SINGAPORE: Football fans who missed out on tickets to the ASEAN Hyundai Cup semi-final will still be able to soak up the atmosphere, with more than 10 venues across the country set to hold live screenings of the upcoming matches.The Singapore Lions will face Thailand in an eagerly anticipated first-leg clash on Saturday (Aug 15) at Jalan Besar Stadium, with kick-off at 9pm. The second leg will be played on Aug 18 at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.The Lions are unbeaten in this year's tournament, securing their place in the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw with Indonesia last Friday.Singapore’s home matches in this year’s tournament have been held at the 6,000-seat Jalan Besar Stadium, with the 55,000-seat National Stadium unavailable after being used for the National Day Parade and its rehearsals.
The Kallang Group said reinstatement works at the National Stadium following the conclusion of the parade would take approximately two-and-a-half weeks.Tickets for Saturday’s match were snapped up shortly after going on sale on Wednesday, with some supporters saying they had joined the online queue even before sales opened at 11am but were unable to secure seats.BRINGING THE ATMOSPHERE TO THE HEARTLANDSMore than 10 venues across the country will hold watch parties, with some screening either the home or away leg, or both.West Coast Community Centre is among the venues preparing to welcome fans for Saturday’s match.The community centre will be decked out in Singapore’s national colours and filled with seats to cater to football fans of all ages. Mr Prakash Kumar Hetamsaria, a committee member of the People’s Association Community Sports Council, said there had been strong interest in the screening, particularly after tickets to Saturday’s match sold out.“It's not just about the screening; it's about how we can bring the residents together … whereby they will come with their family, friends, and maybe (get to know their) neighbours.”West Coast Community Centre had previously hosted screenings during the World Cup, which drew large crowds, he said.“We had a very good experience during the World Cup. So good for residents to … take this opportunity to bond together,” he added.
