HANDS up those of us who will be glued for two hours to the television from 6pm this evening?

If your first reaction is to wonder what's so important this evening, then, all the more reason you should read on.

At 6pm today, Singapore begins the defence of their Asean Football Federation crown. Taking on Cambodia in Jakarta, they are bidding to be the first Asean nation to win the title, formerly known as the Tiger Cup, for a third consecutive time.

At 6pm today, memories of that wonderful 2005 2-1 second-leg final win over Indonesia at the National Stadium, and that incident-filled 2-1 first-leg final win over Thailand in 2007, will come flooding back.

Unless you have been living in another country the last four years, you will probably have been thrilled by the Lions - even if you're a football fan with just the slightest interest in local football.

Close to 100,000 packed the stadium in those two finals, witnessing an exquisite goal by Indra Sahdan Daud which set his team on their way in 2005. Then last year, Thailand stunned all when it staged that infamous walk-out after a late penalty.

The AFF Cup, or the Suzuki Cup as it is now known, is the region's premier football event and worth the avid attention of Singaporeans.

It's time to get off our butts and couches; time to step up from supporting teams in chilly ol' England where clubs have players you can never relate to because they speak with strange accents.

Granted, the Lions of late could well be mistaken for an EPL team, what with Nigerians, Brits and Eastern Europeans all donning the national jersey. But anyone who has met our foreign talents know they're slowing evolving into every day Singaporeans.

Bosnia-born Aleksandar Duric is fluent in Hokkien, albeit only choice phrases. Ditto for Serbia-born Mustafic Fahrudin, who is equally at home in a Tampines coffeeshop as he is in a European cafe.

John Wilkinson is married to a Singaporen wife. Daniel Bennett is married to a China-born wife, but has lived almost all his life in Singapore. Both were born in England but now call Singapore home.

Nigerian-born Agu Casmir and Precious Emuejeraye and China-born Shi Jiayi are the quieter ones in the team. But, get them in the right mood, and they will be cracking Singlish and Malay one-liners like stand-up comedians.

Sport is as much as creating an experience for the spectator as much as it watching the action in the arena. What other activity can gather 50,000 patriotic Singaporeans in one place? What event can get Singapore waving the national flag proudly, where men, women, children, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian, lawayer, hawker, MPs, all come together for a common goal? (Pun intended.)

The Lions have a good chance of striking gold again. Captain Indra Sahdan has set his sights on lifting the Cup. But the Lions cannot do it alone. Indonesia will have the backing of 80,000 when Singapore meet them on Tuesday for a crucial group match.

With the National Stadium still around to host the tournament, let's fill it up and give the Lions, who are expected to make the semi-final and final, our hearty support.

Let's come together one more time Singapore - with feeling!