Fans taste nostalgia as ex-Lions take on local celebrities

Story by Jan Lin/Red Sports. Photos by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports and Vanessa Lim/Red Sports.

Jalan Besar Stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2009 - The heyday of Singapore football was rekindled at the Jalan Besar Stadium as the "dream team" of the early 1990s reunited to do their bit for charity. Taking on a team of local celebrities in a 60-minute affair, a mouth-watering legendary side sealed a 1-0 victory with a deft touch from V. Sundramoorthy.

It was a reunion of the team that had lifted Singapore's last Malaysia Cup in 1994 before the Republic pulled out of the league after that season. Even Australian striker Abbas Saad, who recently had his 14-year playing ban lifted in March, made his appearance at Jalan Besar. The only foreigner missing was Korean Jang Jung, who is currently coaching in Sri Lanka.

The star-studded match was meant to be more entertaining than competitive, but it was still not lacking in skilful displays from the Singapore golden boys of yesteryears as they took on household names in the local entertainment scene such as DJ Glenn Ong, TV host Andy Penders and the flamboyant Sheikh Haikal.

The game got off to a charitable start as the ex-internationals went easy on the celebrities. Fandi Ahmad, donning the nostalgic number 17 jersey, had a golden opportunity to score but he went easy on the goal keeper.

Soon after, Fandi blasted a shot over the crossbar to give the match its first taste of competitive vigour. But 3 minutes later, the current coach of Indonesian club Pelita Jaya was substituted by "super-sub" Steven Tan. Sporting his usual number 14 jersey, Steven was still a menacing threat on the right flank and his speedy presence certainly changed the pace of the game.

Steven, who is currently coaching the national Under-18 squad, was busy dashing down the right flank to feed his dangerous crosses into the center of the box. On his first attempt, seconds after he graced the pitch, no red shirts were anywhere near the goal mouth to finish off the chance. His second attempt, just minutes later, was cleared off the line by an army of celebrity defenders.

As the match was heating up with the ex-Lions piling on the attacks and doing what they are good at, the celebrities brought on Sheikh Haikal to spice things up. Greeted by a roar of applause, Sheikh Haikal's made a red-carpet walk down the field only to be teased by the commentator who said: "This is football, not a stroll in the park". Haikal was taken off 8 minutes later just before the half-time whistle.

Determined not to disappoint the spectators, both sides returned to the pitch with an extra dose of competitive energy to break the deadlock. The ex-Lions introduced left-midfielder Lee Man Hon, who is currently coaching with Lim Tong Hai, to balance up their assault. Though Man Hon has parted with his well-toned built, precision and power still remained in his legendary left foot.

With the midfield in full force, ex-Lions 41-year-old striker Abbas Saad was able to create more chances in the penalty box and almost put the ball into the back of the net when he headed a beautiful cross just inches wide. With the ex-Lions gaining possession for most of the second half, Singapore's father of the goal mouth, David Lee, was given little work to do.

The lonely sight of David Lee between the ex-Lions' goal posts had the celebrities recalling Sheikh Haikal to provide entertainment for the 51-year-old with less than 10 minutes left on the clock. Sheikh Haikal spent most of his time on the field parked conveniently next to David and when he did move, the comedian fully utilised his infamous belly to roll his opponent over.

Undistracted by Sheikh Haikal, the ex-Lions demonstrated plenty of discipline in their attacks with the celebrities' equally disciplined and fit in chasing down every ball. Ex-lions defender Lim Tong Hai was presented with a glorious opportunity in front of the goal mouth with the goalkeeper drawn out to the right, but he chipped the ball over the goal.

With less than 5 minutes to stoppage time, Fandi Ahmad was finally re-introduced to the game and his keen eye for goal was evidently what his side needed for a breakthrough. Wasting no time, Fandi frantically rushed the ball into the penalty box before R Suriamoorthy crossed it in on the left for ‘The Dazzler’ Sundramoorthy to slice the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

The celebrities were given a final shot for goal as they made a clean break down the right to give David his first real test in this charity match. David did well to keep the clean sheet and the match concluded 1-0 in favour of the ex-Lions.

Besides giving Singaporeans a sweet taste of nostalgia, $5,000 was donated to CARE United, a FAS community outreach programme that was launched in 2004, through this charity match.

Said a candid Sheikh Haikal, a familiar face of the Nokia Football Crazy talk show: "This is my second time playing (in a football match) in three years. I used to play matches during my school days, now only socially. So last year's charity match was the first and this was second."

When asked who his favourite ex-Lions player was, the nephew of the relentless midfielder Malek Awab, replied without hesitation and in a more serious tone: "I do like Fandi Ahmad, Nazri Nasir…but if I have to choose a favourite, it has to be my uncle, Malek Awab. On the account that he’s my uncle."

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