Submitted By: Anon | 30th August 2023
Hear ye! Hear ye! Gather 'round! A healthy number of our Hougang cheetahs(she-tahs) are selected for the Singapore women's provisional national squad!
** Image taken from FAS instagram page. The red underline = super talented players from the WNT.
After what was a sobering draw over the weekend against Tanjong Pagar United, some of our she-tahs have shown enough grit and worth to be included into the national provisional squad. Do take note though, that this squad will still be grated further to become a lean 22-player team squad when it participates in the Hangzhou asian games. Parachuted into Group C, our she-tahs will have to do battle with the ladies from North Korea and Cambodia. Here's the preview:
The Tanjong Pagar Match on 27th August
Location: Yishun Stadium. On a clear and bright sunday sky, our she-tahs did battle against another team from the cat family; Tanjong Pagar United aka the jaguars. The match was filled with attacking displays from both sides as it excites and thrilled the fans who were there. Despite missing Nani due to her being overseas, our defence held their ground.
A special shout out to Angie who ran all the way back and put her head on the line to make sure Tanjong Pagar didn't score a clear-cut chance in the 2nd half. That was a head in hands moment. The whole team contributed to the defense and we can see our WT-selected she-tahs playing in a deep block i.e. Rachel and Raudhah back defending. Perhaps, that's why for the offense, our chances were limited as we got a freekick from Winette saved, as well as a shot from Raudhah saved too. Nicole was also marked out of the park by the opponents. True enough, the match ended in a stalemate. At least we didn't lose. We still have a chance to compete for the title if we take one game at a time and hope our opponents have a bad run. Impossible is nothing.
"A special shout out to Angie who ran all the way back and put her head on the line to make sure Tanjong Pagar didn't score a clear-cut chance in the 2nd half." (Click here to watch Angie's exploits, courtesy of Deloitte women's premier league facebook page)
Back to the WNT
Veering the conversation back towards the WNT. Unlike the Tanjong Pagar match, we hope that there would be more freedom for our hougang she-tah forwards to attack. Can't wait to see Nicole and Raudhah shine what with Rachel supporting them from behind.
"Unlike the Tanjong Pagar match, we hope that there would be more freedom for our hougang she-tah forwards to attack."
Elsewhere in the back, Rosnani will be featuring in her upteenth appearance for the WNT. This is yet another good addition to her illustrious CV. Interestingly, it is in the goalkeeping department where one would be pleasantly surprised: two of our goalies are featured in this provisional squad, Azura and Belle. Sadly, Rochelle can't be part of the WNT this time as she is out with an injury due to recover one year from now. 🤒
Previous history against Cambodia and North Korea
Cambodia, no longer considered the minnows of South East Asian football stunned Singapore by winning against the WNT in the SEA games 1-0. North Korea recorded their biggest win against our WNT in 2001, 24-0. These two sentences are hard to swallow, but it is the truth. Our WNT has been on the fringes of asian football for a long while. It is under-developed and under-financed. So it is heartening to see individuals such as our she-tahs put it all on the line for the sake of passion.
North Korea women's team returns to asian football after a slew of doping scandals previously and will be the team to beat. With a renewed vigor in our local women's football scene, let's hope the WNT can stage an upset. What better way to do it than getting our hougang felines on the scoresheet!
"North Korea women's team returns to asian football after a slew of doping scandals previously..."
We wish them all all the best as they go out there and represent the best(so far) of what hougang has to offer! Hopefully they get selected for the WNT proper! Hougang sampai Mati! 1H1H
** Our wunderkind, Rachel Chan in action against Tanjong Pagar United over the weekend.
— All images are from hougang united women's instagram page unless otherwise stated. Also, a shout out to sgwomensfootball.com for featuring our fansite on their webpage!
Who else do you think should be in the WNT?
Angie
Winette
Olivia
Jacklyn
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