By Suresh Nair
IN a little corner of central Singapore, along the quiet and serene greenery of Woodleigh Park, off Braddell Road, comes a refreshingly special âbolaâ sensation – the first football thematic lifestyle destination in Singapore.
Welcome to âThe Arenaâ, a stylish new spanking sports park which also incorporates Singaporeâs first Cafe Football, which has a touch of global celebrity as former Manchester United greats Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville are part-owners.
Refurbished at over $1million, itâs an overhaul of the old Public Utilities Board (PUB) Recreation Club and in the midst of the black and while Colonial-styled bungalows, emerges a wonderful sporting hub, which has been the talk of Singaporeans since it had a soft-opening, beginning of the year.
âItâs something Singaporeans will relish, in family-style, as we offer a wide variety of sports and fitness options,â says Managing Director Simon Tan, a pilot-turned-businessman, with a genuine heart of football. âThe inclusion of a full-fledged restaurant completes the experience as it allows our customers, their family and friends, to come together in one venue to engage in sports, food, events and activities.â
Aside from top-quality football pitches, âThe Arenaâ caters to fitness enthusiasts with fitness studios where programmes such as Muay Thai, Aerial Yoga, Rock Climbing, Dance and Functional Fitness are eye-catching alternatives to football.
In a nutshell, the formula reads: Football + Fitness + Food = The Arena.
âYou could call âThe Arenaâ a football partnership, built by footballers for the family of footballers,â says Mr Tan, who played pro football for Balestier United when the S-League started in 1996.
He specially takes pride that Arena Football (the football arm of âThe Arenaâ), has one 11-a-side, two seven-a-side, and three five-a-side pitches. And he holds his head high that the entity is the first and only facility in Singapore to use world-class quality turf.
âHey, you can say the grass is definitely greener on our side,â he adds as he shows how no compromises on quality have been made on the pitches, which are lined with top-grade artificial grass. Known as FIFA Quality Pro Grass (used to be named FIFA 2 Star), top clubs in Europe use the exact same turf which assures high performance and long durability.
The General Manager of âThe Arenaâ is 53-year-old former Singapore skipper Razali Saad (1986-88), who has 53 âAâ caps and played for the Lions from 1984-93. He is now a Board Member of Sport Singapore (SportSG) and a member of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Transitional Council. Fandi Ahmad, too, plays an advisory role.
Razali and Fandiâs interests in firing up the early popularity of âThe Arenaâ have inspired Mr Tan to allow the Singapore Ex-Internationals, from the famous âKallang Roarâ era of the 1970s, to use the facilities on a complimentary basis. Â âItâs our small humble way to recognise what the former internationals have done and to encourage them to continue contributing towards the sporting community,â adds Mr Tan.
Already the JSSL Football Academy, one of the leading youth-development institutions, has relocated to Woodleigh Park, as the anchor tenant, to conduct its grassroots programmes for boys and girls.
In addition, more than half of the S-League clubs, including five-time champion Tampines Rovers, Hougang United, Geylang United, Home United and Warriors FC and also Malaysian Super League (MSL) club Pahang, have used the facilities.
CAFĂ FOOTBALL
CafĂŠ Football, the food branch of âThe Arenaâ, adds the special branded flavour of the traditional Match Day favourites, served in England before the weekendâs EPL (English Premier League) matches.
âYes, we pay special premium to the âmakanâ, too. The food at CafĂŠ Football will be a unique take as it matches some of the best football bites served in this region. We want it to be the place where guests can enjoy themselves while eating classic football dishes with a modern twist,â says Mr Tan.
âThe Arenaâ, according to Mr Tan, wants Singaporeans to âexperience a real sense of community within the fans-fraternity and we want that fun atmosphere to spread to CafĂŠ Football, where it will be a place that reflects the spirit of fans coming together after a match or a fitness-workoutâ.
Former Manchester United captain Neville, who recently opened a similar cafĂŠ in London, adds: âOpening a restaurant is a huge step away from our lives on the pitch, but we are going to apply the same levels of enthusiasm and passion to try and make CafĂŠ Football a success in London and Singapore.â
Yes, food and football are a delicious combination as former England team mate David Beckham is already in the London restaurant business, having opened his Union Street CafĂŠ in Southwark, in collaboration with famous chef Gordon Ramsay.
ARENA FITNESS
Arena Fitness adds to the family fun, from working class adults to teenagers, who have the opportunity to bring the best out of the multi-tasked fitness regime, by getting in shape while ensuring an enjoyable workout.
Mr Tan says: âWe offer a wide range of programmes that cater to various fitness levels and interests. Our classes can be attended in open classes, private groups or one-on-one trainings.â
Among the wide breakdown of fitness programmes include Arena FlyWith Fitness (FlyWith Aerial ⢠WeBarre ⢠FlyWith Mat Pilates ⢠FlyWith Yoga); Arena Warehouse Dance Fitness (Hi-Lo Kardio Aerobics ⢠Step Workout ⢠Kardio Mix ⢠Kardio Kickboxing Zumba ⢠Piloxing ⢠Pound ⢠Strong ⢠Salsation ⢠U Jam Fitness?K Kardio Fitness ⢠Piloxing Knockout)
Arena Dungeon Functional Fitness  (ABT Conditioning ⢠Fitness Bootcamp ⢠5 BX Workout ⢠Tabata C3 ⢠Bodyweight Mobility Workout ⢠Transformers ⢠Cardio Burnout The Victoriaâs Secret ⢠Dungeonâs Circuit Training ⢠Crossfit Trainings); Arena MMA  (Muay Thai ⢠Boxing ⢠Kids Muay Thai ⢠MMA Fun Kids); Arena Extreme (Bouldering ⢠Rock Climbing ⢠Augmented Climbing Wall)
Drop by The Arena to experience the special âbolaâ sensation – the first football thematic lifestyle destination in Singapore.
Situated just alongside the Braddell/Bartley Road Viaduct, and accessible by various forms of public transport: Woodleigh MRT Station (seven minutes by foot), Serangoon MRT Station (three minutes bus ride), Bishan MRT Station (10 minutes bus ride) and Toa Payoh MRT Station (15 minutes bus ride).
More information available by calling 6717 8228 or to check The Arena, at 48 Woodleigh Park, Singapore 357844 by clicking  thearenasg.com
 Let me say as a parting shot, I just love the promo of âThe Arenaâ: Love Food. Love Football.
- Suresh Nair is a Singapore-based journalist who had a sneak preview of âThe Arenaâ and ranks it as a value-for-money spanking sports park, which also incorporates Singaporeâs first Cafe Football
