Prelude to The Other Cup Final?

It was meant to be a prelude to the Big Trumpet Singapore Cup final between Tampines Rovers and Home United. Yet, the “stars” took to the field eagerly as Jalan Besar Stadium played host to the “warm-up” game between the Media Team and the Celebrities Team. For some, it was a dream came true – playing footie in new Jalan Besar stadium. For others, it was nostalgic – reliving the days when they ruled the field in the old Jalan Besar stadium. As for me, it was like watching the coming together of two eras - the savvy journalists of today crossing swords with footballers of perhaps, their fathers’ and uncles’ generation.

It didn’t take long before the media team was formed, while the ex-national team players needed some time to arrive. Though Fandi and Sundramoorthy were missing from the star-studded line-up for this fixture, the thought of watching Quah Kim Song was enough to make me drool.

Stories became reality, as vintage Kim Song took to the field with flashes of brilliance as the minutes ticked by. Though the speed was lacking, the skills and passion for the game more than made up for that. Celebrities Team went one up in the first-half, as the “old warriors” made changes to the starting eleven before the break.

The journalists, for once, allowed their feet to do the talking rather than fingers. Conjuring up an equaliser after the restart, as Lim Tong Hai and Suria Moorthy took on more aggressive roles. Still, it did not take long before Team Celebrities took the lead from the spot. It was such a shame to see the second-half end at the 25th minute. But this is only the warm-up and it certainly whet my appetite for the “real” thing, come 3rd October.