Update on 2 matches played in the past 2 weeks!

Hello,
Sorry I havn't been updating. Been kinda lazy and updating losses aren't my cup of tea.
Thats right, in 2 consecutive weeks, we played the same team and in both times, we were short on players.
2 weeks ago, we played with 9 players, the other team graciously loaned us 1 player to bring our player tally to 10 for the first half. Half way through the first half, Jurgen re-injured his hamstring, possibly pulling a muscle or something. But he stayed on as we had no substitutes. Sean Tan rushed down from home on my request and reached at about the start of the 2nd half. By the way, I forgot to mention, we had no goalkeepers, so I stood in goal. We were down 2-0 by half time. As Sean had arrived, the other team's player went back to their team, and we continued playing with 9 1/2 men, as Jurgen was injured. We tried hard to stage a comeback, but lack of concentration and players to sub tired legs led to our downfall. We lost the game 5-2. A humbling experience. I thought we fought really hard and did pretty well despite the setbacks we've had.
Then last week we came down to play, not knowing who our opponents were, cause the referee arranges the matches for us, and again it was the same team, and again by 9am, kickoff timing, we had only 8 players this time. I don't know if the other team were happy or sad to see us again, with not enough players again! They did not loan us a player this time however, cause they had like only 3 subs. So again, with much frustration, we took to the field, but not before frantically trying to call the missing players. We played and we fought, to a pretty decent result of 1-0 in the first half, we were losing but I felt for 8 men, it was a good show. But in the mid of the first half, Jurgen again pulled his hamstring, the same hamstring. Luckily we had Jeremy Chua, our keeper back from his internship in China, in goal and not me (heng). So with 7 1/2 men we managed to keep the result at 1-0 in the first half. Into the 2nd half we went. Just as we kicked our first ball, Ken appeared and suited up to come in, 8 1/2 men :). However midway through, we let in yet another goal, 2-0. And after awhile Jurgen started to struggle, and we felt that he should rest. Luckily not too long after, Jerome (if I got your name wrong I apologise) came and we had a 9 men team. Into the last 10mins of the game, we swapped Simon (left-back) and Dinesh (very tired striker). Dinesh was running his lungs out (literally). And what would you know, even with 10mins left, we managed to pull back 1 goal, a high ball came, the keeper rushed out for it, a tall defender went for it, and Simon went for it, for some reason, Simon, being the shorter compared to the tall defender and outstretched hands of a goalkeeper, managed to get his head to the ball (I'm still not sure he knew where he was heading the ball though), the 3 players crashed, ball went over them after Simon got his head to it, bounced on the ground once before rolling into goal. GOAL!!!!! Simon made up for an open miss just 2 mins earlier. He was through on goal with just the goal keeper to beat. He came down from the left flank, with a defender meters behind him. Simon contemplated chipping the ball over the keeper who was hesitating on whether to come out or not. Simon decided that since the keeper was hesitating, that he should instead, slot it in the far corner. He tried a curler, but tired legs got the better of him, he let loose a kick, but the curler was not enough to stir the ball into goal, and the ball went wide, a huge opportunity wasted, but at least Simon made it up with a goal not too long after :) There you have it, we managed to play better this time round and kept the score, although a loss, at 2-1.
Really want to thank all that came down, and despite frustration at players who confirmed that they want to play but never showed up and not even bothering to call or apologise for over-sleeping or whatever reason, we still played well and ran tirelessly. I really hope we do not get demoralised at the lack of commitment by certain players, we're not a professional team that gets paid, thus as friends, I can only say though its an attitude that stinks (not showing up, not calling to apologise, not answering their phones when people are frantically trying to get them etcetc), but as friends, I ask that we be a gracious community and be an example to one another. Appreciate all that has been coming early, to those who came the last 2 weeks and running like crazy, to suffer defeat when we really should have won. Its ok, we'll bounce back and we'll come back stronger!!
For everyone to take note, I understand sometimes we have late nights, I myself sleep late, but when you confirm your attendance to come and play soccer, it is a promise to the team that you will show up, We're not forcing anyone to play, if you really think you cant play, tell us!! If we dont have enough players we can call the match off early, it is ok. But if you say you want to play then you should show up. Even if you wake up late, you should be responsible enough to take a cab down and not just think just because you're late already then dont bother, or if we are calling and you're still in bed, then think that since i'm late i'll just go back to sleep and not answer my phone, even if you do not hear it initially, call back once you do see it. I think more so as friends, that attitude sucks!! There are some players who are just as tired when they wake up saturday mornings, but because they've made a promise to come, they make sure they turn up. It has been very frustrating to the players that came down the past 2 weeks and this is something that needs to be addressed. Even if you rush down and appear after the game has ended, to me at least I see you have that commitment, you might get some flack from the people there, like "now then come down arh" etcetc, but at least you SHOW UP. Although I know alot of players do not visit this site anymore, but I hope those that do get the message.
My apologies to some of the players from 2 weeks ago, I did not confirm that match with you, so on my part I am very sorry, those that I contacted.

Anyway, I really hope we can all grow together in our love for this wonderful game. We are no longer joining Agape cup, but there might be another tournament thats not as strict and not as competitive as Agape. I'll let you know the details soon. That tournament starts end april. Till then, stay safe and play more soccer!!! :)

God Bless:
~chao (",)