Ole ole ole ole ole .... ole ole .... The semi final match up between Singapore and Malaysia was totally electrifying.
Re-wind a little for those who don't know what is happening. Currently in this region we are having the Asean Football Championship Cup, previously known as the Tiger Cup.
I can't remember when was the last time I'm in the National Stadium watching Singapore played, but one thing for certain, it was not a full house of 55,000 packed. In the afternoon, I was so worried that I can't get the tickets, coz they are selling fast ... grandstand tickets were sold out 3 days before match day. By the time I got my hands on the tickets (on match day itself), the new presenter was announcing only about 5,000 tickets are left for sale at the stadium. Zoom there once my appointment was over, got the 5 tickets that I needed ... so excited with the tickets in hand and so looking forward to the match.
In the evening for dinner at MacDonald Kallang, Uncle Ronald ... if you have that 1 min challenge for your staff there on that day, you will probably be given heaps of free apple pie to the people. Never in my life do I have to wait 30mins to get my order in Mac, totally unbelievable but hey what do you expect when the National Stadium is playing at full house and SHE (the taiwanese pop group, we are joking if they will be our half time show in the soccer match) is also holding their concert in the Indoor Stadium. Kudos to the staff in Mac, got my order settled in 2mins with a smile too.
Thank God for my friends who reserved a few seats for us in the stadium. Best seats for me, got to see everything in a glance. Before the match got on, the whole stadium started the kallang wave and stamping our feet. You can really feel the whole stadium erupting ... the atmosphere was just amazing. People are coming in even after the match started and many of them need to seat on the steps and along the walkway ... it is just packed packed packed 55,000 FULL. Red is the color of the night. (I wore black but brought along a red umbrella. At least something red to fit in.)
When the match started, we cheered every time a Singaporean player touches the ball and boo-ed the Malaysian players. I tell you ... my throat is so dry until today ... all that shouting, I guess I am just one of those crazy passionate soccer people out there. I never did shout my lungs out in public areas but this is just one of those rare occasion.
Half time score 0-0 ... come on "We want Goal, we want Goal, we want Goal". The Malaysian score first, what a blunder by Lewis (the Singapore goalkeeper) ... we were near his post, thought that the shoot coming in should be an easy save by his (Lewis) standard. To my horror, the ball bounced slowly over the line ... Nooooo!!!!! I just buried my face in my hand. The game continued. Look at the clock ... 15 more mins ... we need to score.
Singapore continue to mount assault after assault on the Malaysia goal. Finally a breakthrough. GOAL for Singapore. Don't know how the ball went it, but who cares it's a GOAL!!! Everyone was on their feet, waving flags, cheering, jumping, fist pumping, high fives ... relieved. Hold on tight National Stadium, don't collapse now. We are going for the kill.
The game ended 1-1 after extra time. Down to the penalty kicks to decide the finalist in the competition. First 4 kicks from both countries were successfully taken. Now comes to the final one, Shi ZiYi from Singapore steps up ... he scored but only just. What a dramatic ending, Lewis saved the last kick from the Malaysian. This set the National Stadium to another level. Euphoria. This is crazy, feeling indescribable, the horns are loud, the cheers are louder, it just set the whole ablaze. I tell you ... this feeling is probably the same if not better than those in the Malaysia Cup days. You have to be here ... in the crowd, feel the rush. I even filmed it in my mobile phone, not sure if it can be uploaded.
As the curtain falls on National Stadium in July this year, with a grand plan of a new sports hub, all of this will be a memory to cherish. And this memory of the National Stadium will always be with me. This will probably be my last time in a fully packed National Stadium, but I do look forward for the new sports hub.
Coming Wednesday will be the 1st leg of the final in Singapore. I am leading caregroup that night, can I bring everyone there :P
Re-wind a little for those who don't know what is happening. Currently in this region we are having the Asean Football Championship Cup, previously known as the Tiger Cup.
I can't remember when was the last time I'm in the National Stadium watching Singapore played, but one thing for certain, it was not a full house of 55,000 packed. In the afternoon, I was so worried that I can't get the tickets, coz they are selling fast ... grandstand tickets were sold out 3 days before match day. By the time I got my hands on the tickets (on match day itself), the new presenter was announcing only about 5,000 tickets are left for sale at the stadium. Zoom there once my appointment was over, got the 5 tickets that I needed ... so excited with the tickets in hand and so looking forward to the match.In the evening for dinner at MacDonald Kallang, Uncle Ronald ... if you have that 1 min challenge for your staff there on that day, you will probably be given heaps of free apple pie to the people. Never in my life do I have to wait 30mins to get my order in Mac, totally unbelievable but hey what do you expect when the National Stadium is playing at full house and SHE (the taiwanese pop group, we are joking if they will be our half time show in the soccer match) is also holding their concert in the Indoor Stadium. Kudos to the staff in Mac, got my order settled in 2mins with a smile too.
Thank God for my friends who reserved a few seats for us in the stadium. Best seats for me, got to see everything in a glance. Before the match got on, the whole stadium started the kallang wave and stamping our feet. You can really feel the whole stadium erupting ... the atmosphere was just amazing. People are coming in even after the match started and many of them need to seat on the steps and along the walkway ... it is just packed packed packed 55,000 FULL. Red is the color of the night. (I wore black but brought along a red umbrella. At least something red to fit in.)
When the match started, we cheered every time a Singaporean player touches the ball and boo-ed the Malaysian players. I tell you ... my throat is so dry until today ... all that shouting, I guess I am just one of those crazy passionate soccer people out there. I never did shout my lungs out in public areas but this is just one of those rare occasion.Half time score 0-0 ... come on "We want Goal, we want Goal, we want Goal". The Malaysian score first, what a blunder by Lewis (the Singapore goalkeeper) ... we were near his post, thought that the shoot coming in should be an easy save by his (Lewis) standard. To my horror, the ball bounced slowly over the line ... Nooooo!!!!! I just buried my face in my hand. The game continued. Look at the clock ... 15 more mins ... we need to score.
Singapore continue to mount assault after assault on the Malaysia goal. Finally a breakthrough. GOAL for Singapore. Don't know how the ball went it, but who cares it's a GOAL!!! Everyone was on their feet, waving flags, cheering, jumping, fist pumping, high fives ... relieved. Hold on tight National Stadium, don't collapse now. We are going for the kill.
The game ended 1-1 after extra time. Down to the penalty kicks to decide the finalist in the competition. First 4 kicks from both countries were successfully taken. Now comes to the final one, Shi ZiYi from Singapore steps up ... he scored but only just. What a dramatic ending, Lewis saved the last kick from the Malaysian. This set the National Stadium to another level. Euphoria. This is crazy, feeling indescribable, the horns are loud, the cheers are louder, it just set the whole ablaze. I tell you ... this feeling is probably the same if not better than those in the Malaysia Cup days. You have to be here ... in the crowd, feel the rush. I even filmed it in my mobile phone, not sure if it can be uploaded.
As the curtain falls on National Stadium in July this year, with a grand plan of a new sports hub, all of this will be a memory to cherish. And this memory of the National Stadium will always be with me. This will probably be my last time in a fully packed National Stadium, but I do look forward for the new sports hub.
Coming Wednesday will be the 1st leg of the final in Singapore. I am leading caregroup that night, can I bring everyone there :P
1 comment:
finally your long awaited first post.. new CL...jia you... and singapore rocks!
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