All the brouhaha about the S-League's latest ageist restrictions only made us reminisce the good ol' days of the fever named Malaysia Cup.
Goals flowed freely like China Wine and fans actually wore the Singapore red (not Liverpool or Man Utd jerseys). The S-League, with teams like Police FC and Sembawang Rangers, used to be as popular too, but things are completely different now.
Never mind. Here are 11 reasons why we still love Fandi and gang.
1. We still know all the players' names
Jang Jung - He. Will. Take. You. On.
Wham, bam, it's a jam. He's Abbas Saad.
They need no introduction.
2. Lim Tong Hai - (own) goal machine
Remember this?
And this? Of course you do.
He took a trip down memory lane with this peach of a goal at the recent Aleksandar Duric testimonial match against Liverpool Legends.
Still gold.
3. Super Sub Steven Tan
We bet you still remember his last minute heroics. Like this dramatic equaliser in the last few minutes against Myanmar in the 1993 SEA Games semi final, which we eventually lost on penalties.
4. V. Sundramoorthy - the razzle dazzler
Long before Wayne Rooney executed that bicycle kick, Sundram did this.
5. Fandi Ahmad- the Legend
The real goal scoring machine. Sorry, Tong Hai.
He even scored against Italian giants Inter Milan.
6. We actually attended away games
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No qualms traveling thousands of kilometres to support the Lions.
7. The National Stadium was always packed to the rafters
Remember how the Kallang Roar shook the stadium?
8. Goals like these were scored for fun
The ultimate counter attack
And goals galore.
9. There was some controversy
In a saga that gripped the local football community, Abbas Saad was found guilty of conspiring with team mate Michal Vana to score goals for Singapore on June 10, 1995. While, Abbas stayed behind to face the music (he was fined$50,000 fine and punished with a lifetime ban from football-related activities in Singapore, which was rescinded in 2009), Vana fled and remains a fugitive.
10. 1994
4-nil. Away. Enough said. We also won the Malaysia League title that year.
11. There was even a theme song
The players gave their all - even in the recording studio.
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Oh, the memories.
Top photo from here.
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