Location of Sunday's match 3rd May 2009

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Match on 3rd May 2009

Our next match is coming up this sunday 5pm at First Toa Payoh Sec.
For more info or if you want to see the league standings and fixtures etc, check out the league's blogsite. http://sportinglightfootballleague.blogspot.com/

Just a footnote. Regarding whatever happened at the last match, I hope we can put that behind us and not be distracted especially if we get the same referee to officiate our games. I admit it won't be easy especially if we get blown against unfairly again, but as sportsmen, keep our shoutings and discontentment to ourselves first, after the match has ended, DO NOT APPROACH the referee on your own, come talk to me or the captain. We will sort it out with the referee or the league committee. Shouting at the referee is something I always do, so I too need to watch out. Lets play our own game and not get distracted. A good reminder from Uncle Dennis, as well as certain other players, lets be a good testiment to those watching!
Thanks everyone!! You have all been very co-operative and gracious to me and I sincerely thank you all. Hope we can all help each other become better players and enjoy this game we have all come to love!!

~chao (",)

First Match ends in defeat and not without drama!!

And the first match of the season for SSC in the Sporting Light League began today at 5pm at Temasek Secondary School. Facing team SGX who won their first game the week before.
18 members of SSC made their way down and suited up to do battle. The starting 11 consisted of Jeremy Chua (GK), Jiahao and Alvin Hoi (centre-backs), Jason and Marvin (wing-backs), Hilmann and Ian Tan (centre-mid), Kang Yang and Luke (left and right wings), Jurgen (Attacking-mid) and Dinesh (striker). On the bench we had players like, Lionel, Eduard, Uncle Keith, Benjamin Fong, Sean Tan, Ken Phua, Simon Lim and Sam Cho.
We started the half strongly and it wasnt long before Dinesh finished off some brilliant passing from the team, the final assist coming from a nicely laid through-pass from Jurgen. The ball was slotted through 2 defenders to the waiting Dinesh who only needed to turn and lay a nicely placed shot from the right side of the box into the bottom-left corner of the goal. The team stayed strong as a unit and kept the opponents at bay with the help of substitutes Simon Lim and Benjamin Fong who came in midway through the half, ending the first half 1-0.
SSC started the second half strongly with Lionel in for Jason at the half. It was not long before SSC got their 2nd goal for their persistent efforts through a trip on Sean Tan in the penalty box. Though there were protests from the opposition, the referee deemed it a foul committed in the box and pointed duly to the spot. Up stepped the very player who was fouled, and with calm and cool composure (or so he tried hehehe), he slotted the ball home towards the keepers bottom right, leaving the keeper stranded at his spot. At that the manager decided to replace several players to keep fresh legs on the field, and 4 substitutions were made all at once. (The tournament allows for flying substitutions). On came Eduard, Sam Cho, Uncle Keith and Ken Phua. The game intensified as the opponents came wave after wave to try and break SSC's defensive barrier. And they finally managed to get their first goal mid way through the 2nd half, with a misjudged defensive header back to the keeper, bouncing out of the keepers reach, the ball slowly bounced its happy self into the back of the net. OWN GOAL! It wasn't too long after before they managed to score a second goal, and at that more changes were made to the line-up to try to stabilize the team. Several key position players started to tire and players had to be adjusted and play out of positions, a decision regretfully made by the manager. The instability proved to be the downfall in the match in which the opponents managed to score the winning goal.
Several key incidences marred the match and mis-understandings occurred. It is my firm belief the team played their hardest, and though there were many dubious calls by the referee towards the end of the match, and 1 call that might have helped the opponents score their winning goal, but in the end, it was a match for SSC to lose for lapse of concentration and for the most part, tactical errors by the manager. I am still proud of the way the team played, we fought hard and had tonnes of passion, sometimes too much passion that it over-boiled. But I applaud the efforts of every team member and their contribution, whether big or small, because I see our standard of play getting better with each passing game. I do however apologise for losing my cool towards the end of the match at the referee, and I believe the other players who also lost their cool know that we are better than that. In any case, well done guys, no worries, it is just the first match, we will definitely come back stronger and as better players!
Next game is on Sunday 3rd of May against Jubilee at 5pm at First Toa Payoh Secondary School. Get ready for it!!

~chao (",)