Only Danial picks the correct goal

It wasn't quite one in a million, but Danial Hakim can proclaim himself to be "one in 56".

The 21-year-old full-time NSF was the only one who picked the correct goal in The New Paper's contest to find the best strike of the Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League season.

As a result, the Tampines Rovers fan is now $100 richer and owner of a new Stags jersey.

As part of our mid-season review of the S.League, TNP had shortlisted our 10 best goals and asked former national goalkeeper Lionel Lewis to pick his top three.

Lewis' choice - Home United's Lee Kwan Woo's swerving stunner against Albirex Niigata on April 27 - was perhaps unexpected, considering Danial was the only one among 56 readers who agreed with him.

Danial said: "Lee Kwan Woo's goal looked the best to me because it was swerving and it came off the underside of the crossbar.

"Plus, the rest of the goals in the top 10 looked like the scorers had a bit of time to prepare themselves for the shot, but his was pure instinct."

Geylang International midfielder Fabian Kwok's wonder goal against Albirex from near the halfway line predictably got the most votes.

Also popular was Courts Young Lions striker Sahil Suhaimi's second goal against Hougang United - a mazy dribble followed by a calm finish.

REWARDED

Since TNP had put three prizes, we decided to reward two other readers who picked the two next most voted-for goals.

They were Chia Hon Fah, a 42-year-old engineer who voted for Kwok's goal, and Chia Voon Foong, a 74-year-old factory worker who plumped for Sahil's dazzling effort.

They received their prizes from Ridzal Saat, Football Association of Singapore (FAS) deputy director of development and planning, during the interval of last night's Courts Young Lions-Tampines Rovers match at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Voon Foong, who regularly watched Malaysia matches in the 1970s and 1980s, said he was heartened to see a young player as talented as Sahil.

"When I saw a video of that goal, I immediately thought of how similar he (Sahil) looked to V Sundramoorthy," he said.

"Sundram is the best dribbler I've seen in local football, and it's nice to see that a new dribbling wizard has finally emerged from the S.League."