Former Lions set for a celebrity feast in President's Challenge

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by Raj Kumar
04:46 AM Mar 19, 2011 SINGAPORE - Brian Richmond will get off the airwaves long enough to bark out instructions to his son Mark and the rest of the players in the MediaCorp celebrities team when they take on a side made up of Singapore's ex-internationals on Saturday.

The match at Jalan Besar Stadium will kick-off at 5pm and it heralds the start of the 2011 President's Challenge, an annual series of community-based events to help the less-fortunate.

With President S R Nathan in attendance, both teams will look to make a lasting impression not only on him but the many fans expected to throng the stadium on match-day.

The clash is believed to be the first official game between the Republic's leading print, radio and television personalities and the Lions of yesteryear.

MediaCorp head coach Richmond, himself a former international and currently on the airwaves on Gold 90.5FM, said: "It's an honour to be chosen as the first event to start the President's Challenge. And although we might be a relatively new side, rest assured, we do have a couple of surprises planned for our opponents and we're certainly not going to be overawed by the occasion."

Singapore's ex-internationals will feature the likes of Thambiah Pathmanathan, Steven Tan, Lim Tong Hai, Robert Sim, Yahya Madon and R Suriamurthi.

Leading their attack will be the iconic Quah Kim Song (picture).

"This game is for charity. And it's a wonderful way to kick-off the President's Challenge. We'll do our best and hope to entertain the crowd," stressed Quah, who used to terrorise opponents in the 1970s and early '80s with his speed and ball skills.

They might lack pace now but the football veterans will more than make up for it with their experience.

The ex-internationals are a closely-knit bunch who come together three times a month for friendly matches.

Former Singapore midfielder Ho Kwang Hock, who will manage the team, said: "We might be ex-internationals but that doesn't mean we have to go all out and kill our opponents.

"Even if we know they might be a little weak, I always emphasise to my team to play a sporting game, play a smart game and don't show off to the public." Raj Kumar

What: Launch of President's Challenge 2011

Date: March 19, 2011

Venue: Jalan Besar Stadium

Kick-off: 5pm

Admission is free and the first 800 fans to show up will each get a goodie bag