Thanks to superstar's gig, Lions must play Asian Cup clash at
Jalan Besar
Jose Raymond
[email protected]
TODAY Exclusive
IN WHAT could be a major blow to Singapore's 2007 Asian Cup dreams,
the Lions will not play their final, and possibly crucial, Asian
Cup qualifier against Palestine at the 60,000-seater National
Stadium on Nov 15.
They will now play the match at the 6,000-seater Jalan Besar
Stadium.
Why? Because the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) have asked the
Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to give up their booking of
the National Stadium, which they made in January, so that British
superstar Robbie Williams can hold a concert at the venue on Nov
18.
In response to Today's queries, the SSC's chief of facilities Lim
Eng Khoon said: "This was a difficult decision for SSC as we fully
support sports and international mega entertainment events that
create vibrancy at our facilities.
"After much deliberation, we made this decision based on optimising
our pool of limited resources as well as finding the best solution
that will benefit all Singaporeans having both a football match
and an international mega event.
"Singapore was not one of the stops on Robbie Williams' Asian tour,
but we were able to secure a one night only performance after some
negotiations with the organisers who had requested to use the
National Stadium.
"The SSC have been in discussions with the FAS on this matter and
it is truly unfortunate that both event dates fall within the same
period and cannot be changed.
"Sports and international mega entertainment events will feature
strongly in the calendar line-up for SSC's facilities, especially
in the new Sports Hub. This will be a happy problem whereby we will
be spoilt for choice to select which events will be held in the new
facilities at the Sports Hub especially the new 55,000-seater
stadium."
Williams' Singapore stop is the third after dates in Hong Kong and
Thailand.
When contacted, Midas Promotions managing director Michael Hoskins,
the promoters of the concert, said Williams' Singapore date was
only confirmed on June 10. He added that the organisers needed
about five days to prepare the stage for the mega-concert.
Football officials were naturally peeved when told of the
developments.
Singapore's technical director P N Sivaji said: "I am very
disappointed with the decision, especially since the FAS had made a
booking for the venue well in advance. It does not help the
development of Singapore football. It also deprives the fans from
coming out to cheer Singapore on especially in a tight group that
could go all the way to the wire."
National coach Radojko Avramovic added: "If it goes right to the
end, the boys should play in a fantastic atmosphere with as many
fans behind them as possible."
The FAS tried to have the date of the fixture changed, but the
Asian Football Confederation turned down the request.
Depending on the results of Singapore's double bill against China
in August and September and an away tie against Iraq on Oct 11, the
match against Palestine could well be the Lions' decider.
They are currently in second spot in Group E behind China, but all
four teams in the group have the same number of points (three after
two games).
The top two teams in the group qualify for the 2007 Asian Cup final
round.
