When awarded the honour of choosing a Saigon Raiders Select 11, I was clear about how this would be done.

I would select those players whose ball technique, fitness and vision had changed games with a drop of the shoulder, a burst of speed, that telling long pass or last ditch tackle.

You know …the players who have the fans gasping and cheering.

However, I saw two problems with this approach. Firstly, it would be rather boring and, secondly, I wasn’t sure of finding 11 candidates.

Anyway, instead, I decide to try to pick a team that I would love to play with, once more, before my knees are replaced by plastic, my heart replaced by a mechanical pump and my brain replaced by a nurse and a feeding spoon.

So, straight to it and, a thousand apologies for any omissions but, given all the great friends I have made in Raiders, selecting 11 is very difficult.

 

Defence

In goal, we have to start with Angelo Moras, the man who invented the use of water bottles to plan the game tactics… far more interesting than that hi-tech TV used by Sky Sports. I sometimes wondered if he chose the bottles to represent Raiders because they were an odd shape and filled with liquid.

I still remember those soaring dives to save a ball bound for the top corner. I wonder where Angelo got the energy from. It was almost as though he was high on something… surely not?

Right-back slot goes to Jonas Franceschina, mainly because I have to find a place for this great entertainer, the only Raider who mastered the art of getting free kicks out of a local referee.

Also, the only player who managed in one game to, somehow, combine the positions of goalkeeper and striker at the same time… actually, it didn’t end well.

At left-back, we have Bao Tran, a player whose skill with a ball is matched only by his imagination with a comb and hairdryer.

There is a rumour that Bao started as a right-sided player until someone told him his face was more attractive photographed from the left.

There are many centre-backs to choose from but, if limited to only 2, I must choose Jan Stechmann and “Big” Steve Tomlinson

Jan is most famous for his bone-crunching tackles always followed by a sincere apology to the poor victim left writhing in agony and wondering if he would ever father children.

Jan is also to be remembered for the best own goal I have ever seen, a long looping back header. For years, this was the best back-headed goal I had witnessed until Hermandez did the same thing on his Man U debut ( into the right goal)

As for Steve, who could forget hearing that shout of “ Steve’s Ball !!!” as he thundered to clear his lines.

How I smiled when I heard the cry….well for about 1 second before I realised I was actually between him and the ball… The next thing I saw was the ground rising to meet me and a flash of light in the brain similar to a near-death experience.

Midfield

I will start with Khalid Muhmood (OBE) since it is important to bring a bit of class into the selection. After all, to my knowledge, Khalid is the only Raider to be honoured by a Queen (No, Craig Armitt, visiting dubious clubs in Bangkok doesn’t count…)

I noticed that Khalid always seem to wear a shirt which was 1 size too big and I wondered why… later I realize it was so the material would flow behind him as he ran down the wing, That way, he would look to actually be travelling faster than ever.

Midfield would also have to include Pierre Kardasz.

Who could forget his pre-match pleas to respect the referee, play clean and avoid giving away free kicks.

We would be inspired and committed to this doctrine right up to the time Pierre received his usual yellow card.

To be completely fair, the card was usually awarded for the somewhat unusual offence of allowing an opponent to run into his rather substantial frame.

Will Potter must be included as he is the star of my all-time favourite photo, when, on a day that Manchester weather came to Saigon, he managed to take out two players, the ball and some of the playing surface at the same time. To this tally would have been added, one photographer, if I hadn’t stepped back in terror.

A player who never stopped running, who never seemed to be tired, a player who loved the rain because he could slide even further. So, it was no shock when it was finally revealed that Will was actually an android forerunner of Robocop and had been manufactured in a secret Scandinavian Microsoft lab.

Next comes, Brian Anderson, the Iceman, not only a cultured midfielder but a coach who would bring hard training and discipline to the weekly evening practice session.

Oh… how I remember those nights, rushing from work, changing, running to the training pitch and hoping, always hoping, that Brian wouldn’t tum up and we could just play football!.

As a side issue, can anyone else remember Brian as captain complaining bitterly that Bernard Hartigan had not turned up for a game ?. He was upset because he was holding an sms from Bernard on his phone. He showed it to all… Look, it says “I’m in”.

Only when he thought to scroll down the message, he found it actually said “ I’m in…. Singapore” !!!

First striker is Floyd Bennit.

A twist of the body, fast feet, sudden change of direction and, yes, again, Floyd has avoided marriage (only kidding, Floyd !!!).

Seriously, no team, chosen by any criteria can exclude this truly great player and clubman. (Now can I have my USD100, Floyd.)

Finally, I give the second striker spot to Nico Greeve, who gave up such a promising career as a catwalk model to focus on Raiders.

A truly great player whose game could only have been improved by a little more passion. His calm approach and his caring attitude to his opponents and referee are very commendable but sometimes he is just too nice to others on the pitch.

In case any of my chosen players threaten to sue me for my comments, I would like to add one “sub”…. Kirk Lovall.

Apart from his playing contribution, he is well known for the invention of the “diamond” mid-field configuration.

I know over the years, this diamond formation has been subject to criticism and even the odd rude remark. However, I would like to point out that, when employed (in only one game to my knowledge), Jonas scored a hat-trick so clearly it had some merit.

In closing, I hope no-one takes offence at any of my remarks. Raiders is a great club with great people and has been a very important part of my life. Thanks to all of you for your friendship and tolerance of my occasional outburst and somewhat limited on-the field talents.

Les