalty when Baihakki was adjudged to have brought down a FC Brno attacker in the area. Pavel Mezlik made no mistake from the spot to bring the score to 1-1.

Singapore took the lead again in the 60th minute when Faritz Hameed raced down the right hand side and sent a perfectly-weighted cross to Shahil Suhaimi, who nodded the ball past the goalkeeper. However, the Lions were unfortunately unable to keep the lead when Tomas Brigant scored a long-range shot into the top corner in the 90thminute. The match ended 2-2.

Head Coach of Singapore National Team, Bernd Stange said after the match: “It was a good team performance on the whole. I’m delighted to see the best football the team has played in a year for the first 60 minutes of the game. We dominated, kept possession, and scored goals. But we lacked a little bit of fitness from the 60th minute onwards. We had to slow down and play more defensive football. For the last 30 minutes, I gave the instruction to focus on counter-attacks, and we had a great chance to score the third goal when we had two-against-one situation with Fazrul and Shahril. But I think 2-2 is a fair result as both teams played on the same level, and we had an entertaining match which was fast-paced and of very high intensity. It is a good result but we expect tougher games ahead for the reminder of the trip.”

Singapore National Team Line-up

18. Hassan Sunny (GK) (replaced by Izwan Mahbud in 45th min)

3. Shaiful Esah (replaced by Shakir Hamzah in 56th min)

5. Baihakki Khaizan

7. Gabriel Quak (replaced by Adam Swandi in 85th min)

8. Shahdan Sulaiman

9. Faritz Hameed

14. Hariss Harun

17. Shahril Ishak (c)

19. Khairul Amri (replaced by Fazrul Nawaz in 72nd min)

21. Safuwan Baharudin

23. Zulfahmi Arifin (replaced by Sahil Suhaimi in 45th min)

Subs:

1. Izwan Mahbud (GK)

2. Shakir Hamzah

10. Fazrul Nawaz

12. Sahil Suhaimi

13. Hafiz Sujad

15. Afiq Yunos

26. Shahfiq Ghani

27. Adam Swandi

28. Al-Qaasimy Rahman

Source: http://www.fas.org.sg/news/lions-earned-respectable-draw-against-fc-brno

TOP NOTCH FACILITIES TO BOLSTER TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR LIONS

Top Notch Facilities to Bolster Training Experience for Lions

It is never easy to find an overseas training facility that provides everything a team needs. This was National Team coach Bernd Stange’s top reason for choosing Flachau, a small village of 2,836 people located in Salzburg, Austria, to be the training location for the National Team and the Under-23 squad.

While the highlands are mostly reputed for its snowy peaks in the winter that promise a great deal of skiing fun, summer sees a change of scene: the peaks are a lush green and the skiers have yet to hit the hostels run by the locals. Do not be fooled by the term ‘summer’ though, as the temperatures in Flachau seldom go above 20 degrees Celsius and the rains are harshly cold when coupled with the wind. These are the conditions that the players face when training twice daily in this charming environment.

Staying at the Hotel Alpenhof, however, the teams will find that most of their comforts are taken care of. Most importantly, the facilities allow for teams to always be ready for their matches and training sessions as dry rooms and indoor heated pools – amongst many other facilities – allow both the back room staff and players to acclimatise quickly to the environs.

“We needed a facility that would allow the players to train, and train hard, without having to worry about all the logistics like wet clothes, boots and staying warm. I have organised over 20 training camps here in Austria with various teams. This place provides some of the best facilities I have seen in my career and I am confident that the players will be taken care of, while my very capable back room staff will be able to quickly cater to their needs without much hassle,” said Bernd as he explained why Flachau was picked as the training facility for this training tour.

One of the facilities never seen before in Singapore is the heat room, or ‘dry’ room as the kit men have affectionately dubbed it. Essentially a room full of industrial-standard pipes that pump out hot air and have added nozzles to hang boots to dry, the heat generated from the room also allows for jerseys and equipment to be dried easily after the initial washing is done. What might usually take a few days to dry in this damp and chilly climate now takes just a few hours as hot air is continuously piped through the room.

“This is something we have never seen before in Singapore. It really makes our work a lot more efficient as compared to having to send everything out for laundering and hoping it comes back in time,” explained Omar Mohamed, the kit manager for the National Team.

“All I need to do is hang all the boots on these pipes and lay out the clothing on the tables, and they will all dry in no time. Very convenient,” he added as he demonstrated how it worked.

The Alpenhof boasts a world-class gym and an indoor pool, as well as a wide selection of protein- and carbohydrate-rich nourishment from the kitchen for the players before and after their gruelling training sessions. As if that were not enough, the hotel and nearby training facilities are set against a picturesque backdrop of mountains and freshwater streams.

“We will never get this back home. Singapore has its own beauty but this is something really different. It’s beautiful and the climate is excellent for training. I really thought I would have to train with damp clothing or boots but the heat room is amazing,” said national midfielder Shahril Ishak.

When these factors are all combined, it is evident that the facilities are not just a home away from home – they are even better than that.

Source: http://www.fas.org.sg/news/top-notch-facilities-bolster-training-experience-lions

YOUNG LIONS EARNED INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE AGAINST SEASONED PROS

YOUNG LIONS EARNED INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE AGAINST SEASONED PROS

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, 11 JULY 2014: The Singapore Under-23 National Team took on the first team of FK Pribram, a top flight professional team in the Czech premier football league, in a friendly match earlier today. Although our Young Lions suffered a 6 – 1 defeat, the boys gave a good account of themselves against a team who finished 12th out of 16 teams in the Czech’s premier division. The team was also filled with former Czech youth and senior international players.

The Young Lions started brightly. In the 5th minute, Al-Qassimy won the ball in defence and ran unchallenged for half the length of the field before releasing Faris Ramli down the left. He was brought down and earned a free kick just outside the penalty box.

The resulting free-kick from Faris hit the post before Shahfiq Ghani followed up with a spectacular bicycle kick that the Pribram goalkeeper Marek Bomac had to tip it over the bar at full stretch.

The Czech side turned the pressure around and scored the first goal in the 8th minute through 33-year-old Tomáš Zápotočný, a former Czech Republic international.

After the opening goal, Pribram continued to pressure the Young Lions and it took some fine defending by captain Shakir Hamzah and good goalkeeping by Rudy Khairullah to prevent the team from going further behind.

However, FK Pribram extended the lead when they scored in the 28th minute through a long range shot by Zoran Danoski. The score was 3-0 before the end of the first half when Petr Švancara, an experienced 36-year-old forward, executed a great half-volley past Rudy in the 42nd minute.

In the second half, FK Pribram’s top level experience showed when they scored two quick goals in succession in the 50thand 51st minutes through Ladislav Volešák and Dominik Kraut. 30-year-old Volešák was a former Czech under-21 international while 24-year-old Kraut was a former Czech Under-20 international.

Even though the score was at 5-0, our Young Lions refused to give up and their hard work finally paid dividends in the 57thminute when Al-Qaasimy won the ball in the final third and fed it to Shahfiq Ghani. Shahfiq Ghani’s instinctive first touch found Faris Ramli racing down the left in a one-on-one against the goalkeeper, whom he coolly dribbled past to slot the ball into an empty net.

Petr Švancara scored again in the 83rd minute to bring the final score to 6-1.

Coach Aide was proud of his charges despite the harsh result. He said: "I'm happy with my boys’ performance today. We knew we were up against extremely tough opponents who play professionally in the Czech Premier League and it was always going to be a real test for them. But my boys have done well and importantly created chances against a much better side.

"Physically, you can see that the Czech team is so much bigger and that’s because they play professionally at such a high level for a long time. I'm happy that Faris Ramli managed to score a goal for us and took it with such confidence and poise."

"The next match against Dortmund’s Under-23 team is going to be a hard task but as always, we will put in our best efforts and progress as a team throughout this trip."

Singapore U-23 Line-up

18. Rudy Khairullah (GK) (replaced by Syazwan Buhari in 45th min)

2. Shakir Hamzah (replaced by Shameer Aziq in 45th min)

3. Fadli Kamis (replaced by Ali Hudzaifi in 45th min)

7. Sahil Suhaimi (replaced by Suria Prakash in 80th min)

10. Faris Ramli (replaced by Ammirul Emmran in 62nd minute)

11. Shahfiq Ghani (replaced by Adam Swandi in 62nd minute)

14. Mohamed Iqbal

15. Sheikh Abdul Hadi

16. Muhammad Amirul Adli

19. Muhammad Nur Na'iim (replaced by Irfan Fandi in 62nd minute)

20. Al-Qaasimy Rahman (replaced by Delwinder Singh in 72nd minute)

Source: http://www.fas.org.sg/news/young-lions-earned-invaluable-experience-against-seasoned-pros

Thursday, 10 July 2014

Even Jimmy Fallon takes a swing at S'pore's anti-gambling ad that backfired

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvhXKYJKDPM

The National Council's advertisement on problem gambling, intended to prevent people from betting their savings away during the Fifa World Cup 2014, has been made fun of by countless spoofs -- and Jimmy Fallon joined in the fun.

Shown during the tournament's games, the clip shows a group of boys discussing their favourite teams.

At the end, a boy named Andy crestfallenly: "I hope Germany will win. My dad bet all my savings on them."

Things took an ironic turn when Germany crushed Brazil 7-1 in the humiliating defeat two nights ago, and many people were quick to take a swing at the ad that has now backfired -- Youtubers, international news, and even the local ministers.

On tonight's episode of The Tonight Show by Jimmy Fallon, the host decided to make his own spoof of the now infamous anti-gambling ad.

The tagline that used to read "Kick the habit. Stop problem gambling." now reads:

"Keep the habit. Gamble."

Fallon added:

"How much savings can an 8-year-old have? $17.25?

Stange wants to bring S.League average age down

Singapore head coach Bernd Stange has called for top teams in the S.League to reduce the average age of their squads so that he can have more players to select for the National Team.

The 66-year-old was speaking at the Changi Airport ahead of the Singapore National Team’s flight to Salzburg, Austria for a three-week training tour, where they will play three European sides.

An advocate of using younger players for the National Team, Stange has dropped the likes of Fahrudin Mustafic, Shi Jiayi, Aleksandar Duric, Qiu Li since he took over the Lions in May 2013. The latest Singapore team boasts an average age of just 24.8, with 14 players under the age of 25.

However, among the squad of 21, only one-third of the players hail from S.League clubs, with three plying their trade with the Courts Young Lions. This decision to seemingly ignore players from Singapore’s only professional league has not gone down well with a number of fans on social media.

“First of all, everybody knows I’m attending all S.League matches,” the former Belarus manager told FourFourTwo in response to the criticism.

“I’m watching S.League matches every day looking for players for the national team. And what is the result?

“Last week I watched Home United, one of our leading teams, and the average age was 31 in this cup match (against Loyola Meralco Sparks). Five foreigners, with an average team age of 31, how can I find players?

“We have to do something. The average age of our top teams must be younger.

“Tampines Rovers - 30 years old, Home United - 31 years. With five foreigners, it’s very difficult for me to find [eligible players]. I will be very happy if Tampines, Home, and Balestier deliver national team [calibre] players for the future.

“I have been heavily criticized for not calling up players like Daniel Bennett, Fahrudin Mustafic. The World Cup now gives confirmation. They believe that players like Xavi, Gerrard and Lampard are too old.

“They fail because coaches analyse that they have not enough power, speed in the teams. We are asking for 34 or 35 year old players supporting the team. I don’t go this way. We go definitely another way (sic). This is the future of Singapore football.”

Stange, who had previously led Belarus to their highest ever FIFA ranking of 36th back in February 2011, also mentioned that potential candidates like Ismail Yunos and Juma’at Jantan had not been playing much with Home United for the past couple of months.

Another, Yasir Hanapi, was on his radar for 3 to 4 months before a shift to a right wing-back position at club level led to a loss in form.

The coach also revealed that the bulk of the AFF Suzuki Cup would come from the 41 players called up for both the Senior and U-23 national teams for this training tour, where the main aim is to allow the national teams to bond and train together.

“I think we will choose from these 41 players with regards to the team for the Suzuki Cup at the end of the year unless there’s a player who is shining in the S.League," he said.

“Please give me the chance for two weeks to bring the National Team together. Not only the LionsXII, we now have the National Team to represent the country and now it is time to take the National Team to train together.

“We have priorities, we are preparing for the Suzuki Cup, and it’s quite clear.”

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/stange-wants-bring-sleague-average-age-down#Z8lGtTTH6QOwOdCS.99

Adam Swandi mulls home comforts

Singapore football prospect Adam Swandi will make a concrete decision on his future after his return from the national team’s trip to Salzburg, Austria in late July.

As Singapore football’s sole recipient of the Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim Scholarship Under-18 High Performance category, Adam Swandi ought to have every reason to feel proud of his achievement.

However, the 18-year-old trainee at the FC Metz Academy has a major decision to make as he reaches the crossroads of a budding football career.

His present contract with the French north-eastern club has just concluded and competitive playing time with the team's youth sides has been limited during his two-year stint there.

While the Singapore international midfielder has been offered a contract extension, he hinted at a possible return to Singapore to fight for a place in the National Under-23 squad ahead of next year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on home soil.

“I have a strong desire to be part of the 2015 SEA Games,” Adam told FourFourTwo on the sidelines of the award ceremony at the Institute of Technical Education College Central at Ang Mo Kio on Saturday morning.

“While Metz are offering me another year there, they have also told me after discussions that there is a high possibility that I am unable to join the Singapore Under-23 side should I decide to extend my stay in France.”

Adam's studies could be put on hold if he decides to ply his trade with S.League developmental outfit Courts Young Lions for the remainder of the 2014 season after his return from the combined National Team and Under-23 teams’ training camp in Austria at the end of the month.

Having just finished his first year of high school with Lycee Louis de Cormontaigne, the Metz Under-19 fringe player has two more academic years remaining before obtaining his high school diploma.

He also added that he was presently in discussions with his family and the Football Association of Singapore over his future.

“Currently I have the option of joining Young Lions, but I am not sure of my options immediately at this point of time,” the former Singapore Sports School player said.

“If I decide on coming back to Singapore, I will be fully focused on playing football.”

While his football focus is clear, his off-pitch future is still very much uncertain, apart an intention to clear his National Service (NS) after the SEA Games football tournament.

Unlike top local swimmer Joseph Schooling who has been granted deferment from enlistment until after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Singapore football’s lukewarm results at Asian and South-East Asian level means even the brightest local prospects in the sport will have answer their NS call ups.

Adam is unperturbed by the disruption though, stating that he is determined to clear his other national commitments and put his football career on hold for two years before he looks at another crack in Europe.

“In the end I am a Singaporean, proud to be serving my nation,” the midfielder said.

“I feel it is better for me to enlist early and then get my football back on track after the SEA Games and NS.”

Should Adam choose to return home after a two-year stint in France, the republic will only have one overseas-based youth player - 18-year-old Mahathir Azeman, who is currently plying his trade with Brazilian club Boavista Sports Club's reserve team.

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/adam-swandi-mulls-home-comforts#Jd0D2tJK5RMKA9Ox.99

Singapore gambling addiction ad gets lampooned on Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

After Singaporeans had their turn joking about the poorly conceived ad campaign, the late night talk show host tore into it and even aired his own modified version of the spot

By Bhas Kunju

The National Council for Problem Gambling's (NCPG) ad campaign for the 2014 World Cup, which features a young boy who dejectedly confesses to his father betting his life savings on Germany to win, has already been lampooned by many local netizens but it has now made its way to the USA as well.

The 30-second ad features a group of young boys talking about who the eventual World Cup winner will be.

The spot ends with a boy named Andy who sullenly tells his friends he was forcibly rooting for Germany as a result of his dad's implied gambling addiction.

Late Night Talk Show host Jimmy Fallon tore into the 30-second ad on his show on Wednesday night.

Fallon, played the ad during his opening monologue drawing huge laughter from his studio audience as the clip rolled to an end.

"Cheer up kid, your dad bet on Germany!" Fallon joked. "He's so rich you dont even need to go to college anymore!"

"Also, how much could be in the kid's savings, he's 8-years-old!" he added before jokingly claiming the amount was $17.25.

The 39-year-old talkshow host then introduced a 'new version of the commercial', which featured an edited ending with a smiling Andy acknowledging his new windfall. The ad's end credits which featured the NCPG tagline 'Kick The Habit. Stop Problem Gambling' was modified to read, 'Keep The Habit. Gamble.'

The original NCPG gambling ad has been a permanent fixture on all local media since the start of the World Cup and aired prominently during broadcast of matches.

Germany's 7-1 routing of Brazil in the semi-finals on Wednesday morning drew immediate response from creative fans who turned the ad's short-sightedness into memes which spread quickly.

Goal Singapore approached NCPG for comments on the commercial early last week but have yet to receive a reply.

Source: http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3999/world-cup-2014/2014/07/10/4948973/singapore-anti-gambling-ad-gets-lampooned-on-tonight-show

LIVE TELECAST OF STARHUB LEAGUE CUP 2014 MATCHES

Football fans in Singapore can look forward to “LIVE” telecasts of selected StarHub League Cup 2014 matches this month, beginning with this Friday’s (11 July) Group D match between Brunei DPMM FC and Balestier Khalsa FC.

Two other matches will also be shown “LIVE” on two other Fridays – a Quarter-Final tie on 18 July and the showpiece Final on 25 July. All three telecast matches will be shown on MediaCorp OKTO and StarHub SuperSports Arena (Channel 201) at 8pm.

The StarHub League Cup promises to live up to its rich history of surprises and upsets.

Indeed, the first two matches of this year’s competition have already seen Geylang International pull off an exciting 2-1 come-from-behind win over Tampines Rovers as well as an unexpected 4-0 thrashing for Albirex Niigata by Tanjong Pagar United.

Source: http://sleague.com/news-features/news/2014/july/live-telecast-of-starhub-league-cup-2014-matches/

FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Semifinal Netherlands vs Argentina LIVE STREAMING LINKS

FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Semifinal Netherlands vs Argentina LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://atdhe.sx/soccer/watch-netherlands-argentina-69hee

http://atdhe.sx/soccer/

Wednesday, 9 July 2014

FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Semifinal Brazil vs Germany LIVE STREAMING LINKS

Brazil vs Germany LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://www.ifeed2all.eu/watch/268663/1/watch-brazil-vs-germany----fifa-wc-2014-.html

http://www.ifeed2all.eu/type/football.html

Saturday, 5 July 2014

FIFA World Cup 2014 Quater Finals Argentina vs Belgium, Netherlands vs Costa Rica LIVE STREAMING LINKS

Argentina vs Belgium LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://www.frombar.com/20140705/wv53b716ca9ca8b249095453-845392.html

http://www.ifeed2all.eu/type/football.html

Netherlands vs Costa Rica LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://www.frombar.com/20140705/wv53b716cc020af714811657-845393.html

http://www.ifeed2all.eu/type/football.html

FIFA World Cup 2014 Quater Finals France vs Germany, Brazil vs Colombia LIVE STREAMING LINKS

France vs Germany LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://streams.tv/channel/5016-ghana-sport/soccer

http://streams.tv/channel/14-bbc-one/soccer

http://atdhe.sx/soccer/watch-france-germany-69a1j

Brazil vs Colombia LIVE STREAMING LINKS

http://streams.tv/channel/5016-ghana-sport/soccer

http://streams.tv/channel/361-bbc-1-north-ireland/soccer

http://streams.tv/channel/5016-ghana-sport/soccer

Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Dortmund, Dinamo Moscow tests for Singapore teams

The senior men's team and the Under-23 side will be playing top European clubs in friendly fixtures during a 16-day training camp in Austria which starts next week

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have announced a training trip to Salzburg, Austria for the national team and the Under-23 side.

Both teams will be taking part in the training camp, from July 7 to 23, as part of their preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup in December and the SEA Games next year.

Three friendly matches have been scheduled for each team, where they will take on the likes of Borussia Dortmund's U-23 team and Dinamo Moscow of Russia.

Singapore Head Coach, Bernd Stange revealed in a media statement that he will be using the trip to help scout for players for the Juventus friendly on August 16.

“It is an excellent opportunity for our players to be playing against European professionals," he said. “Having daily training in such an ideal environment and playing against good players will definitely help in our preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup at the end of the year."

"I am also using this trip as an opportunity to select the best players for the big match against Juventus on 16 August.”

Meanwhile U-23 coach Aide Iskandar was hopeful that matches against the European sides will inspire the players to improve themselves.

“Playing against top teams like Borussia Dortmund will help our players understand where we are at this early stage of their development,” he said.

“Hopefully, they will be inspired to improve themselves after this trip. I know my boys will be up for it and this will be a golden opportunity for them to show what they can do. I’m looking forward to it.”

The squad lists for both the NT and the U-23 NT are as follow:

Singapore National Team

S/N

Full Name

Age

Pos.

1

ANUMANTHAN S/O MOHAN KUMAR

20

DF

2

BAIHAKKI BIN KHAIZAN

30

DF

3

FAZRUL NAWAZ S/O SHAHUL HAMEED

29

FW

4

HARISS S/O HARUN

24

MF

5

HASSAN BIN ABDULLAH SUNNY

30

GK

6

MOHAMAD IZWAN BIN MAHBUD

24

GK

7

MOHAMAD SHAIFUL BIN ESAH NAIN

28

DF

8

MOHAMAD SAHIL BIN SUHAIMI

22

FW

9

MOHAMMAD SHAHRIL BIN ISHAK

30

FW

10

MOHAMMAD KHAIRUL AMRI BIN MOHAMMAD KAMAL

29

FW

11

MOHAMMED AFIQ BIN YUNOS

24

DF

12

MOHAMMED FARITZ BIN ABDUL HAMEED

24

DF

13

MUHAMMAD SHAKIR BIN HAMZAH

22

DF

14

MUHAMMAD ZULFAHMI BIN MOHD ARIFIN

23

MF

15

MUHAMMAD FARIS BIN RAMLI

22

MF

16

MUHAMMAD SHAHFIQ BIN GHANI

22

MF

17

MUHAMMAD SAFUWAN BIN BAHARUDIN

23

DF

18

MUHAMMAD AL QAASIMY BIN ABDUL RAHMAN

22

DF

19

MUHAMMAD HAFIZ BIN ABU SUJAD

24

MF

20

QUAK JUN YI (GABRIEL)

24

MF

21

SHAHDAN BIN SULAIMAN

26

MF

Under-23 National Team

S/N

Full Name

Age

Pos.

1

ALI HUDZAIFI BIN MOHD YUSOF

22

DF

2

AMY RECHA PRISTIFANA BIN SAMION

22

MF

3

MOHAMED IQBAL BIN HAMID HUSSAIN

21

MF

4

MUHAMMAD FADLI BIN KAMIS

22

DF

5

MUHAMMAD MUHAIMIN BIN SUHAIMI

19

FW

6

MUHAMMAD SHAMEER AZIQ BIN ABDUL RAZAK

19

MF

7

MUHAMMAD SYAZWAN BIN BUHARI

22

GK

8

MUHAMMAD NUR NA'IIM BIN MOHD ISHAK

21

MF

9

NG YONG WOO,STANELY

22

MF

10

RUDY KHAIRULLAH BIN ADI NEGARA

20

GK

11

SHAHUL RAYYAN BIN MOHAMMAD REDZUAN

19

GK

12

SHEIKH ABDUL HADI BIN SH OTHMAN

22

DF

13

SIM TECK YI

22

DF

14

S SURIA PRAKASH

21

MF

15

ADAM BIN SWANDI

18

MF

16

IRFAN FANDI AHMAD

17

FW

17

IKHSAN FANDI AHMAD

15

MF

18

DELWINDER SINGH S/O RANJIT SINGH

22

DF

19

MUHAMMAD AMIRUL ADLI BIN AZMI

18

MF

20

AMMIRUL EMMRAN BIN MAZLAN

19

MF

Friendly Fixtures

Date

Team

Opponent

11 July

Under-23 National Team

FC Pribram (Cze)

12 July

National Team

FC Brno (Cze)

15 July

Under-23 National Team

Borussia Dortmund Under-23 (Ger)

18 July

National Team

Torpedo Moscow (Rus)

20 July

Under-23 National Team

TBC*

21 July

National Team

Dinamo Moscow (Rus)

* The match on 20th July will be announced at a later time.

Source: http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2014/07/01/4927707/dortmund-dinamo-moscow-tests-for-singapore-teams?ICID=SP_HN_2

Fandi's sons included in Singapore training trip to Austria

15-year-old Ikhsan and 17-year-old Irfan are the surprise inclusions in the training trip, and also the youngest two members in the squad

Irfan and Ikhsan, the elder two of Fandi Ahmad's children have been selected for a 16-day training trip to Austria with the Singapore Under-23 team.

The Austria stint will include the senior team as well, and both sides will take on top European clubs including the Borussia Dortmund U-23s and Dinamo Moscow in friendly fixtures.

15-year-old Ikhsan and 17-year-old Irfan are the surprise inclusions in the training stint and also the youngest two members in the squad.

The duo are currently based in Chile where they are training with the youth academy of AC Banerchea.

Irfan had previously featured for the NFA Under-16 side at the Canon Lion City Cup in 2013, while Ikhsan represented the country at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China.

The Singapore Under-23 team are preparing for the 2015 SEA Games to be held here next year. The side had initially planned for a spot in the Asian Games this year, but were excluded from the initial selection list by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC).

The Young Lions will play, FC Pribram of Czech Republic and the Borussia Dortmund Under-23 team during their stay in Austria. A third friendly for July 20 will be confirmed on a later date.

Singapore National Team

S/N

Full Name

Age

Pos.

1

ANUMANTHAN S/O MOHAN KUMAR

20

DF

2

BAIHAKKI BIN KHAIZAN

30

DF

3

FAZRUL NAWAZ S/O SHAHUL HAMEED

29

FW

4

HARISS S/O HARUN

24

MF

5

HASSAN BIN ABDULLAH SUNNY

30

GK

6

MOHAMAD IZWAN BIN MAHBUD

24

GK

7

MOHAMAD SHAIFUL BIN ESAH NAIN

28

DF

8

MOHAMAD SAHIL BIN SUHAIMI

22

FW

9

MOHAMMAD SHAHRIL BIN ISHAK

30

FW

10

MOHAMMAD KHAIRUL AMRI BIN MOHAMMAD KAMAL

29

FW

11

MOHAMMED AFIQ BIN YUNOS

24

DF

12

MOHAMMED FARITZ BIN ABDUL HAMEED

24

DF

13

MUHAMMAD SHAKIR BIN HAMZAH

22

DF

14

MUHAMMAD ZULFAHMI BIN MOHD ARIFIN

23

MF

15

MUHAMMAD FARIS BIN RAMLI

22

MF

16

MUHAMMAD SHAHFIQ BIN GHANI

22

MF

17

MUHAMMAD SAFUWAN BIN BAHARUDIN

23

DF

18

MUHAMMAD AL QAASIMY BIN ABDUL RAHMAN

22

DF

19

MUHAMMAD HAFIZ BIN ABU SUJAD

24

MF

20

QUAK JUN YI (GABRIEL)

24

MF

21

SHAHDAN BIN SULAIMAN

26

MF

Under-23 National Team

S/N

Full Name

Age

Pos.

1

ALI HUDZAIFI BIN MOHD YUSOF

22

DF

2

AMY RECHA PRISTIFANA BIN SAMION

22

MF

3

MOHAMED IQBAL BIN HAMID HUSSAIN

21

MF

4

MUHAMMAD FADLI BIN KAMIS

22

DF

5

MUHAMMAD MUHAIMIN BIN SUHAIMI

19

FW

6

MUHAMMAD SHAMEER AZIQ BIN ABDUL RAZAK

19

MF

7

MUHAMMAD SYAZWAN BIN BUHARI

22

GK

8

MUHAMMAD NUR NA'IIM BIN MOHD ISHAK

21

MF

9

NG YONG WOO,STANELY

22

MF

10

RUDY KHAIRULLAH BIN ADI NEGARA

20

GK

11

SHAHUL RAYYAN BIN MOHAMMAD REDZUAN

19

GK

12

SHEIKH ABDUL HADI BIN SH OTHMAN

22

DF

13

SIM TECK YI

22

DF

14

S SURIA PRAKASH

21

MF

15

ADAM BIN SWANDI

18

MF

16

IRFAN FANDI AHMAD

17

FW

17

IKHSAN FANDI AHMAD

15

MF

18

DELWINDER SINGH S/O RANJIT SINGH

22

DF

19

MUHAMMAD AMIRUL ADLI BIN AZMI

18

MF

20

AMMIRUL EMMRAN BIN MAZLAN

19

MF

Friendly Fixtures

Date

Team

Opponent

11 July

Under-23 National Team

FC Pribram (Cze)

12 July

National Team

FC Brno (Cze)

15 July

Under-23 National Team

Borussia Dortmund Under-23 (Ger)

18 July

National Team

Torpedo Moscow (Rus)

20 July

Under-23 National Team

TBC*

21 July

National Team

Dinamo Moscow (Rus)

* The match on 20th July will be announced at a later time.

Source: http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2014/07/01/4927809/fandis-sons-included-in-singapore-training-trip-to-austria?ICID=SP