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Tag: disappointment

  • Wedding Bells Robbed Local Football Fans Opportunity For Messi Appearance In Singapore

    Wedding Bells Robbed Local Football Fans Opportunity For Messi Appearance In Singapore

    Local football fans fume as reports claim Argentina captain and Otamendi will miss Singapore game.

    Instead of wowing the National Stadium next Tuesday with his intricate touches, Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is likely to be back in his home country, dealing with the intricacies of wedding planning.

    Yesterday, reports surfacing from Argentina and Australia, where Argentina play Brazil in a friendly tonight, stated that the Barcelona playmaker and Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi will miss the friendly match against Singapore next week.

    According to the reports, they are allowed to fly home to plan for their respective weddings.

    “Otamendi and Messi are allowed to travel (home) after the game because the two of them are getting married,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said in yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

    Separately, The Clarin, Argentina’s biggest daily newspaper, reported yesterday that Messi’s absence in Singapore was “an open secret”, and that he wanted to be with his loved ones as he finalises preparations for his June 30 wedding to Antonella Roccuzzo, the mother of his two sons Thiago and Mateo.

    Also, Otamendi is set to get married on June 16, and thus is given permission to miss the Singapore tie.

    In a joint statement yesterday, the Football Association of Singapore and match promoter Unicess said they were aware of the reports concerning the Argentine duo’s impending plans.

    The statement read: “We are currently working with the Argentinian FA to determine the authenticity of the claims made in these reports and will provide an update as soon as we are able to.”

    Local fans reacted with disappointment at the news yesterday, with some asking if the organisers would consider refunds.

    Tickets for the Singapore-Argentina match cost between $40 and $188, with some sections of the 55,000-seater National Stadium already sold out.

    Netizen Clemence Chia said: “I hope organisers would be gentlemanly enough to allow refunds for those who bought tickets because of Messi.”

    Thomas Hoon added: “I kind of expected it as these trips are generally for second-string players trying to prove themselves.

    “I am sure this was known to the organisers beforehand; Messi just woke up in the morning and say ‘I (am) getting married?’”

     

    Source: http://www.tnp.sg/

  • Lions Crash Out Of Suzuki Cup

    Lions Crash Out Of Suzuki Cup

    Defending champions Singapore are out of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2014 after a 3-1 loss to Malaysia at the National Stadium on Saturday (Nov 29).

    Both sides played out to a cagey first half, but Safee Sali put the Tigers ahead in the 61st minute after Hariss Harun fluffed clearance allowed the Malaysian striker slams the ball home from an angle.

    The Lions poured forward in search for an equaliser after that, and were rewarded in the 83rd minute.

    Safuwan Baharudin’s free kick is spilled by the Malaysian goalkeeper, and Khairul Amri was on hand to tap home.

    But the Lions’ joy was shortlived, as the referee pointed to the spot after Amri Yahyah went down in the penalty box in the dying stages.

    Safiq put the spot kick away to put the Malaysians 2-1 up.

    Indra Putra put the final nail in the coffin, passing the ball into an empty goal after Singapore goalkeeper Hassan Sunny went up to the opposing penalty box in search of a goal for a corner as the Lions threw caution to the wind.

    The riot police were called in after the match, initially to deal with the the boisterous Malaysian fans, and later to handle the situation in front of the tunnel, where irate Singapore fans threw bottles at the referee.

    They were upset at the match officials for making several dubious calls against the Lions throughout the match.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg