A Very Welcome Sight

Sailors fans wowed by Bishan's $1m upgrade for ACL2 final against Sharjah

- Deepanraj Ganesan

For die-hard fans like Eddy Hirono and Tan Chin Heng, attending a Lion City Sailors home match at Bishan Stadium has become a weekly ritual.

But even this devoted duo, who have attended nearly every home game since 2023, have been wowed by the stadium's near-overnight transformation for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two final.

On May 8, the two fans and the media were given a preview of the venue that will stage the clash between the Sailors and Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates on May 18.

"My first reaction is that it is really breathtaking. I can already imagine what the stadium, the atmosphere, will feel like, with 10,000 fans backing the team, so I'm really looking forward to match day," said Tan, 35, an engineer.

Hirono, 37, a legal counsel, added: "Of course, it's a very foreign sight, but a very welcome sight. We were joking around and said it's like the rainbow stadium now, because of all the different coloured stands, it does remind me a bit of the National Day Parade."

Work on the Bishan Stadium began on May 3, after the AFC granted provisional approval.

The match is being held in Singapore owing to the AFC's decision to alternate the showpiece venue between the East and West Asia finalists annually, with East Asia hosting the 2025 final.