Veni Vidi Vici

'Veni, Vidi, Vici!'

Like Julius Caesar in 47BC, Patrick Vallee could have said the same sentence at the end of the 2010 Sleague season. The Etoile FC coach won 2 titles that year and his name can be remembered in the local stadium stands as the Etoile FC squad was playing the most exciting game with a bunch of unknown players. Today everybody knows players like Frederic Mendy or Flavien Michelini, thanks to coack Vallee.

Well, good news! It seems we can expect some more outstanding football to come back in our shores.

Here is a recent interview from footballopod.com with Patrick Vallee where he shares his love for Singapore and football: click here

Patrick Vallee and Pierre (ULTRAS)

Forza Etoile! ULTRAS forever!

We support referee K Kalimuthu!

Last night the Sleague fixtures got plenty of drama on the refereing side as 6 penalties have been awarded. Four in the Young Tigers vs Woodlands game and two in the Tampines vs Gombak game.

This monday morning the newspapers and the local internet forums are buzzing with anger towards referee K Kalimuthu who was the star of the Young Tigers vs Woodlands game. He awarded 4 penalties. Many spectators and officials have been very critical with Kalimuthu's decisions as they seemed to be somewhat 'dubious' (article).

Well, we the ULTRAS we support Kalimuthu!

Just kidding! But we support the referees.

K Kalimuthu has a very heavy record of 'dubious' calls over the years in the Sleague, he even got suspended for a month in 2007 for awarding a non existing penalty during a Gombak vs albirex game (article). In 2009, no suspension but he got his butt kicked by DPPM players in another heated game (article).

The lack of professionalism and talented referees is a known matter by the Sleague and FAS officials. Last year 23rd Lion City Cup was a prime example where local referees showed their limits while refereeing International U16 teams (article). As Sasi 'To be fair' Khumar said after the competition, we may look into having foreign referees next year. Well it seems it won't happen in 2012 and we may once again have the local team to make the ESPN commentators laugh when funny referee calls in favor of the locals will be awarded.

So I said we support the referees and I stand by this sentence. Why?

Well for any of us who have played to a certain level in a team (football, basketball etc...) we know that we must respect the referee decision and never discuss his calls. These are golden rules. But every weekend, in every football pitch across the world there are shocking stories of referees being insulted, attacked etc... It is important that supporters, players and parents understand that such violent behaviours is not acceptable and should be punished.

The referees are under the spotlights in every game, local game or Champions League game, they sometimes make mistakes and we have to accept that.

How many of us have been refereeing a game? Not many. How many of us have been vehement towards a referee during a game? I reckon we all have been at least one time.

I remember an Etoile FC game last year, where the referee Abas Daud made some calls against the French team that I think were 'unfair'. After the game I bumped into him on a parking lot and we talk for a few minutes. We shared our views and shook hands with a smile. I believe after our discussion I had a better undertanding of his work and challenges on the pitch.

So Support our sleague and support Kalimuthu, he really really really needs it! Who knows maybe next game he will award 5 penalties.

Easter Football Clinic

The Etoile Football Academy is growing fast and offers now a unique wide range of football training in Singapore.
The recent launch of the Goalkeeper school with Yohann  Lacroix has been successful and a Football Clinic is now available for boys and girls.

Singapore football scene is lacking of experienced and qualified coaches (there is no football coach school or training program), luckily the Etoile Football Club and its academy have a UEFA certified coach that has a proven record in Europe and more recently in Canada.

For those who can read and understand french we invite you to read this article about Nicolas Possetti.

We wish Nicolas and Yohann all the best in their efforts to promote and educate the next Singapore football generation.

Forza Etoile! ULTRAS forever!

Singapore - Bangkok - Goa

What sounds like a plane flight plan is actually the various locations where ex-Etoile FC players are playing this year.

The latest one being Julien Durand who has joined Gombak United and already scored a goal in his debut! Congrats Juju!

Julien Durand during an Etoile FC training session at Queesntown stadium in 2011.

Serge Souchon - Tanjong Pagar.



Antonin Trilles - Goalkeeper - Bangkok United FC.

Frederic Mendy and Franklin Anzite - Home United FC.

We wish them all the best and to score lots of goals and/or save a lot. ;)

Forza Etoile! ULTRAS forever!



Finally a goalkeeping school in Singapore!

Believe it or not but until today there was no proper goalkeeper school or specific goalkeeper training course in Singapore.

The Etoile Football Club Academy is the first football academy that offers such a training course, and it is overlooked by Yohann Lacroix. He is the best Sleague goalkeeper of the past 2 seasons with a record of 11 straight games without conceding a goal and the lowest ratio of goal conceded per game in 2010 and 2011.
Yohann is also the 2010 Sleague Champion with Etoile FC and the 2011 Sleague champion with Tampines.

More info here

Forza Etoile! ULTRAS forever!

The ULTRAS remember the Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami.

A year ago on the 11th of March 2011, a 9.0 (richter scale) earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the eastern shoreline of Japan main island. Thousand of people lost their life and many more lost their homes.

Last year, a few days after the tsunami, Etoile FC was facing the Albirex team. Deeply affected by this event the ULTRAS collected money and donated it to Albirex Singapore president Daisuke Korenaga at the end of the game. It was an emotional moment for all of us, players and fans.

Today we remember and would like to show our full support to the victims of this tragedy.

Our prayers for Japan!

(photos courtesy of @gale)

Forza Etoile! ULTRAS forever!

More Etoile players shining abroad. ULTRAS visiting Arema / Jatim.

Recently Maxime Belouet signed with Salgaocar, the 2011 Indian champion. Maxime is currently with his team in Oman preparing his first AFC game.

Bangkok is becoming also the new home of Antonin Trilles, the 2011 Etoile goalkeeper has joined Bangkok United FC last month and played a friendly against another Ex-Etoile player team, Flavien Michelini's Bangkok Glass. Here is a video of the game:

In the meantime some ULTRAS flew to East Java and experienced the 'Arema fever'.

The ULTRAS are proud of the boys and we wish them all the best.
Forza Etoile! ULTRAS forever.