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SINGAPORE - The booing started with 30 minutes to go and continued well after the final whistle.
Even as the LionsXII and Johor FC players trudged off the Jalan Besar Stadium pitch after playing out a 0-0 draw in the final Malaysia Cup Group A match - a result that saw both teams qualifying for the quarter-finals - the fans stayed back to make their feelings known, with many showing the thumbs down sign.
That was after both teams spent the final 30 minutes playing kickabout in their own halves, with Johor FC showing little by way of attacking intent, neutralising the LionsXII players who, according to head coach V Sundramoorthy, "were tired" and had settled for a counter-attacking strategy.
Even the famous Malay swear word that Singapore fans usually reserve for the referees were unleashed at the LionsXII players as they made their way back to the dressing room.
Fans were even chanting "Sundram has to go" - venting their displeasure at the former Singapore striker who received little appreciation despite steering his team into the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup in their maiden season of competition.
Shouts of "We want Fandi" were also heard, calling for the return of Fandi Ahmad, whose Johor FA completed a 2-0 win over PKNS at Larkin Stadium but to no avail.
Still, the draw meant that the LionsXII topped Group A with nine points, ahead of Johor FC on goal difference. Johor FA were eliminated after finishing third on eight points.
"The first half was exciting, the boys went out there and created chances but as the game progressed in the second half, I felt they were fatigued, they were having too many games," said Sundram of his team. "They slowed down the tempo, and that was the summary of the game."
For a LionsXII fan who wanted only to be known as "Botak", it was a disappointment to witness such a display from both teams.
"We came here to watch football, not to watch the passing," the 30-something said. "We paid good money to watch this, how are we ever going to come back next time if this is the sort of football we get to watch?"
To that, Sundram had a message to all the fans.
"As the coach, I feel I have to say something to the fans. Now the boys will be fresher (for the quarter-finals), we have about seven days to the next game and I urge them to come back and support us because you can see after 60 minutes, the boys were too tired."
The LionsXII will face Pahang in the final eight, playing the first leg in Kuantan on Sept 21, before the return leg at Jalan Besar on Sept 26.
- http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC120915-0000046/LionsXIIs-poor-show-draws-flak
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Zainuddin's comments? "The least said about the game, the better."
What crap - he could have easily passed the word down from his VIP lounge that this is not the way to play the game. His words insult Singaporeans.
And Sundram's comments? I don't know what to say.
Even as the LionsXII and Johor FC players trudged off the Jalan Besar Stadium pitch after playing out a 0-0 draw in the final Malaysia Cup Group A match - a result that saw both teams qualifying for the quarter-finals - the fans stayed back to make their feelings known, with many showing the thumbs down sign.
That was after both teams spent the final 30 minutes playing kickabout in their own halves, with Johor FC showing little by way of attacking intent, neutralising the LionsXII players who, according to head coach V Sundramoorthy, "were tired" and had settled for a counter-attacking strategy.
Even the famous Malay swear word that Singapore fans usually reserve for the referees were unleashed at the LionsXII players as they made their way back to the dressing room.
Fans were even chanting "Sundram has to go" - venting their displeasure at the former Singapore striker who received little appreciation despite steering his team into the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup in their maiden season of competition.
Shouts of "We want Fandi" were also heard, calling for the return of Fandi Ahmad, whose Johor FA completed a 2-0 win over PKNS at Larkin Stadium but to no avail.
Still, the draw meant that the LionsXII topped Group A with nine points, ahead of Johor FC on goal difference. Johor FA were eliminated after finishing third on eight points.
"The first half was exciting, the boys went out there and created chances but as the game progressed in the second half, I felt they were fatigued, they were having too many games," said Sundram of his team. "They slowed down the tempo, and that was the summary of the game."
For a LionsXII fan who wanted only to be known as "Botak", it was a disappointment to witness such a display from both teams.
"We came here to watch football, not to watch the passing," the 30-something said. "We paid good money to watch this, how are we ever going to come back next time if this is the sort of football we get to watch?"
To that, Sundram had a message to all the fans.
"As the coach, I feel I have to say something to the fans. Now the boys will be fresher (for the quarter-finals), we have about seven days to the next game and I urge them to come back and support us because you can see after 60 minutes, the boys were too tired."
The LionsXII will face Pahang in the final eight, playing the first leg in Kuantan on Sept 21, before the return leg at Jalan Besar on Sept 26.
- http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC120915-0000046/LionsXIIs-poor-show-draws-flak
======================
Zainuddin's comments? "The least said about the game, the better."
What crap - he could have easily passed the word down from his VIP lounge that this is not the way to play the game. His words insult Singaporeans.
And Sundram's comments? I don't know what to say.
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