Whenever the results go south for the Singapore football team, just like the recent Asian Cup/World Cup qualifiers, conversations about the 1993 and 1994 squads that took part in Malaysia’s Liga Perdana often arise.
Despite being the four-time champions of the Asean Football Federation Cup (1998, 2004, 2007 and 2012) – three of those wins thanks to naturalised footballers – it is those who played in the mid-90s who become the benchmark for Singapore football.
From 1921 to 1994, Singapore won the Malaysia Cup 24 times, the second-highest overall, after Selangor (33 wins). The islanders won their first Malaysian League title in 1985 and won the Liga Perdana in 1994, while the LionsXII were Super League champions in 2013.
The city-state has never qualified for a major international or continental tournament, although they did host the 1984 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.
This is the history of the Singapore national team, although the teams that took part in the Malaysia Cup and leagues were not always reflective of the national outfit as they had foreign players.
In trying to understand the significance and impact of the 1993 and 1994 teams, let’s go back in time to the 90s.
Singapore was booted to Division 2 of Malaysia’s semi-pro League after a poor showing in the 1992 season.
To restore the team’s prestige and reputation, players who were attached with other teams in the league, like Fandi Ahmad, Malek Awab, V. Sundramoorthy, Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards, returned to play for the Singaporean side in 1993.
The team was dubbed the “Dream Team” as they sought to return Singapore back to the highest level of Malaysian football. The team achieved its aim, finishing second to Selangor in Division 2 of the Semi-Pro League.
The same team lost to Kedah in the Malaysia Cup final in 1993.
That year marked the start of my short stint as a Singapore fan, and I remember watching the Cup final at a relative’s house in Kuala Lumpur.
My cousins kept the spirit of rivalry alive by going against me and supporting Kedah. It was a disappointing and tough 2-0 defeat for me to stomach.
That team was led by the now-legendary Singaporean coach, P.N. Sivaji.
A year later, the Dream Team – excluding Alistair Edwards and V. Sundramoorthy – matured with a new man at the helm, New Zealander Douglas Moore.
In their return to the highest level, then known as the Liga Perdana, Singapore emerged as winners.
Then came the Malaysia Cup final at the then-brand-new Shah Alam Stadium in 1994.
Singapore’s opponent, Pahang, was no pushover. But that night belonged to Singapore as the Republic convincingly defeated Pahang 4-0.
My favourite player, and the reason why I started supporting Singapore, was Abbas Saad. He scored a hat-trick in the final.
The other goal was scored by the biggest name in Singapore football, Fandi Ahmad.
The Malaysia Cup final also marked the end of Singapore’s involvement in the Malaysian league, due to a dispute with the Football Association of Malaysia over gate collection.
Matches in 1993 and 1994 were played in front of packed crowds at the National Stadium in Singapore.
That particular Singaporean teams also enjoyed good support during their away games as many fans took the effort to cross the Causeway to support them.
There was just something special about the teams that resonated with the public. They played good football and the teams had a ‘never-say-die’ spirit.
The racial diversity in the teams that played in 1993 and 1994 reflected the Singaporean population, with every major ethnicity in the country having one or more player from their race to identify with and idolise.
The local and foreign footballers were committed. This was among the many reasons why these teams are still remembered fondly today.
As executive director of an amateur football, futsal league and events company in Singapore, I have had the good fortune of meeting the likes of Fandi, Malek, Sundramoorthy and recently, Abbas. They are down-to-earth and humble.
That trait is also another reason why Singaporeans adore these teams and players – contrary to what I was told as a child, that Singaporean footballers were “action” (snobbish).
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.
