The art of football

THIS YEAR SUZUKI CUP has been surprised for football lovers and its authority. This year edition is joint held on Indonesia and Vietnam at the same time. 3 Times Champion Thailand and Singapore have been dumped out of this year competition from group stage. Nobody would have been predicted so. The biggest shock come by long time regional minnows Philippine as they advanced through to semi-final. The Asean football's history will have to rewrite as a new football power had arisen such as Vietnam & Indonesia. How about Myanmar? We always estimate our national team over and it's not a strange to us to end with a pain.

However we are disappointing on our national team's result, our people can't stay away from TV to support our team by the time football come back. No wonder my country's team crashed out earlier stage since regional big powers like Thailand and Singapore packed their things at the same stage. Myanmar got 1 point from 3 group games and it was also our team's last game with Philippine. We knew previously that Philippine & Lao are always stand at the bottom of the table whenever football competition finished. Now they have improved their level and even threaten to regional powers. Who will even think of Philippine is going to beat host Vietnam with 2:0? Who will dare to bet Lao will draw with Thailand at 2:2? This is football and anything can happen in this sport. This competition highlighted the art of football.

At the same time, how much we have improved on our national team? Our team is coached by Myanmar national. If I am not wrong, only Myanmar and Malaysia are using their own coach. What does it mean? How speak is it? It's likely that our football authority don't want to invest in improving our football. They would point out at MNL that is considered the turn of our hope to restore our golden football days long time ago. Thailand and Vietnam prepared well but failed to impress. They have a dream of reaching final but they return from group stage.

Singapore's coach earn S$25,000 a month but can't save his team to alive as long as possible. Thailand hired ex-England captain to steer their national team with the great ambition. But these famous coach failed to return what they are suppose to give. I don't know what's happening in Thailand in the wake of this failure. But I am able to read the angry voice of Singaporeans. They can't simply accept the failure this way. They know how to complain and highlight authority to amend. They are expert in finger pointing.

"Sack urgly coach" one commented.
"Give local a chance to roar lion as there is no difference with FTs" one wrote.
"Lack of energy and pride for country" one highlighted.
"Waste of public money over and over" one stress.
"Go there for holiday only" joke at weakpoint.
"Get prepare your excuses to face media's question in return home", one voice.
"Thanks for giving your best, team Singapore" one sympathized.
"Take big money and failed to beat a team that has no professional league"
"Full time professional players unable to beat part-time footballers"

So many comments I enjoyed to read and took lesson from it. I gained something from their writing and take this opportunity to thanks all participants. I was watching Vietnam vs Singapore match last night despite my country's match is playing at the same time. I thought Vietnam-Singapore match is much more exciting game and I love to see them as a neutral fan. Nevertheless we all fans had a good game to enjoy. Singapore players tried their best but missing some luck. To be honest, Vietnam deserve winner as they are reduced to 10 players for a quarter of game and Singapore failed to take this advantage to advance through.

Finally this, too, shall pass away.