Hougang United FC set for S-League opener

By Hougang Hools

Photo: PoHui

The pride of the north-east goes into Thursday's match opener against S-league side Tanjong Pagar United with 5 pre-season wins and earning a draw against SAFFC. Promising results but a cautious approach for a squad that has seen it's squad re-shuffled despite a good showing in 2011.

Hougang United's new head coach Nenad Bacina warned about complacency during a press release but also acknowledges a good pre-season overall is a boost for his lads. The former Woodlands coach also said that his revamped team looks to emulate former Cheetahs coach Aide Iskandar's success of a 7th position or better.

"We will take a match-by-match approach and as long as the players approach each game with a professional attitude and play with heart, at the end of the day the result will come." - Nenad Bacina

Bacina looks to build on inherited foundation

Kenneth Tan
info@sleague.com

Photo: Nigel Chin

They were the surprise package of the 2011 season, having undergone a name change and experienced a huge transformation in their fortunes.

Strugglers under the old label of Sengkang Punggol, the decision to rebrand themselves as Hougang United proved a profitable one as they managed to finish in a more-than-respectable seventh position in the Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League, the highest placing ever in their 14-year history.

It was a major improvement indeed; even in 2009, where they had arguably the best squad of all time consisting of national players in Aide Iskandar, Noh Rahman and Indra Sahdan, they could only finish second from bottom.

Cheetahs want to be remembered for the right reasons

TNP Picture: Ariffin Jamar

Not many teams would conduct a clear-out of both players and staff after enjoying their best season.

But that's exactly what Hougang United did after recording their best-ever league finish, seventh, and a place in their first-ever cup final - the League Cup final which they narrowly lost on penalties to Albirex Niigata - last season.

Key players such as playmaker Carlos Delgado, captain Shariff Samat, No.1 and vice-captain Fadhil Salim and the club's second highest scorer Mohd Noor Ali have departed, along with head coach Aide Iskandar and his support staff.

"We might have lost kep players but we've brought in a few good ones as well" - Hougang captain Lau Meng Meng.

Only 10 of the class of 2012 remain and of the group, only four - Lau Meng Meng, Jordan Webb, Azhar Sairudin and Fazli Jaffar - were first-team regulars.

But chairman Bill Ng is in no doubt as to why he has changed a winning team.

Hougang United FC Press Conference 2012

By Hougang Hools

Hougang United Football Club held it's pre-season press conference at the Kovan Hub on Friday, 3rd Feb 2012.

Club manager Edwin Tan kick started the evening announcing WAGA as Hougang United's new apparel sponsor. Tan, who spoke on behalf of Chairman Bill Ng introduced Nenad Bacina as the new head coach and assistant coaches Hyrizan Jufri and Nahar Daud as the new technical team spear heading the Cheetahs campaign. S-League CEO Lim Chin was amongst the guests present.

Tan also introduced new signings, Croatian duo midfielder Antre Barac and centerback Stanko Vidakovic.

Head Coach Nenad Bacina then commented that Hougang United have since retained the services of 10 players from the previous season including newly appointed team captain Isaac Lau, Guinean forward Mamadou Diallo and Canadian winger Jordan Webb.

Hougang United FC Merchandise 2012

SEASON PASS OFFER PACKAGE 

             ADULT S$50.00 (up to S$60)

package includes:

01 Club pin badge

01 Mini-Flag

• Access to all S-League home games
• Access to all cup competition home games
• Access to gaming room
• Discount on other merchandise

        STUDENT S$12.00 (up to S$15)

package includes:

• Access to all S-League home games
• Access to all cup competition home games
• Discount on other merchandise

CLICK HERE FOR MORE MERCHANDISE >>

2012 S.League season creates history at the Live Wire, Marina Bay Sands

Reported by Vox Sports

Photo: Vox Sports

For the first time in 16 years, the S.League conducted a fixture draw for the season at a public event held at the beautiful Marina Bay Sands, Live Wire.

Along with the presentation of the IOC trophy to Tote Board by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs; and President, Singapore National Olympic Council, the event was witnessed by sponsors, S.League Chairmen, team officials and members of the media.

Hougang edge Balestier 1-0 in controversial friendly

Reported by: Teng Kiat

Photo: Chris Harvey

A solitary goal from Mamadou Diallo was enough for Hougang United to beat Balestier Khalsa in a pre-season friendly at the Toa Payoh Stadium, amidst the drama of two second-half dismissals.

Notable Balestier absentees were Goran Subara and Paul Cunningham, while new signing Stanko Vidakovic was missing for Hougang. Interestingly enough, former Gombak striker Chang Jo Yoon, thought to have signed for Home United, turned out for Balestier.

Backed by a handful of the Hougang Hools, the Cheetahs dominated the first half. With ten minutes played, captain Lau Meng Meng surged forward from defence and sent Diallo clear. However, the striker was foiled by a fine stop from Joey Sim.

Geylang 0-1 Hougang

By JustSports

Photo: Geylang United FC facebook

Geylang continued their poor pre-season form with a third successive loss to S-League rivals Hougang. Hougang were from the start of the game, controlling the ball posession thanks in part to Geylangs lack of pressing.

On the 13th minute, Hougang were rewarded when a diagonal cross from the left side was knocked in on the half volley past the keepers lefthand side. The goal was a testament of the how Hougang´s widemen, led by Jordan Webb, were winning the one-on-one battles down both flanks.

The second half didn´t see much improvement from a Geylang side struggling for goals this pre-season, who only managed a single shot on target in the whole 90 minutes.

If pre-season is anything to go by, then Geylang will struggle this season. As for Hougang, they continue to try and play their dynamic brand of football led by Jordan Webb. If he performs as well as he did in the 2011 season, and pre-season suggests so, then Hougang United may struggle to keep him past this season. - (SOURCE)

No love lost as Hougang and SAFFC battle out a 1-1 draw in pre-season friendly

Reported by: Nigel

Photo: Lionel Ng

It was a friendly, but there was no love lost between Hougang United and SAFFC, who both fought hard in the 1-1 draw played at Jalan Besar Stadium. Both teams had almost their full squad to choose from, although new signing Seiji Saito misses this game as he have not cleared his beep test yet.

Starting in a 4-5-1 formation, Hougang had new signings Vidakovic at the back, while Ante Barac was in the attacking midfielder position behind lone frontman Sobrie. SAFFC on the other hand, started Shukor and Shimpei in central midfield, with Tatsuro Inui on the right wing as they played in their familiar 4-4-2 formation. Vidakovic was tasked to man-mark star man Mislav Karoglan, in what would have been an interesting match-up.

Friendly – SAFFC vs Hougang United

(14/01/12, 7pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

by JustSports | Posted on Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Hougang United, the most supported S-League (DPMM excused) club this coming season thanks to the Hougang Hools, will get the perfect opportunity to show just what a supporters group sounds like, as they have the chance to sing, shout and support Hougang vs SAFFC at Jalan Besar this evening. Can they out voice the LionsXII crowd? Maybe not tonight, but once the S-League season kicks off quite probably.

Fresh off a 4-0 victory over NFL1 team SSC at the Padang last Sunday, with goals scored by Syaqir, Diallo, Hafeez and Shameer. One would expect a much sterner test from SAFFC than the NFL1 and possibly less rotations as coach Bacina looks to narrow down on the 22 players who saw minutes against SSC.

A Man Of His Word

Dilenjit Singh
dilen@sph.com.sg

TNP PICTURE: KUA CHEE SIONG

Bacina rejects better Oman coaching offer to keep Hougang promise

He had an offer from Oman which paid 50 percent more, but Nenad Bacina turned it down to return to the S-League.

The reason - he had given his word to Hougang United's management.

The day he was supposed to sign on the dotted line for the Cheetahs, Al-Nahda offered him a contract with significant better terms, but the former two time S-League winner decided on principle to seal his Singapore return.

Cheetahs set for night out at Butter Factory

Photo: Butterfactory

Hougang United will be having a Cheetahs’ Night Out at Butter Factory to give an opportunity for fans and friends to interact with the club’s players and officials ahead of the Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League 2012 season.

Details of the event are as follows.
Date: 11 January 2012
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Venue: Butter Factory
Price: $25 per person (includes 1 housepour drink)

More on the Butter Factory can be found here.
Please note that all guests are allowed to reenter the premises after the end of the event at 10pm.-(SOURCE)

Hougang thrash SCC in first warm-up

Kenneth Tan
info@sleague.com

Photo: PoHui

HGFC 4 - 0 SCC

Last season’s surprise package Hougang United kicked off their preparations for 2012 with a comfortable 4-0 trouncing of National Football League powerhouse Singapore Cricket Club at the Padang on Sunday evening.

Syaqir Sulaiman opened the scoring early in the first half, before second-half goals from Mamadou Diallo, Hafeez Shahni and Shameer Aziq sealed a satisfying result for new Hougang coach Nenad Bacina.

Hougang United FC Transfer News 2012

LATEST UPDATES

03 Jan 2012 - The arrival of the Croatian duo Ante Barac (Midfielder) and Stanislav Vidakovic (Centerback).

12 Dec 2011 - The following players have confirmed their 2012 season with Hougang United FC. Please stay tune to this page for more transfer news.

	IN	TEAM	POSITION
	Ridhwan Osman Nurhilmi Jasni Rhysh Roshan Rai Shamil Sharif Ng Jiafa Ante Barac Stanislav Vidakovic	Balestier Khalsa     Balestier Khalsa     SAF     Tanjong Pagar     Tanjong Pagar     HNK Hajduk Split     Free agent	Midfielder Midfielder Midfielder Midfielder Goalkeeper Midfielder Defender

	OUT	TEAM	POSITION
	Ratna Suffian Shariff Abdul Samat Shahril Alias Fathi Yunus Fadhil Salim Aqhari Abdullah Md Noor Ali Carlos Alberto Delgado Vitor Borges Diego Gamma de Oliveira	Retired      N.A          N.A      Retired      N.A       Courts Young Lions         N.A       N.A      PSIS Semarang      Arema	Defender Defender Defender Defender Goalkeeper Midfielder Midfielder Midfielder Striker Striker

29 Nov 2011 - Former Woodlands Wellington coach Nenad Bacina likely to be appointed new head coach of Hougang United FC for season 2012 . (SOURCE)

Die-hard supporters rally to promote the S-League

PHOTO by LATW Crew

Fans fear blanket coverage of LionsXII in the M-League will be detrimental to local football scene
by Philip Goh Haw Hann

SINGAPORE - They drew curious stares from the sparse Orchard Road crowd. Dressed in their football jerseys, carrying scarves and flags, members of local fan group Lions All The Way (LATW) broke the quiet of a benign afternoon with their lusty singing, and catchy chants.

With workmen around them dismantling tentage for the New Year's Eve celebrations, around 35 LATW members assembled outside Ngee Ann City to proclaim the first day of 2012 as "Don't Forget Your S-League Day" (picture).

Hougang United FC to boost fan base

Hougang United FC will be vying to increase it's club membership as well as to boost crowd attendance for the coming S-League season 2012.

Although relatively small in terms of financial standings, the club's image & branding overhaul and an uncanny player-fan relationship have brought about a completely fresh look to the North-Easterners.

On the pitch, the Cheetahs have been transformed from the perennial minnows of yesteryears to an invigorated attacking unit and have secured no less than 15 wins and accumulating 43 points - 48 if you consider the docked points; compared to the 2010 season in which they managed only 7 wins and 27 points. She has sinced climbed to the highest 7th position in her S-League footballing history.

This year, the club has also finished runners-up in the Singapore League Cup and also came in 4th in the RHB Singapore Cup. It has been an encouraging season so far.

Off the pitch, an injection of fan involvement a.k.a 'HOOLs' has also emerged in the form of chanting and singing in the stands. The management at helm are very aware of this and intend to draw more like-minded fervent fans to supplement this culture.

How the club goes about in it's advertising campaign, I have no idea yet, but I do know that the above ingredients make for an even more exciting 2012 for Hougang United. :)

Stay tuned for more updates...