以亚洲人为荣并期待新加坡队进球

It used to be a steadfast belief that only men go crazy over football footwork. Females are only responsible for going crazy over football faces. I'm not a football fan but I can't help but get all excited with each World Cup, and not just because of faces.

　　This World Cup has been most exciting because of the Asian presence that can be felt. For the first time, the tournament was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea with both countries and China making it through the qualifying rounds.

　　The atmosphere, though sizzling as per every World Cup year, was exceptionally charged this World Cup. As the games proceeded with the predicted dropout of China and the unexpected early exit of Japan, South Korea shone on as the solo bright Asian light.

　　Suddenly, it was almost as if Singapore was playing. Where a crowd could be found surrounding a TV during a South Korean match, cheers and gripped hands were overwhelmingly for South Korea. Through the South Korean team, we felt the ecstasy of winning and the disappointment of losing.

　　Even though the team managed only a fourth placing, a warm sense of pride fills the heart because it came so far where no one had expected. The players believed in their abilities and played all matches as if it were their last match. The tenacity of the South Koreans is to be celebrated.

　　One could probably never feel more Asian then when sitting amongst fellow yellow-skin audience and hoping in the heart that South Korea will make it through yet another match. This World Cup for me, is pure Asian pride at the South Korean performance.

　　Through the matches where their team emerge unbeaten, we seem to send out a message to the world： See？ There's still glimmer in the old Asian tigers yet, don't write us off！ Most importantly however, we can identify with the joy and pride at being an unexpected survivor through the hard work of sheer determination and perseverance.

　　Like when we first came into being as a republic in 1965, the odds too were stacked against us； Singapore, an unlikely team to advance into the next round. But advance we did. And to the next round and the next round.

　　No doubt, it is true that no one can be a winner all the time but that is no excuse to have feeble thoughts about accepting a walkover in some arenas. Team 2010 may not be in sight for us but why chuckle and wave the idea away？

　　The question is not if we can see Singaporean colours at 2010 but whether we can believe that a Singaporean World Cup team is possible. It is important that the people show support and share a belief in such a possibility.

　　We see this belief in the players who made it to the World Cup pitches and the support from their fellow countrymen. This belief was transmitted between the South Korean supporters and the determined South Korean team.

　　That there was real disappointment felt at the South Korean team not being able to advance to the finals, was a showing of what dreams had been shared by the South Koreans. Would we be able to share such dreams with fellow Singaporeans？ To believe that we can do it？

　　During the games, there was admittedly a thirst to feel nationalistic pride. Like a joke where a guy lamented being born in a wrong country which had nothing to show for football, here were moments when it was with eyes of envy that I looked at beaming faces of a country's people celebrating their team's win.

　　No doubt, as one of the four million odd Singaporeans, I am of the majority who only knows roughly what offside is about, have no idea how much a local player can earn playing for a club and have zero idea how long it would take for us to make a mark in football.

　　The only thing I can contribute is however, my belief and support. Though this time round, I celebrated as an Asian, I believe that there would be one day when we can celebrate as a Singaporeans. We are after all, no strangers to challenging the odds.

　　（The writer is a fresh graduate of NTU.）

　　人们向来认为只有男人才会为精湛的球艺疯狂,女人只会为球星俊俏的脸孔着迷。我不是一个足球迷,但是四年一度的世界杯足球赛,总让我身不由己的感到兴奋。当然,这不单是因为那些漂亮的脸孔。

　　今年的世界杯可以说最为紧张刺激。联合东道国日本和韩国,还有中国都过关斩将打入正赛。人们破天荒第一次可以实实在在的感受到亚洲队的存在。

　　每一届世界杯都会带来一股热潮,今年更是有过之而无不及。中国队的落败在意料之中,日本队提早出局却出人意表,只有韩国队继续挺进,成为亚洲的希望之光。

　　突然间,感觉上似乎是新加坡球队在比赛。在任何韩国出场的比赛,电视机旁都会围满观众,大家手握拳头高声欢呼,几乎都是为韩国队打气。通过韩国队,我们体验了胜利的狂喜和败北的失望。

　　韩国队最终在排名赛中获得第四名。但是,大家心里依然充满自豪感。在赛前,根本没有人预料韩国队会打入四强。然而,韩国队队员深信自己的实力,以每一场比赛都是决赛的态度拚搏。韩国队队员锲而不舍的精神,已经值得人们喝采。

　　和同样是黄皮肤的观众坐在一起观看球赛,大家心里同样殷切期待韩国队再昂首步入下一圈。我想大概没有别的情况可以让人们更深切感觉到我们大家都是亚洲人。对我来说,这届世界杯的意义,纯粹是韩国队的表现给亚洲人带来的骄傲。

　　韩国队胜出的比赛,似乎给世界传达了一个信息——看到了没有？亚洲队伍正逐渐崛起,不要把我们看扁了！更重要的是,韩国队以无比的决心和耐力,取得远超人们想像的佳绩,我们完全能够感受到韩国人的那份喜悦和骄傲。

　　新加坡在1965年独立时,形势对我们完全不利。新加坡就像一支不可能进入下一圈的球队。然而,我们不但入围而且还不断向下一场比赛挺进。

　　世上固然没有常胜军,但这不表示我们就有借口丧失斗志,甘心接受在一些领域不战而败。我们或者无法实现在2010年打进世界杯的梦想,但为什么要对这梦想嗤之以鼻呢？

　　问题不在新加坡国旗能不能在2010年世界杯赛飘扬,而是我们相不相信我们绝对有可能组织一支代表新加坡的世界杯赛球队。新加坡人应该支持和相信这个可能性。

　　踢进世界杯赛的球队和支持他们的国人都表现了这种信念。这也是全力以赴的韩国队和韩国支持者之间共有的信念。韩国人对于韩国队不能打进决赛的失望之情,正表现了他们拥有共同的梦想。

　　新加坡人能够拥有这种共同的梦想吗？相不相信只要有决心我们就可以做到？在世界杯赛里,人们的国家意识和自豪感特别强烈。有个人甚至开玩笑的说他找错地方投胎,结果出生在一个足球运动乏善可陈的国家。看到一些国家的人民,欢天喜地的庆祝国家队的胜利时,我有时的确感到非常羡慕。

　　和许多新加坡人一样,我不完全明白什么是越位、不清楚一个本地职业球员可以赚多少钱、更不知道我们要多久才能在世界足球坛有所表现。

　　我能够贡献的是一份信念和支持。这一回,我以为身为亚洲人为荣。但我相信有一天我们会为新加坡队和新加坡而欢呼喝采。我们毕竟已经累积了许多面对挑战和克服困难的经验。

　　。作者是南大今年度毕业生