SAFSA EMERGES RUNNER-UP AT BOGAARS CUP

Excitement was high as the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (SAFSA) and the Singapore Police Force Sports Association (SPFSA) met at the Home Team Academy on 6 Jan to contest the 39th Bogaars Cup.

This annual football showdown has been contested 38 times, and having won 19 games each, both sides were eager to claim victory this year.

SAFSA got off to a promising start: The players, all full-time National Servicemen, were quick to take possession of the ball. There were several memorable moments in the first half of the game, such as when Private (PTE) Randy Tay, the SAFSA team's forward, leapt into the air to deflect his opponent's tackle, earning an admiring gasp from spectators.

The SPFSA team, however, were equally agile and took advantage of a loophole in SAFSA's defence to score the first goal of the match at the 38th minute.

Despite trying their best to equalise the scoreline, SAFSA's hopes of an equaliser were deferred by an experienced goalie. The score remained 1-0 to SPFSA at half-time.

SAFSA was not about to give up without a fight. The action picked up in the last twenty minutes of the game, when most of the game centred around SAFSA's half of the field. There were as many goal opportunities as there were near misses, a game play that prompted supporters to groan in unison on a few counts.

So it was to the delight of the spectators when PTE Tay took advantage of a clear chance at goal and finally flicked the ball into the net at the 75th minute.

However, defending champions SPFSA managed to edge out their competitors with a final match-winning goal.

The game ended with SAFSA conceding the Bogaars Cup to SPFSA, 2-1.

"They played their best. Although we did not win, it's the fighting spirit and the love of the game that is more important. They left the field with no regret," said team manager Major Yeo Kin Teow.

His sentiments were echoed by team captain 2nd Lieutenant Victor Koh, who said: "We did our best. Although we might have lost, we put in our best and I'm sure we'll come back stronger next year."

While they may have lost, SAFSA's mid-fielder PTE Muhammad Nurhisam Bin Suhaimi left the field with a smile.

The 21 year-old said: "I'm grateful that my mom was here. It gave me more energy, and I gave my heart and soul to the game."

Madam Salimah Bte Wahab, who was watching the game from the stands, said proudly: "I have four sons but he's the best football player."

The G.E. Bogaars Cup was first held in 1971, in honour of the late Mr George Edwin Bogaars, who served as the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID) from 1965 to 1970. The game aims to maintain the historical ties and close working relationship between the two uniformed forces as well as to promote interaction in a friendly yet competitive atmosphere.

MID is the predecessor of today's Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong and Commissioner of Police Mr Ng Joo Hee were guests of honour at this year's game.