Lions Grow Up

I've been calling for a Singapore team to play in Malaysia for several years. Singapore is safe, dull and nice. Aggression in Singapore is whining on internet forums or pushing past people to get on the MRT or to the head of a queue at a sale. Not the best environment for building a football team that can develop beyond their own borders.

Yesterday LionsX11 went to Sarawak and in a particularly hostile atmosphere managed to win 1-0 thanks to a 71st minute penalty. The Lions keeper complained about lasers being pointed at him, the home players apparently intimidated the match officials and after the game had finished the Singapore players had their coach trashed by rampaging home fans and had to stay in the dressing room while things quietened down.

Normal stuff for central defender Baihakki Khaizan of course who played for Persija and Persib in Indonesia for a couple of seasons but eye opening stuff for the rest of the team!

UPDATE - A Sarawak fan's viewpoint can be found on Sarawak Bloggers