2015 SEA Games to be held from 5 to 16 June

2015 SEA Games in Singapore to be held from 5 to 16 June

Come mid-2015, expect plenty of sporting action in Singapore.

That's when the 2015 South-East Asia Games will take place - from the 5th to the 16th of June.

The Singapore Sports Council said it picked the dates for several reasons - one of which is the mid-year school holidays.

The last two times that Singapore hosted the SEA Games - in 1983 and 1993 - it was also in the middle of the year.

According to the Singapore Sports Council, the favourable weather in June and the school holidays will make it easier for families and students to be part of the event.

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) said the number and type of sports will be finalised at a later date.

SSC added that football will start its preliminary rounds a few days before the opening ceremony on 5 June 2015.

Mr Lim Teck Yim, CEO of Singapore Sports Council, said: "How can we get families to think about vacations in Singapore during the school holidays through working with different agencies and different parties to create staycation packages? So the SEA Games becomes more than the Games."

The dates for 2015 will also mean that the Games will end before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Instead of an athletes' village, organisers are considering housing the athletes in hotels within the city to give them easier access to the main venue, the Singapore Sports Hub.

All in, some 7,000 athletes and officials will be in Singapore for the 12 days of competition and festivities.

And the Singapore Sports Council is optimistic that it will stay within budget.

Mr Lim said: "One of the strategies that we are trying to use to manage our budget is to come out with our procurement early enough so that if we need to look for alternatives which are more cost effective, we will be able to do so and have time to do so."

Due to the unique branding of the SEA Games, organisers feel that the corporate sector in Singapore too can play a bigger role.

Local businesses can contribute through partnerships and sponsorships to the success of the Games.

Meanwhile, response has been mixed over having the 2015 SEA Games during the June school holidays.

Some observers say doing so would enable more children to be involved in related activities, but others are concerned parents may already have other plans during this period.

But they believe the Games will help to get even more Singaporeans excited about sports, and on the whole stimulate the economy.

One sports equipment store has 31 branches islandwide.

It said sales have been brisk in the past whenever a major sports event is in town.

The outlet is planning to have in-store promotions once the dates draw near.

Teddy Lin Zhen Jiang, Deputy CEO of SportsLink, said he expected to see many Singaporeans making their plans for holidays. But he hopes Singaporeans will support their own country and make adjustments to their travelling plans.

Vincent Ng, founder of Wufang Singapore and former wushu athlete, said he hopes the Games will inspire more Singaporeans to take up sports.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

New coach Stange names his first national team squad

New coach Stange names his first national team squad

New Singapore football coach Bernd Stange has named his first national team squad, which will play against Myanmar in Yangon on 4 June and Laos in Vientiane on 7 June.

17-year-old Adam Swandi, who was the captain of the National Football Academy's Under-16 team that played in the Lion City Cup last June, is the youngest of the 23 players called up.

Others called up for the first time include LionsXII midfielders Gabriel Quak and Faris Ramli, and Tanjong Pagar United's winger Hafiz Nor.

"The squad - which includes experienced internationals and promising youngsters - reflects a blend of experience and youth and we believe this will help us achieve a judicious balance between maintaining competitiveness and development of more national players for the future," said national team manager Azrulnizam Shah.

Mr Azrulnizam added: "There are several players who have been called up for the first time and we look forward to the experienced players including those from the AFF Suzuki Cup winning team guiding the younger ones. Going forward, players who perform consistently well for their club and who also demonstrate their commitment will always be considered for a call-up to the national team."

The team will depart for Yangon on 2 June.

List of players:

1 Izwan Mahbud (23) - GK, LionsXII
2 Hassan Sunny (29) - GK, Warriors
3 Faritz Hameed (23) - DF, LionsXII
4 Shakir Hamzah (21) - DF, LionsXII
5 Safuwan Baharudin (22) - DF, LionsXII
6 Baihakki Khaizan (29) - DF, LionsXII
7 Afiq Yunos (23) - DF, Courts Young Lions
8 Noh Rahman (32) - DF, Home United
9 Shaiful Esah (26) - DF, Tampines Rovers
10 Rosman Sulaiman (29) - DF, Woodlands Wellington
11 Shariff Samat (29) - DF, Woodlands Wellington
12 Faris Ramli (21) - MF, LionsXII
13 Gabriel Quak (23) - MF, LionsXII
14 Shahril Ishak (29) - MF, LionsXII
15 Hariss Harun (23) - MF, LionsXII
16 Isa Halim (27) - MF, LionsXII
17 Adam Swandi (17) - MF, FC Metz
18 Hafiz Nor (25) - MF, Tanjong Pagar United
19 Shahdan Sulaiman (24) - MF, Tampines Rovers
20 Qiu Li (32) - FW, Balestier Khalsa
21 Indra Sahdan (34) - FW, Home United
22 Khairul Amri (28) - FW, Tampines Rovers
23 Sufian Anuar (26) - FW, Warriors

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

LionsXII extend MSL lead

LionsXII extend MSL lead

The LionsXII have extended their lead at the top of the Malaysian Super League to four points, after a hard-fought 3-1 win over 10-man PKNS at Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday night.

The home side came out fired up, but they couldn't find the net.

Instead, defensive rock Baihakki Khaizan saw a flash of yellow just at the end of the first half.

It's his 11th booking in total, meaning he will likely sit out the rest of the season.

The opener finally came in the second half when vice-captain Hariss Harun strolled in unmarked to head in a 54th-minute corner.

It was 2-0 just 3 minutes later - Nazrul Nazari's shot taking a wicked deflection for the goal.

It got worse for the visitors after Helmi Remeli was harshly sent sent off for a foul on Gabriel Quak.

With just a minute to go, Khairul Nizam came off the bench to make it 3-0.

Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh scored a minute later for the visitors, but it was not enough to stop an impressive Lions' win.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

FAS calls off Causeway Challenge

FAS calls off Causeway Challenge

The traditional Singapore-Malaysia football rivalry will be put on hold after the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced the cancellation of this year's Causeway Challenge.

FAS called off the Challenge as Malaysia's first and second teams were unable to make it for the two dates, which were earlier agreed upon by both sides.

Instead, the Lions will play in international friendly matches, travelling to Yangon to take on Myanmar on June 4.

Singapore will also play Laos in Vientiane on June 7. The Lions squad list will be released by May 27.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Champions League Final Showdown

Live on Indonesia SCTV

2:30am

27 May, Sunday

Minister expresses confidence in new Lions coach

Minister expresses confidence in new Lions coach

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong has expressed confidence in the Lions’ new coach, Bernd Stange. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) picked the 65-year-old German as a replacement for Raddy Avramovic, who retired in December 2012.

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong has expressed confidence in the Lions’ new coach, Bernd Stange.

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) picked the 65-year-old German as a replacement for Raddy Avramovic, who retired after the Lions lifted the ASEAN Football Federation's Suzuki Cup in December 2012.

Mr Wong, who was was speaking on the sidelines of a community event on Saturday, said Mr Stange comes with very good credentials and experience.

He added the former Belarus manager has done well in his previous assignments in other countries.

Given time to settle down and a chance to interact with the team, Mr Wong said he is confident Mr Stange will help raise the standards of the national football team.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Ferguson bows out with emotional home win

Ferguson bows out with emotional home win

Alex Ferguson thanked Manchester United's supporters and urged them to stand behind his successor, David Moyes, after an emotional final home game as manager on Sunday.

Ferguson, who announced his shock retirement earlier this week, addressed supporters directly during an unscripted on-pitch speech after a 2-1 win over Swansea City closed his 26-year association with the Old Trafford dug-out.

"You've been the most fantastic experience of my life," he said, as fans in the crowd of 75,572 fell silent to listen to the man who has brought 38 trophies to the club since arriving from Aberdeen in 1986.

"I've been very fortunate I've been able to manage some of the greatest players in the country, let alone Manchester United. All these players here today have represented the club the proper way and won the championship in fantastic fashion. Well done to the players.

"My retirement doesn't mean the end of my life with the club. I'll be able to enjoy watching them, rather than suffer with them.

"If you think about it, those last-minute goals, those comebacks, even the defeats, are all part of this great club of ours. It's been an unbelievable experience for all of us, so thank you for that.

"I'd also like to remind you that when we had bad times here, the club stood by me, all the staff stood by me, and the players stood by me. Your job now is to stand by our new manager."

Ferguson, 71, later hoisted the Premier League trophy in front of his jubilant players, three weeks after United secured an unprecedented 20th English league title with a 3-0 home win over Aston Villa.

He was then joined on the pitch by his grandchildren, as his players celebrated the 13th league crown of the Ferguson era beneath a steady downpour of rain and red ticker-tape.

Everton manager Moyes will take over as manager on July 1, having signed a six-year contract, with Ferguson taking up a role as a director and ambassador.

Fittingly, an 87th-minute goal by Rio Ferdinand in front of the Stretford End earned United victory, after Javier Hernandez's first-half strike was cancelled out early in the second period by Michu.

Ferguson had earlier been given a guard of honour by players from United and Swansea as he made his way onto the pitch before the game.

The occasion was slightly overshadowed by Ferguson's confirmation that Wayne Rooney has asked to leave the club.

Ferguson dropped the 27-year-old striker from his match-day squad and explained afterwards that he had not been in the right frame of mind to play.

"I don't think Wayne was keen to play because he's asked for a transfer and he wants to think it through in his mind. I think that's a good idea," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"We're not going to let him go. I think maybe he's a little bit frustrated that he's been taken off once or twice in the last few weeks."

In another sign of the changing times at Old Trafford, Paul Scholes made his farewell appearance after announcing that he is to retire for the second time.

The 38-year-old English midfielder, who returned from retirement in January last year after only seven months out of the game, played for 66 minutes before departing to a standing ovation.

"Today it was just nice to get through the game. I thought Sir Alex handled it well. He has done a fantastic job here," said Scholes, who was only the third United player to make 700 appearances for the club after Ryan Giggs and Bobby Charlton.

The final game of Ferguson's United reign will be at West Bromwich Albion next weekend.

Moyes was given a warm send-off by Everton's fans after his side beat West Ham United 2-0 at Goodison Park in his final home game.

Everton's players formed a guard of honour after the game for Moyes and captain Phil Neville, who is also leaving the club at the end of the season following eight years' service.

"There's always a worry when you're joining another club, but Everton fans were magnificent for me today," Moyes told BBC Sport.

"David Unsworth scored my first goal at Goodison 11 years ago after about 25 seconds and I'm delighted I finished it off here with a win. I thank all the players who have worked with me."

Elsewhere on Sunday, Emmanuel Adebayor scored an 83rd-minute winner for Tottenham Hotspur to snatch a 2-1 win at Stoke City that sent Spurs into the Champions League places at the expense of Arsenal, who host freshly-crowned FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.

Wigan's hopes of avoiding relegation were compromised after Norwich City beat West Bromwich Albion 4-0 and Newcastle United won 2-1 at relegated Queens Park Rangers to secure their top-flight statuses.

Fulham are all but mathematically assured of escaping the drop despite a 3-1 loss to Liverpool, but Sunderland, who drew 1-1 at home to Southampton, and Aston Villa remain in danger.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Lions XII - May Fixtures

May 07, Tue 4:45pm
Terengganu - LionsXII
Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium

May 11, Sat 7:45pm
LionsXII - Terengganu PBDKT T-Team
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore

May 17, Fri 8:45pm
Pahang FA - LionsXII
Darul Makmur Stadium, Kuantan

May 27, Mon 7:45pm
LionsXII - Selangor PKNS
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore