Again, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
I have not been to any of Lions’ recent matches since the Old Kallang Stadium was gone. Maybe there was one or two forgettable matches, but otherwise I would rather just watch it at home, or sometimes I had preferred to forget all about it.
Because it hurts to watch.
*On the way from Punggol
Tonight was different. I was determined to go. Even when the weather threatened a thunderstorm. It was pitch black when we left the house, even at 6pm. We – myself and 3 of my boys – were on our way to watch the Lions roar tonight.
It was a very unfamiliar sight and sound, the whole experience felt strange. No more march from the Kallang Stadium, along with many other locals, strangers we call bros and sis, and uncles and aunties, because the MRT is now already right under the stadium’s nose. Haiyah, its already there at the stadium itself, lah.
Also, more of us would be taking the taxi or Grab, like me. Otherwise they would be driving, conveniently parked at the massive thousand lots covered parking space within the stadium itself.
The fact that it is no longer known as Kallang Stadium, but SportsHub itself is already a huge difference. It does not feel homely anymore, like you know, as how we would call it as our own place. Like how we remember Esplande for its Satay, East Coast for its Big Splash, and Kallang for its Stadium, because there was no other.
Maybe it is just me, lah. I’ve really turned old school already.
Back to the stadium, generally the crowd was orderly. The Kallang Wave Mall was buzzing with activities on every floor, everyone seemed to be making a beeline for any available food outlet. Weston Corp is a huge hit with the crowd, thank God it was spacious. It was a pit stop for your dreams as a football star, a few steps away from the grand stadium itself.
Back then, there was none of such. Maybe just a small merchandise stall within the stadium itself, otherwise the fans were all fully focused on the match, ready to literally shake the concrete structure of the stadium.
Then there was this very wide “welcoming arms” of steps leading up to the main gates. It was such a warm welcome, despite being all concrete, dull and cold.
I can still remember climbing up the narrow stairs, not even a peek of the interior until I was already at the last step when I would be awed by the view. Green patches of grass + Grey concrete + Red Running track. A gush of cold breeze would kiss my cheeks… ok I got carried away now.
Today, we seemed to forget that we were actually going to a stadium, because we had to pass by the rows of food outlets, shopping attractions and a conveniently located NTUC Fairprice in case you might need some eggs, rice cookers or detergents on your way home.
Getting past the counter, it was like being transported to another dimension, an almost similar scene at the airports minus the passports. There were no more pushing, squeezing, sweat smelling. Maybe it was not a full capacity crowd anyway, unlike those days.
We heard later through the PA that it was a little more than 18,000 of us who had watched the match. I told my boys that this was a pale shadow of the usual 40-50,000 turnouts in those days.
Took them quite some time to digest the numbers and imagine the crowd.
I had got ourselves decent seats, which would be impossible back then. I felt closer to the players, since the seats were not on an elevated platform. We were almost directly opposite gate 18, and it was quite a sum spent for the four of us. I did not mind, really. It shall be the best experience for the boys. At least they got to sit on the plastic foldable chairs, unlike the cold timber planks my skinny butt used to sit.
Not funny, when I was celebrating a goal, I jumped up, swung my jacket around and immediately sat back, only to scratch my back on the folded plastic chair. Ouch.
Anyway, getting the seats was the least of the problem. There were plenty of empty seats that we did not need to interrupt anyone else already seated. The bright lights of the stadium helps too – a LOT. No excuse to leave any bags around after the match.
Oh, and we would not know if it was raining outside because there is now a roof over the stadium! My mind was already thinking that there would be no excuse of “wind factor” if the strikers were to have a shot at goal.
Thankfully, the Lions did not disappoint. Fandi and his boys lived up to everyone’s expectations. In his own words;
“In our heart, we want to score at least four goals,” Fandi said on Tuesday. “It’s not impossible and we want to do the impossible. This game is a do-or-die mission and we need to win big.”
I was really, honestly doubtful and sceptical. We had just managed a 1-0 win over the Indonesians, and lost 0-1 to the Philippines. This is Timor Leste. Many many ranks below us. We had really struggled in the past even to lesser ranked teams.
And then we scored. 1-0 up within the 12th minute. We jumped from our seats. I felt like 18 all over again. I screamed and shouted and oh, Timor Leste just equalised one minute later.
What the… #keeperkatmana
We were already camping on their half, and by half time the scoreline was good enough to just end the match, 4-1.
During the break, I asked the boys to scramble up, beat the crowd to the drink stalls. No can do. The boys returned disappointed, the Q was unbelievable. Well, that was very expected. At least they could easily find their way back to the seats, unlike in those days where the wide corridors would be smoked out by the smokers during half time that you would actually lost track of the gate.
I was well aware that there would be no more hot crispy karipap with sambal making their way to me in those plastic baskets. Now at 3:00 am I’m craving for it! Damn it!
Second half started without much action, except for the Kallang Wave… which worked throughout for at least 2 rounds despite the empty seats on the East and West stands. Did they forget to stamp their feet while doing so?
There were some chances to get more goals, the bar was in the way once. The forwards seem to forget how to score suddenly. Or did the bookies said enough already?
Soon we were fast approaching the 80th minute. 81st, 82nd… nothing until 89th minute when Faris slotted one in. That was our 5th goal. The crowd went wild. I jumped and screamed till my throat went sore much to the amusement of the boys.
Unexpectedly, Safuwan sapu another late goal. A header. 6-1.
It was surely a night to remember. Absolutely. It did not matter who our opponent was. It was the team which had showed a glimpse of what the crowd was familiar to watch, an attacking football, with a calm composed back line with deadly set pieces. And some unacceptable annoying moments in the last third.
*image from FoxSports Singapore
Fact that Ikhsan Fandi got his goals, one with a bicycle kick some more, would make any father proud. As a Singapore’s favourite son, now his son doing what he used to do, spectacularly…. the whole nation would have felt the same level of pride.
My boys may not have been die hard football fans, I myself was not even close to be one, but at least I had done my part to introduce them to an unforgettable experience, by an unforgettable performance of the Lions.
Thank you. It was surely a night to remember.
Secawan TehTarek 
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