Ex-Lions “Dream Team” reunite to assist little girl in need

Story by Dan Azmie/Red Sports. Pictures by Jun Wei/Red Sports.

Tampines Stadium, Sunday, June 28, 2009 – After gracing Jalan Besar last month, the “dream team” of the early 90s gathered to take on a Singapore “All-Star” team comprising of local celebrities once again for a noble cause.

Ex-international Rafi Ali was instrumental in bringing back his old football “kakis” together to raise funds through a charity match after he heard of the plight of little Charmaine Lim, 4, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer.

Ex-import player Jang Jung even flew in from Sri Lanka (where he is now coaching) to participate in the charity match, which the sizeable crowd certainly took note of as they roared him onto the pitch.

For the record, the match ended 11-5 in favour of the “Dream team”, a stark difference to the previous match which was won 1-0 by them as well. The reason for the goalfest? The kind people from the Cage had generously pledged to donate $100 for every goal scored.

The team lineups were mouthwatering indeed, with household names Fandi, Abbas, Sundram and “Spiderman” David Lee sparring against the likes of Glenn Ong, “Asian Idol” Hady Mirza and possibly Singapore’s funniest man, Sheikh Haikel.

From the start, the entertainment factor was upped as the announcer provided a running commentary of the match. In 5 minutes, Abbas Saad was the first to shoot, but it was well over, prompting the commentator to request for him to do a 5 push-up punishment, which he sportingly obliged.

Abbas though, made it easy a few minutes later when he picked a Rafi pass which split the defence, and buried it for the opening goal of the match.

Sheikh Haikel was having none of it as straight from the kickoff, he went on a bulldozing run straight at goal only to bundle Rafi over unintentionally. Soon after, that run took its toll as he was signaling to the bench for a substitution!

By the 13th minute, the “Dream team” had raced to a 3-0 lead courtesy of goals from Sundram and Rafi, with the latter nutmegging his opponent before shimmying and burying the ball into the net.

The celebrities pulled one goal back after the ball bobbled around the box, but Abbas made it 4-1 after 30 minutes, slotting the ball via a penalty after he was fouled in the box.

Soon, it was “Supersub” Steven Tan’s turn to head the ball and make it five, but the goals were coming thick and fast as the celebrities refused to relent. Eric Francis soon made it 5-2 by converting a cross from left.

Samawira Basri and living legend Fandi extended the “Dream Team’s” lead to 7-2, and the score stayed that way at the half-time mark.

The celebrities were not to be sent packing without a fight as they stormed to the field in the second half and managed to pull back the scoreline to 7-4, courtesy of PJ Roberts and Winston Yap.

That sprung a response by the Lions as 40 year old Steven Tan went on a rampaging run on the 60th minute mark, and found Abbas to finish sweetly. The Australian completed his hat trick and was basking in the adulation from the crowd after a 14-year absence.

Singapore’s homegrown hero Fandi also wanted a part of the action. At the 62nd minute, a cross from Rudy Khairon from the left drew gasps of excitement as the ex-Gronigen star unleashed his trademark scissors kick, instantly triggering flashbacks of yesteryear, but unfortunately, the ball did not find the net.

Sheikh Haikel probably felt jealous of all the attention towards the football stars and he promptly sneaked onto the field, playing a prank on the 4th official who was wagging her finger at the dreadlocked star.

Protesting his innocence, Haikel jokingly claimed that he didn’t know that he was the 12th man for his team and this brought on laughter all around the stadium.

At the 87th minute, Haikel had the last laugh as a cross found him and he pounced to swipe the ball in like a seasoned pro to wild applause from the crowd.

That goal prompted a pitch invasion from the celebrities, as they all raced to the field to embrace him. The people from the Cage were so impressed by Haikel’s feat that they pledged to donate $500 for that particular goal!

After the game, Football Association of Singapore president Zainudin Nordin saluted the effort made by all in the charity match: “The spirit of football can bring people together for a good cause. Singaporeans in general are generous, and willing to help”.

Rafi, who spearheaded the idea of the charity match, remarked of the atmosphere inside the stadium: “What can I say… It was like playing in the Malaysia Cup again.”

He continued to reiterate the cause of the match and urged Singaporeans to stand by those in need: “Charmaine is not fighting alone, all of us are fighting with her.”

You can do your part by visiting Charmaine Lim’s blog to pledge donations for her upcoming operation in the U.S.