Aide keeps budding journalists enthralled

SOME 220 secondary students from 27 schools were frantically scribbling down Aide Iskandar's secrets yesterday.

They were attending a Straits Times Media Club workshop for subscribers of IN - a tabloid-sized paper targeted at youths.

Singapore's football skipper took questions from these aspiring journalists as part of the celebrity interview section, as they put to use the interviewing tips given earlier by the club.

For many, it was a chance in a lifetime to meet the only captain to have lifted two consecutive Asean Football Championship titles.

Said 13-year-old Nur'Amiah from CHIJ Katong Convent: 'He's my idol, so I was a little intimidated at first, but I plucked up enough courage to ask him a question.'

The students whipped out their mobile phones and jostled for a good shot of Aide, as he entered the SPH auditorium.

The affable footballer entertained more photo requests during the tea session after the interview.

Noticeably, more girls than boys were waiting patiently in line.

Others, like the 12 Pei Hwa Secondary students who were with their teacher-in-charge Tan Aik Fong, saw it as a good opportunity to sharpen their journalistic instincts.

Said Tan: 'We recently set up the Pei Hwa Times, our school's first student publication. This was a very good session to get the students started.'

Added Pei Hwa student Veronica: 'Journalism is my first choice for a career. I came to learn more in this area, and it was great.'

The students queued up behind microphones, while Aide stood alone in the firing line, answering each question with little hesitation.

That is, until 16-year-old Bhareth Rex asked how Singapore could give more recognition to sportsmen, leaving Aide momentarily stumped.

The 31-year-old also revealed a secret - he has yet to go on a honeymoon with his wife of seven years.

He also told the crowd that he is thinking of entering the entertainment scene after retiring from football.

However, his priority is to take the Lions to a third successive Asean win.

When asked what he thought of the budding journalists, Aide had plenty of compliments.

He said: 'They asked some rather difficult questions.

'This is my second time participating in this event, and I really enjoyed talking to the kids here.'