'I find the time playing together with Fandi the best experience ever' - LionsXII coach V.Sundramoorthy

The 1993 Malaysian Cup quarter-final against Pahang still lingers in the minds of ex-Singapore stars Fandi Ahmad and V.Sundramoorthy still as both recalled the times when they were team-mates.

Both men who were on opposite dugouts during the group stages of the Malaysia Cup with LionsXII and Johor FA, spoke of the memorable match as a defining moment in their careers.

On that fateful day, Pahang took the lead in the first-half before Abbas Saad equalised almost right after the restart. Pahang defied the odds and regained the lead midway through the second-half but it was soon cancelled out by Korean Jang Jung to make it two apiece soon after.

The game looked set to end in a draw before V.Sundramoorthy dazzled past the defence and played a ground ball to Fandi in the penalty box and Singapore’s favourite footballing son slammed it home to secure victory for the Lions.

Sundram recalled the incident and said that it was his best ever moment in the Malaysia Cup: “We played together at Pahang FA and we had a good time there. But the most memorable occasion was when I made an assist and Fandi scored a goal against Pahang.”

“There were lots of times when we were playing against each other but to me, I find the time playing together with Fandi the best experience ever.

"We had played together and now we are on the opposite bench and that is the beauty of football.”

It was the same for Fandi as he spoke at length of that game in 1993 which was played at the Kallang Stadium.

“The most important moment was when Singapore played Pahang FA and it was in the dying minutes when Sundram made that magic and trickery and I scored the goal," said Fandi with a sense of nostalgia.

"He went past several defenders, made a dummy and cut back the ball for me in the box.”

“We had telepathic understanding and I think when both of us combine, we are quite potent upfront. We not only had understanding on the pitch but he also knows my movement and furthermore he is a natural and talented dribbler, so I just need to run into space and he will deliver the ball to me.”

LionsXII will come up against the now Malaysian Premier League side Pahang FA on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals.