Category: Singapuraku

Edwin Tong: Allegation That I Scolded Volunteers Completely False, I Did Not Even Have To Queue

I have been a fan of football since I was very young and was thrilled to attend the @SEAGames2015 football opener between ‪#‎Singapore‬ and the Philippines at @JalanBesarStadium. I have a lot of regard for our ‪#‎SEAGames2015‬ volunteers, the people on the ground who make these Games tick. In fact, many in my family and amongst my friends are SEA Games volunteers, and I know how much time and sacrifices they have put in.

So I was very surprised at the contents of an article on social media, claiming that I was supposedly “clearly unhappy” about having to wait in queue at the stadium or had shouted at volunteers.

This is completely false.

As I was trying to make my way into the stadium that night, I had stopped to ask for directions to the correct entry point to my allocated seat. I was given directions to the correct entrance and I made my own way there. At no point did I make an issue with having to queue or complain to anyone about having to queue. In fact, the contention that I had been unhappy about being made to queue or to “wait so long” is plainly false because I did not have to queue at all that night to get to my seat, let alone that I had apparently complained about having to queue.

The next game is against Myanmar tomorrow night. Please come and watch what promises to be a very exciting match, especially after Myanmar upset Indonesia 4-2 last night. Let’s stay united behind @TeamSingapore at the SEA Games and spur them on to give their best!

Source: Edwin Tong

June 4, 2015
Irfan Fandi Not Living In Famous Father’s Shadow

Irfan Fandi admits he did not expected to be called upon so early in the 28th SEA Games during their Group A opener against Philippines on Monday night.

The forward had not been included in the starting line-up, but was thrown into the fray in front of a sold-out Jalan Besar crowd after 36 minutes with the match still scoreless.

“Actually, I was quite surprised to come in so early as I thought the coach would put me in the second half to create more attacking options,” Irfan told the press on Wednesday at the team’s hotel base.

The 17-year-old went on to impress throughout the game with some fine hold-up play, while also creating two good chances for Sahil Suhaimi. He came close to scoring as well, with the Young Lions eventually running out 1-0 victors.

Fandi family cheers on Irfan

Irfan also felt “very honoured” to play in front of his family, with father Fandi Ahmad in the stands while mother Wendy Jacobs watched from the VIP area with his siblings.

“My whole family was there except for my brother (Ikhsan), who’s in Chile, so I just gave everything,” he recalled. “After the game, I saw them and I felt good, and my dad said I played a very good game and should keep on working harder.”

Head coach Aide Iskandar was pleased with Irfan’s performance, adding that his 1.87m frame gives the team a different dimension in attack. The former Lions captain also believes that he is not living in the shadow cast over him by his famous father.

“For Irfan, we must make sure that when he’s given a chance to play, he is able to contribute because there are a lot of expectations on his shoulders,” he explained.

“I believe this boy is strong mentally… a lot of people are comparing him to his father, but I think he’s his own man.”

While Aide remained coy on whether Irfan would start the next game against Myanmar on Thursday, the player himself is more than ready for it.

“I just want to focus on my game,” said Irfan, who is the youngest squad member. “Hopefully, if I start or I don’t start, I will just give my best.”

Adam Swandi (jersey number 5) celebrates as Singapore scores against the Philippines. Photo: SINGSOC/Action Images

Aide: Adam is like Pirlo

However, another starlet in the side looks likely to retain his starting berth, with Aide set to continue using Adam Swandi in central midfield.

It is a new role for the 19-year-old Adam, usually more accustomed to being deployed further upfront, but Aide is confident the skillful teenager can adapt – and drew comparisons between him and Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo.

“For Adam, one thing about him is that he has sublime technique, quite similar to Pirlo,” he said.
“He can orchestrate play from the back and if given a chance to play in front in the number 10 role, I’m pretty sure he can excel now because he knows how to attack and at the same time he also knows how to defend.”

Source: https://sg.sports.yahoo.com

June 4, 2015
Young Lions Coach Keeps Cards Close To His Chest
GROUP A

SINGAPORE v MYANMAR

(Tonight, 8.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium,  Singtel TV Ch 134, MediaCorp okto)

Less than 24 hours before the Singapore Under-23s take on Myanmar in their second Group A match at the Jalan Besar Stadium tonight, the Young Lions still remain, anxiously, in the dark.

“No one has a clue as to who’s going to start,” midfielder Adam Swandi told The New Paper.

Indeed, coach Aide Iskandar was not exaggerating when he said that he’s keeping his cards close to his chest – after the 1-0 opening victory over the Philippines on Monday.

Although they collected three precious points from their first game at the 28th South-east Asia (SEA) Games, Singapore performed below expectations against a largely amateur Philippines team.

Changes, Aide said, are likely as the Young Lions face an in-form Myanmar side, buoyed by their stunning 4-2 win over Indonesia on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old coach will likely have to do without playmaker Shahfiq Ghani once again, as the 23-year-old struggles to recover from a knee injury.

Pravin Guanasagaran is in line for a start in the midfield engine room, in place of Safirul Sulaiman.

But the big dilemma Aide faces is whether to field striker Irfan Fandi from the start or off the bench.

The 17-year-old made an impression in the Philippines game when he came on for the ineffective Shamil Sharif after just 35 minutes.

The 1.87-metre tall Irfan held the ball up well and fashioned chances for Sahil Suhaimi and himself.

Aide, however, was giving nothing away, although he admitted that he wasn’t ruling out starting both Irfan and Sahil up front.

“It’s possible. We’ve done it before, so there is no issue there,” he said.

“Sahil is a different player from Irfan and they complement each other well. It could give our opponents a headache with those two in attack.”

Both Aide and assistant coach S Subramani have had discussions with key men Sahil and Faris Ramli.

The LionsXII duo failed to live up to expectations against the Philippines, with Sahil missing three gilt-edged opportunities and winger Faris being a mere passenger throughout the match.

“We’ve had a chat with both players. They know themselves that they weren’t up to scratch in the first game,” Aide said.

EXPECTATIONS

“Maybe the expectations were too high or maybe it was just the first game and it takes time to get their engines started.

“But I told them that you’re only as good as your last game – so they must keep their momentum from their impressive displays for the LionsXII going.”

The Myanmarese may be without star men Kyaw Ko Ko and Kyi Lin – both with the senior side for the World Cup qualifiers – but they showed on Tuesday that they had enough pace and killer instinct to punish Singapore.

Said Aide: “I wasn’t surprised to see Myanmar beat Indonesia. But, to be fair, the Indonesians are slow starters and I think the news from Fifa (to ban the Indonesian FA) affected them.

“Myanmar play good attacking football, pressure high up the pitch and have speed in attack.

“But, rest assured, we have a game plan (to counter them).”

S’PORE’S PROBABLE LINE-UP:
- Syazwan Buhari
- Al-Qaasimy Rahman
- M Anumanthan
- Sheikh Abdul Hadi
- Shakir Hamzah
- Adam Swandi
- Pravin Guanasagaran
- Stanely Ng
- Faris Ramli
- Shamil Sharif
- Sahil Suhaimi
Source: www.tnp.sg
June 4, 2015
Team Singapore Synchronised Swimmers Makes History With SEA Games Gold

The Republic’s national synchronised swimming team created history today (June 3) when their technical and free routine won Singapore its first-ever SEA Games gold medal in the sport.

The Singapore team finished with a total of 150.8455 points — 76.5000 for the free routine and 74.3445 for the technical routine. The Malaysians, who won all the gold medals the previous two times the sport was included in the Games (2001 and 2011), finished second with 146.5204. Indonesia finished third with 138.1796. The gold medal is Singapore’s first after winning three silvers and one bronze during the sport’s 2001 and 2011 editions.

Captain Stephanie Chen was visibly elated after leading her team to victory, and expressed her appreciation for the fan support.

“I can’t say this (medal) was expected,” she said. “But we managed to hit our target and bring home some gold. I think Singaporeans can expect more gold from synchro because this sport is fairly new in Singapore and we were the few pioneer batches and we are already garnering the next generation for Singapore.”

On hand to congratulate the team’s achievement was Culture, Community and Youth Minister Lawrence Wong, who commended the girls and other Singaporean athletes for giving the host nation a strong start at the Games.

“We are proud of the girls. I would say that I am also proud of all the Team Singapore athletes so far who have had a strong start to the Games campaign, and the official opening hasn’t even started,” said Mr Wong.

“I would also say that I am very impressed with the turnout of the fans because at all the competition venues that I have been to (table tennis, football, netball), I see the fans cheering for Team Singapore athletes. That’s what the home ground advantage is all about and I hope that we see this continuing.”

National coach Maryna Tsimashenka felt the team had a good performance, though she has identified areas that need improvement.

“There was a mistake during the performance but the start was very, very good. Maybe the sync was not good. Tomorrow we will try again,” she said.

Two more finals for the synchronised swimming — one for the duet technical and free routine and another for the team free combination — will take place today.

Malaysia is currently in the lead with 75.3436 points with Singapore closely behind at 73.9705 for the duet technical and free routine category.

Source: www.todayonline.com

June 4, 2015
3rd Gold Medal For Singapore Table-Tennis

Unleashing a guttural roar with each winning point, Yang Zi glared at his opponents from across the competition table, as if daring the Thai pair of Padasak Tanaviriyavechakul and Suthasini Sawetthabut to beat him and his partner Yu Mengyu to the SEA Games mixed doubles gold.

The game of intimidation appeared to work for the Singaporean paddlers today (June 3), as the Thais’ earlier bravado – they had upset top seeded Singaporeans Li Hu and Zhou Yihan 4-3 in the semi-finals – deserted them in the final, leaving Yang and Yu to claim victory in straight sets (4-0) and win the Republic’s third gold medal at the SEA Games.

Yu and women’s doubles partner Feng Tianwei had lost the gold to teammates Lin Ye and Zhou Yihan yesterday, and the 25-year-old was delighted to pick up her first title here.

“Today my partner played very well and his spirit inspired me,” she said. “I didn’t think before this that it would be this relaxed. My teammates lost to them so Yang Zi and I made sure we did sufficient preparation for this.”

While local fans had expected an all-Singaporean final in the mixed doubles, they were left disappointed today as top seeds Li and Zhou – who won the men’s and women’s doubles gold medal respectively yesterday – were eliminated in the semis. Despite charging ahead to a 3-1 lead, the Singaporeans found the Thais’ fiery attacking game too hot to handle, losing the match 4-3 to Tanviriyavechakul and Sawettabut.

A five-time gold medallist in the mixed doubles, Yang has not lost his grip on his crown since the 2005 SEA Games, and he was not about to let the Thais usurp his throne. Fired up from the get-go, Yang’s deadly smashes proved too much for Tanviriyavechakul and Sawettabut to handle, as the Singapore pair first claimed the lead 1-0, before making it 2-0. As the score went to 3-0, it was clear that the Thais were in trouble. Yang and Yu then powered past their opponents to claim victory in the fourth game 11-6.

Yang insisted that there was no secret to his success, as he added: “There’s no secret, just hard training. We played them at the recent world champs…it was very close but we won. This time we prepared very well and played well. Semi-finalists Vietnam and Thailand are the strongest opponent in South-east Asia and we prepared very well by watching videos everyday.”

While it was mission accomplished for Team Singapore’s 10-member table tennis team with a third gold in the bag, there was frustration and disappointment for local-born player Isabelle Li.

The 20-year-old, who won two silver medals in the women’s singles at the 2011 and 2013 SEA Games, suffered a 3-2 loss to Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Nga in the women’s singles group stage. Only the top ranked player in each of the four groups will advance to the semi-finals, and the loss could see defending silver medallist Li eliminated from the singles. Li will only advance to the top four if she beats Laos’ Seangdavieng Douangpanya in her final group match tomorrow, and Nguyen loses to Myanmar’s Khin Kaung San.

Li was close to tears after today’s match, as she said: “I think my chances of getting into the main draw has ended here. I wasn’t feeling physically good today and made a lot of mistakes. I played her at the SEA Championships last November (Li won 3-0) and she was a lot fiercer today. I wasn’t able to bring my form on court today and that gave her confidence.”

Li’s potential exit will leave world No 4 Feng Tianwei with the responsibility of winning the singles gold for Singapore. With Team Singapore’s 749-strong contingent aiming to win more than 50 gold medals in the first home Games since 1993, expectations are high for the paddlers to win all seven medals on offer at the indoor stadium.

“Getting the third gold is not less of a burden, but more of a burden,” said Singapore Table Tennis Association president Ellen Lee. “I’m very disappointed (with Li’s loss) and there is a lot of expectation heaped on Isabelle. But it is a growing up process, and the good thing is that she is still young and this is a good experience for the younger players.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

June 4, 2015