| Applauding The Finest: sleague.com Dream Team 2007 |
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The sleague.com Crew
Looking back as the year reaches its final days, it is hard not to savour the fare served up by a host of S.League players, who have made for a season that, more than a month since its conclusion, still leaves pulses racing. Must have been the caffeine overdose, some say.
But if we here at sleague.com have been kept awake for far too long, it’s usually for good reason. Capturing the action in a set of words that would be at once succinct, accurate and just is a huge challenge for even the best of writers, more so when the men – and a few boys – have managed to swing and shape the fans’ mood with every shot they take and every tackle they make.
Some among these over 200 players have been better than others, of course, and there have been those who, over the course of the year, have consistently come up with their very best to make those match tickets an absolute bargain basement deal at twice the price. We all have our list of all-star lineups in our heart of hearts – but just who have been the hottest picks here at this website this season?
To find out just what the answers are, eleven of our most regular matchday crew members have come together and put their choices to a vote. There have been so many options, having the odd extended debate would only be inevitable (another reason for those coffees). Eventually, though, with all the bills settled and everyone’s sanity preserved, we have come up with this final list of this season’s top dogs.
And so, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we give you…
The sleague.com Dream Team 2007 In formation order, right to left (3-4-3): Lionel Lewis; Shariff Abdul Samat, S. Subramani, Kenji Arai; Shi Jiayi, Therdsak Chaiman, John Wilkinson, Kone Hamed; Ojimi Gabriel Obatola, Kengne Ludovick, Aleksandar Duric.
Lionel Lewis (Home United) “Despite the plethora of goalkeeping talent in Singapore, there is only one undisputed national custodian. Tall, commanding and ever reliable, he was a rock between the sticks for Home this season, keeping nine of the Protectors’ eleven clean sheets – the highest among all S.League teams. And, at only 25, the shot-stopper has many years ahead of him yet.” – Jonathan Ng
Shariff Abdul Samat (Tampines Rovers) “At his young age, he is already playing regularly for a big club like Tampines. Winning this year’s Young Player of the Year award and being the first-choice defender in Radojko Avramovic’s SEA Games squad speaks volumes of how he has managed to put an unpleasant past behind him and realize his potential.” – Darren Lim
S. Subramani (Home United) “The lynchpin in a side that came agonizingly close to winning the title, Subramani has shown his best form – defensively of course – since joining Home nine years ago. Constantly challenging himself to do better, the workhorse shows no signs of his 35 years, and has served with unparalleled distinction as a resolute, no-nonsense and hard-tackling defender for club and, until his retirement this year, country.” – Elwyn Lee
Kenji Arai (SAFFC) “His rock-solid presence this season is one of the many reasons why the S.League title is staying put at the Warriors’ Arena for a second successive year. Backed by a strong defensive supporting cast, the Japanese centre-back still catches the eye with well-timed tackles and an excellent reading of the game.” – Syahrom Sulaiman
Shi Jiayi (Home United) “Without his consistent and energetic performances in the middle of the park, Home might not have lasted the full distance in the 2007 title race. The Singapore international looked a revitalized man this season, as he rediscovered his attacking instincts to complement his tireless running. Ten goals in all competitions were the fruits of his labour, making him joint-third highest scorer at Bishan as he established himself as the fulcrum of the Protectors midfield.” – Gary Koh
Therdsak Chaiman (SAFFC) “Pivotal to the Warriors’ cause, not only did he possess the skill in orchestrating the offensive work, his defensive ability was equally crucial. No doubt it is fair to say he was instrumental to both Aleksandar Duric’s scoring spree and one of the meanest defences around. To top that, he scored the goal of the season – part of a brilliant hat-trick at Jalan Besar. What more can you say about him that hasn’t been said?” – Ko Pohui
John Wilkinson (SAFFC) “A player often noted in the past for his potential, Singapore has seen him announce his arrival at full maturity this season. A new father and a new Singapore citizen, the midfield livewire is surely one of the first names on his national team coach’s team sheet.” – Paul Green
Kone Hamed (Home United) “The Ivorian has been a revelation this season, being simply a class apart by setting the league alight with his range of skills and tricks. In my book at least, he has at times single handedly dragged Home to safety when they needed that bit of magic. He would not be out of his league if, as rumoured, he is trying out for a place in Europe.” – Mohd Sham
Ojimi Gabriel Obatola (Gombak United) “The only player to feature from outside the ‘Big Three’, Obatola has been a scintillating force this season, showing off his versatility with minimal effort by tormenting opposing defences wherever he pops up. They call him the ‘Golden Boy’ at Jurong West Stadium, and given the way he makes the team shine with his industry and creativity, it is hard not to see why.” – Tam Cheong Yan
Kengne Ludovick (Home United) “Having already won the Young Player of the Year award in 2006, the Cameroonian can be proud of his great strides in his career so far, having starred for a Home side which came so close to the elusive title. The stocky forward struck fear into his opponents with his pace, power and magnificent all-round play. Chasing seemingly lost causes and yanking his side back from the brink of defeat on countless occasions, Ludovick has more than justified the Protectors’ faith in him.” – Ong Jiing Yih
Aleksandar Duric (SAFFC) |
Yea applause to me and Seri’s favourite. They have made it to the sleague.com Dream Team for the 2007 season
