It was a most unexpected family event. Our 'motley' match crew was made up of only two soccer fans among the 6 of us, one ex-soccer fan (that's me), one reluctant goer, and two uninterested parents. The event? Singapore's home leg of the Asean Football Championship finals. Yogi had asked me in class if I would be watching the then S'pore-Msia team, to which I said, "of course not. The football's so boring". After last night, I can gladly eat those words!

 

My memory of watching football at the N.Stadium is still quite vivid though those events took place at least 6 or 7 years ago. Man Utd's exhibition match, S'pore versus Perak/Pahang etc during the Msia League days, and while the match would be the draw of the evening, the spectator gallery fanfare had the potential to be more colourful.

 

Just like during yesterday's dramatic match when emotions and tensions ran high. The match itself was very entertaining since both sides were rather evenly matched. Not only were there two goals, there was even a boycott of the match by the thai team which obviously didn't show well on the team's sportsmanship, and a penalty! The crowd in our sector was extremely vocal, chanting jeers and cheers continuously with expletives of every language and colour hurled at the opponents and referee. When the kallang wave came, everyone joined in the fun, with some even using the opportunity to hurl their styrofoam boxes, bottles or cups in the air. It was so hilarious to see singaporeans all getting rowdy, slightly loutish and so supportive of the Lions! But it was even more hilarious to see pa and ma go from reluctant spectators to extremely excited ones joining in the fervent jeering of the referee! Hahahaha

 

Fine weather, sell-out crowd, great match atmosphere, dramatic match, and the chance to utter terrible expletives and yet look perfectly fine... what more of an outing can one ask for? 

 

Go Lions!! (did I just say that?)