998 participants took part in a mass ball dribbling event for three minutes.

998 participants took part in a mass ball dribbling event for three minutes to get themselves into the Singapore Book of Records. (Photo courtesy of Gerard Wong)

Jalan Besar Stadium, Saturday, May 3, 2014 — Local football made history this morning when 998 participants took part in a mass ball dribbling event for three minutes.

Entitled the “Longest Dribbling Chain in Singapore”, the attempt made it into the Singapore Book of Records (SBOR).

It was also part of the festivities conducted to commemorate RHB Bank Singapore’s 10th anniversary of its partnership with the FAS and S.League, and its renewal of its sponsorship – worth over S$1 million – of the RHB Singapore Cup for another three years. The draw ceremony for the Cup was held after the event.

More than 600 kids from the Football Association of Singapore’s 10 Junior Centres of Excellence, as well as players and coaches from the FAS and S.League clubs’ youth development programmes took part in the event.

RHB Bank Berhad Singapore Country Head Jason Wong, FAS president Zainudin Nordin and Singapore national coach Bernd Stange were also part of the dribbling chain.

The more than 500 mini footballs that were used for the event will subsequently be donated to needy children in Cambodia as part of RHB Bank Berhad’s corporate social responsibility efforts.

While presenting the certificates to the FAS and RHB Bank at the JBS VIP lounge for making it into the Singapore Book of Records, SBOR official Ong Teng Huat couldn’t help remarking that the number of participants was also an auspicious one.

“The number 998 is ‘gau, gau, fatt’ in Cantonese which also means ‘May you enjoy long periods of prosperity,” he said to cheers and applause from the crowd gathered for the Cup draw.

This year’s RHB Singapore Cup will feature five foreign teams – Loyola Meralco Sparks and Global FC from the Philippines, Nagacorp FC and Svay Rieng FC from Cambodia and SHB Champasak from Laos.

The draw for the Cup’s preliminary-round matches, which will be held at the end of this month, is as follows:
Harimau Muda v Tampines Rovers
Woodlands Wellington v Geylang International
Tanjong Pagar United v Hougang United
Warriors FC v Balestier Khalsa
Svay Rieng v Albirex Niigata
Home United v Bagacorp FC
Global FC v Brunei DPMM
Loyola Meralco Sparks v SHB Champasak