Press Releases ● Feb 13, 2016
Albirex Niigata Lifts Great Eastern Community Shield 2016
SINGAPORE, 13 FEBRUARY 2016: Double Cup winners Albirex Niigata FC (S) began their season with a 3-2 victory over defending Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League champion Brunei DPMM FC in front of 2,481 fans in this evening’s Great Eastern Community Shield match at Jalan Besar Stadium.
Mikiya Yamada opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with teammate Hiroyoshi Kamata netting another goal twenty minutes later to give Albirex a 2-0 lead at half-time. Kento Fujihara then added a third in the 58th minute to seemingly seal the result, but DPMM pulled one back in the 65th minute to give the Bruneians hope. A late own-goal from Naofumi Tanaka deep into added time proved too little, too late for the Brunei team as Albirex held on for the win to lift the all-new Great Eastern Community Shield, cast from pewter and weighing 10kg. The match also doubles as a league fixture, which means Albirex also got their S.League season off to a winning start with 3 points.
“We were very good in the first half and showed what we could do, but the second half was very tough. We conceded two goals due to mistakes, but we did not allow them to break down our defence so I think we can improve for the next game,” said Naoki Naruo, Head Coach, Albirex Niigata FC (S).
Great Eastern Life continued its tradition of supporting The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund when Chief Executive Officer Dr Khoo Kah Siang presented Mr Han Jok Kwang, a Member of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, with a cheque for $83,788 after the match.
“As a LIFE company, we are passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports and there is no better time to start than with the young. Which is why this year, when the S.League mooted the idea of a children’s tournament in conjunction with the Great Eastern Community Shield, we were more than happy to extend our fullest support. I am also happy that we were able to raise S$83,788 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund through the efforts of our staff, distribution force, business partners as well as contributions from S.League clubs,” said Dr Khoo.
“We are grateful to Great Eastern for their unwavering support all these years. They have also brought so much joy to the children who participated in the children’s football tournament. The generous donation of Great Eastern will go a long way in helping more than 11,000 needy students we support every year,” commented Mr Han.
Earlier in the day, Great Eastern hosted the Great Eastern Children’s Football Tournament at Jalan Besar Stadium. Four teams comprised of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund beneficiaries and another 20 teams from various S.League academies participated in the two-hour-long tournament.
The celebrated Singapore Cerebral Palsy Football Team which captured the hearts of Singaporeans at the recent ASEAN Para Games then took centre stage, playing a 7-a-side exhibition match against a Singapore Ex-Internationals team. The Ex-Internationals triumphed 4-2.
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
