Tanjong Pagar hoists Tiger Beer Singapore Cup for first time

By SANTOKH SINGH

THE king of Singapore soccer was finally dethroned at the National Stadium last night.

S-League champion Singapore Armed Forces FC went down 0-2 to Tanjong Pagar United, for three years the bridesmaid of the S-League, to surrender its grip on the Tiger Beer Singapore Cup.

In a pulsating match that provided plenty of excitement for the 12,738 fans, the thing that separated the top sides of local football were two brilliant strikes.

In the 24th minute, Tanjong Pagar's Nicodeme Boucher unleashed a powerful volley from 30 metres out and the ball sqeezed in off SAFFC goalkeeper Rezal Hassan's left upright.

And just when the Warriors were coming back into the match, Vlaso Bozinoski settled the issue in the 54th minute.

The 34-year-old Australian pounced onto a loose ball down the right and drove a half-volley from the right corner of the penalty box to the top right corner of Rezal's goal.

The result was celebrated, not only by the more than four thousand Tanjong Pagar fans, but also by the neutrals in the stands who had long wanted a freh face on the podium.

Ironical as it may sound, SAFFC coach Vincent Subramaniam was not too disappointed.

"The team that took its chances on the night won the match. We showed the determination and hunger that was missing last week but this is their season.

"This is good for Singapore soccer as it has thrown up a new name besides SAFFC and Geylang United."

For the Jaguars, motivated by the desire to win their first crown, news that the $70,000 prize money would be shared by the players on the eve of the final, gave an added impetus.

Said coach Tohari Paijan: "I've been waiting for this moment since I was a kit man in 1996.

"I told the players that it was 10 per cent the coach, 90 per cent them and they responded.

"We will dedicate this win to our club manager Richard Woon who made the announcement that the prize money will be shared by the players. It definitely made a differnce."

The match was well balanced and kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout the 90 minutes but it was the team with the better finishing that deserved the title. The individual battles were sorted out in the first five minutes.

SAFFC's 1.85-metre tall Davor Mioc fouled the 1.97-metre giant Nicodeme Boucher with virtually his first tackle and by the 18th the Croatian was yellow carded.

His team-mate Robin Chitrakar was more subtle on Jaguars' top scorer Steven Tan.

At other end of the park, Lim Tong Hai made his intentions clear on Fandi Ahmad while the ever reliable S. Subramani closed in Jure Eres.

In midfield, the Samawira Basri-Majid Motlagh combination had the upper hand over the Warriors' Nazri Nasir-Ivica Raguz pair until Motlagh pulled his hamstring and was replaced by Azhar Salleh in the 32nd minute.

But by then the damage had already been inflicted by a Nicodeme volley in the 24th minute.

Nicodeme, named Timesport Man-of-the-Match, said: "I am a striker, I shoot on sight. It was one of those that connected well and went in.

"I think it released all the frustration of not winning the League."

Hi sopposite number, Fandi, was all praise for the winner.

Denying reports that it was his last match, he said: "You saw for yourself and be the judge. Should I stop playing?

"But enough of me. This night belongs to Tanjong Pagar. We deserved it. I think it is good for Singapore soccer that a new name has emerged.

"Hopefully next year there will yet be another champion."

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