Date:
Mon, 26 Sep 2011 
Ex nationals speak about the upcoming Sultan of Selangor Cup.
“A very ceremonious tournament which is eagerly awaited every year”. This is how former Lions’ skipper, Razali Saad, briefly describes the tournament.
The Sultan of Selangor Cup. As mentioned by Razali, is a tournament, a get-together, a trip down memory lane and an annual opportunity to reminisce the good old times.
Razali Saad was a common figure in the Singapore National Team set-up from 1984 to 1993. He also captained the Lions for several years.
“It is a time where we meet up with old friends and enjoy the game of football, but do not expect a highly charged game as all of us are retired!” said Razali with a hearty laugh.
But when asked of the changes in the event over the years, the ex-national was quick to comment, “When it just started close to a decade ago, it was just a friendly game. But since we have won the past few editions, the annual event has been more competitive, with both teams trying to outdo each other, but all in all it is just for fun!”
And like the other veterans who have participated in the Sultan of Selangor Cup for the past nine years, the veteran defender looks forward to this year’s edition of the annual event.
“The Sultan of Selangor Cup is a very important event on the footballing calendar. Because of the existence of such an event, it creates an opportunity for the veteran footballers to foster relationships amongst each other, and most importantly, amongst the two states”.
And the event has also managed to bridge gaps between players who during their heydays were at loggerheads on the pitch, aiming to do what it takes competitively to secure victory for their side.
Speaking about the benefits of the annual event, Razali mentioned, “When we get together after the Sultan of Selangor veterans’ match, the veterans will sit and talk about many things. On top of the many things that we will discuss about, is the topic of up and coming footballers. The new boys who are worth looking out for, be it from Singapore or Selangor.”
Commenting further on the tournament, Razali also said that the tournament is a medium for ex footballers to come together on a common ground. “We can be doing different things in life now, but football is always there as a common basis for a conversation. We will always come together every now and then and we owe it to football and the Sultan of Selangor Cup”.
Another ex-national, Ho Kwang Hock also shared his thoughts on the Sultan of Selangor. Like Razali and other ex-national players, Kwang Hock, shares the same sentiments and emphasize on the importance of such an event.
Kwang Hock started things off by sharing his thoughts on the event, “The Sultan of Selangor Cup brings back good memories of the heyday of football, and the rivalry between Singapore and Selangor. The players are all very happy that we have been invited for this prestigious event since day one”.
The ex-national striker continued by adding that the veterans’ match is the one that people want to see. "Every single year, the highlight of the event will be the Veterans’ game. How often do you see ex-national players from two different states, come together to play football?” emphasized Kwang Hock with a laugh.
He also touches on the stadium atmosphere and credits it to ex-Selangor defender, Santokh Singh, “Before he went for his heart bypass, he would make the stadium go wild. Every time Santokh Singh touches the ball, the 80,000 strong crowd in Shah Alam Stadium will erupt! You do not get that kind of atmosphere anymore nowadays”.
And speaking on the friendships that are made over these years, like many of his peers of the time, the veteran player was quick to add, “No matter how bad, ugly, or serious things get on the field, once we step out of it, we are all like brothers. The Sultan of Selangor Cup should not stop no matter what”.
Both Razali Saad and Ho Kwang Hock will be heading up to the Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor to grace the occasion come 1st October 2011.
Sultan of Selangor Cup Match/ Ticketing Details
Sultan of Selangor Cup Match Details
Date : 1st October 2011
Venue : Shah Alam Stadium
1. Veterans’ Match
Match : Selangor Veterans vs Singapore Veterans
Kick-off : 8.00 pm
2. Main Match
Match: Selangor Selection vs Singapore Selection
Kick-off : 9.00 pm
Ticketing Details
Date : 26th to 30th September 2011
Time : 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Price : $5
Venue : South Gate, Jalan Besar Stadium
No comments:
Post a Comment