taking your chances.

Had dinner last night with the usual in celebration of my father's 54th birthday.. too ex, i feel.

then i hopped into a cab with Diana & my sister to the National Stadium, to catch the last few minutes of the AFF Suzuki Cup Semi-Final.

We ran halfway round the stadium, and then back again before we could get in.

The idiot (major idiot) at the West Entrance wouldn't let us in. Dished out a verbal volley at him, so much for taming the tongue. Indeed 'out of the same mouth come praise and cursing', James 3:9-10 reminds us that 'this should not be'.

Ran to the North Entrance where the lax security ensured the 3 of us got in, with tickets of course (albeit someone elses).. Having emerged from the tunnel stairs leading to the stadium terraces, the same ol' nostalgic feeling and memories came flooding back. It was indeed good to be back. Back at the place where i could truly let go, put aside my inhibitions and just be.. Me.

Not much time to dwell upon that though.. We entered the stadium in the dying embers of the game.. Vietnam were already 1-nil up with a counter-attack.. their first of the game and they scored. Singapore threw caution to the wind, sending every possible Lion forward, save for the centreback and goalkeeper.

We stood directly behind the Singapore goal. We roared (I roared) and willed the Lions on, as if my enthusiasm and desire for a goal would serve as a support (additional strength, you could say) for the Lions from the back, going forward.

There was ONE chance. 83rd minute. A long throw-in on the right from Ismail Yunos was met by a flick-on from a fellow Lion, stirring up hope of an equaliser in the hearts of the 48,000 fans and also causing a flurry of action in the penalty box. Next thing i knew, the ball went out. Narrowly-wide.

Final-whistle soon sounded. The Lions deflated, fell on their knees. The Viets dancing around them. They later brought their flag and a picture of some VIP of theirs onto the pitch. They celebrated. They rejoiced. They acted as though they'd already won the Cup. Naive buggers. They thought they did well to stem the tide and attacks of the defending champions, believing that this win would mean they would be better equipped to lift the trophy that has since eluded them a decade ago where we beat them in the final in Hanot.

Little do they realise, amidst their partying last night, that the tomyam brigade lie in waiting. ooh, the Thais.. much as i dislike them (for support of my own team), i've got to admit they play a delicious brand of football. Come next Sunday, when it's all done and dusted.. Vietnam wouldn't know what hit them. Just like tomyam soup, it's enticing, it doesn't look at all dangerous, but when you have it, oooh.. it just hits you..

So bye bye vietnam, just as you were, last night, waving us Lion supporters away in sheer mock and delight, i'm sure that within some of you, seated in your corner of the stadium last night, you must as felt as though in waving to us, you were, truly, waving to yourselves, in the future - one week on.

Post-match, the 3 of us positoned ourselves strategically to do the next thing i do best at the stadium (apart from supporting the Lions and stunning the corner flag) - ask for jerseys.

I thought I would stand a good chance with Alam Shah, with my dyed hair and all.. (He had his dyed as well). He sold us a dummy, faking a throw, you bugger :)

Then thought I would also stand a good chance with Shi Jiayi, China-born Lion. Tried to get through to him, hoping he would throw me his jersey.. but he just shook his head a little.

THEN, came the other prized jersey. Indra Sahdan, jersey number 10. I shouted, got his attention.. He undid his captain's armband. He was going to throw it.. I was going to get it...

NO. He threw it straight up into the arms of some girl, who hanged on to it as if her life depended on it. I got a hand on it as well, on the sleeve, but I somehow grudgingly let go. I thought that it belonged to her, as she had the, excuse the pun, lion's share of the jersey. I just acted according to how I would expect to be treated if I were her. Alas, so near, yet so far.

Last night's trip to the stadium reinforced one lesson:

In life, one has got to take his/her chances - from finding my way into the stadium, to the Vietnamese scoring from their sole opportunity, the 83rd minute miss, my missed opportunity with Indra's jersey - for if we don't, then we might live to regret those moments.