I've paid my dues...time after time...
Finally....It was in 96' that i realised the gravity of Singapore leaving the Malaysia Cup competition, and my heart turned to Tampines Rovers FC.
Finally here was a club I could call my own. And I knew exactly what the merseysiders, the scousers, the tynesiders all feel week in week out when they support their team. Somehow when the team comes from where u grew/are growing up in, it just means so much more.
It wasn't easy at the start, as Tampines were cellar-dwellars in the first season and finisehed seventh out of eighth in the second. Coaches came and went, Hussain, william gallagher, des bulpin....
Then came Chow Kwai Lam, under whom the stags won the Singapore Cup, the firt major trophy for the club since the S-league began in 96.
And as I write this, I'm happy to say that Tampines Rovers have done the League and Cup double. My Tampines Rovers.
Somehow when I come to think of it, it was worth all the snide remarks and the criticisms, from people doubting Tampines, to ppl doubting why I'm even following local soccer.
Its all worth it.
Anyways, Tampines took the lead with a great goal by Tan Kim Leng, whose energetic runs realli inspired me. But he strikes me as a loner though, maybe the team don't like him cos his wife is so chio. Home equalised just before the break, through Indra. At this point I was a tad uncomfortable.
The second half ended scoreless and we went into extra time. Funnily enough there was no golden/silver goal. So Tampines went on a rampage. First up was Noh Alam Shah, then Mirko Grabovac tapped in. The last was scored by Azlan Alipah. And to make it all the more fitting Steven Tan provided a sweet cross for Mirko to score, in wat could be his last time in action in local soccer. We will miss u Steven!
4-1 it all ended. Tampines Rovers FC were the Singapore Cup Champions of 2004.
A special shout-out to Sufian, for coming along wif me. I as realli afraid I would have nobody 2 go wif, as ppl around me had stuff to do. Luckily I called u, and there was nothing better than watching a game and sharin a laugh, and my joy with one of my closest friends of 8 years. Cheers bro, I owe u one!
Lastly a salute to the Stags.
Pics courtesy of Tampines Rovers Official Website
Rezal Hassan,(my man of the match), Azlan Alipah ,Choketawee Promut (call him up to the Thai team!!),Satria Mad ,Zaid Juma'at ,Sead Muratovic "the serbian rock" ,Nazri Nasir "captain marvel",Tan Kim Leng "the horse",Noh Alam Shah "the bull",Mirko Grabovac"you've still got it" ,Steven Tan (4eva super-sub), Zulkarnaen Zainal ,Azhar Salleh ,Ismail Fitrey ,Santi Chaiyaphuak "ran your legs off" ,Mustafic Fahrudin"hell-of-a-player",Hafez Mawasi ,Aliff Shafaein "cili padi" and dont forget Rafi Ali(resident jester, we missed u today).
In a football world where players are just getting younger, one things for sure, nothing beats a team full of ppl who run for each other.
Remember ppl, always believe in what u love.
Hope springs eternal.
Out.
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