Defeat Makes Us Stronger

Especially when the defeat was marred by uncertainties and poor decisions, and of course, the lacking of that tiny slice of luck needed.

But we are all gentlemen in accepting defeat, right Longkang FC? =)

About the origins of the name, please ask Y-han okay. XD

Yesterday was my unprecedented time in participating myself in a futsal tournament which was organized by the SAM students in Taylors College in the mini-version of Sports Planets in SS13 at around 4pm.

Only FOUR miserable courts to accomodate 24 teams. =S

So all the teams moved in swiftly into registering themselves in which of course, they practiced the "usual" habit of Malaysians,

LATENESS.

Of course, Y-han, who was so ultra-confident the day before with his comments, was a bit stressed by the time he saw all the opponents.

The comments the day before : "Bro, can lah bro...champions lah BRO!!" XD

HAHHAHA. I respect him for being positive all time. =D

Time to get into action. Thank God I somehow recovered from a mini-diarrhoea from the night before, though I was still moving a bit gingerly in the first match. With the goalkeeping gloves now firmly gripped with my fingers, everyone was ready.

Group Phase
Game One

Things were pretty tight at first, but thankfully the first match was pretty smooth-sailing, with Calvin scoring the match-winner in the 10-minute match. The defence was well-organized, with minimal mistakes though I have to ditch out a mishit-cum-disguise shot by the opposite striker towards the end of the game.

Game Two

The first true test of mettle of our team. Just minutes ago, the team we now play against just wacked the organizers' team, also in our group with a convincing score. Somehow we allowed them to attack and scored an early goal in the first half, and worse, it was perhaps only their most meaningful attack in the game. A deflected clearance allowed them to pounce, with the second shot going in after saving the first attempt. Lack of finishing did not help our dominance, and we lost a close game 1-0.

Game Three

With the team which defeated us already winning two games, we must at least win or draw and hope the other match would end in a draw. Thankfully it did, and now it was up to us to finish the business, and we did - in style. (NOTE : WE WACKED THE ORGANIZERS TEAM YAY! =P =P) Some quick passing coupled by the opposition defence's mistakes enabled Calvin, Foo to score, and of course Pretib, who stole Foo's thunder by scoring with Foo just next to him that time. XD Already done and dusted, and though 2 late goals were conceded, we did more than required. But again, my FATHER'S DAY was at stake again. =S

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Break time with delicious chicken wings to fill our stomach.

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Knockout Stage

The match fueled with unfairness, controversy, roughness and of course, a test of mental toughness. Perhaps one of the better teams in the tournaments with nearly the whole team of African students, we knew we had to defend resolutely to get a chance. In fact, we did more than that in the first half, with Pretib and Y-han on top of their game and with me safeguarding the posts in the first half. Then, our goal came when Y-han attempted to pass from the by-line aka through kick-in which went in through the keeper's hands. After scoring, the opposition argued that he scored from the kick-in as the rules restricted so.

So stupid, it's the keeper's own blardee mistake, and you guys still want to argue? How pathetic.

This was not enough yet.

Perhaps being frustrated after I denied them quite a number of shots, they tried shooting from far again, and as I pushed the ball towards the air, one of two players held me off hard, with the other HITTING THE BALL INTO THE NET WITH THE HANDS.

HITTING THE BALL INTO THE NET WITH THE HANDS. EVEN LI SAN WHO DOESN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT FOOTBALL ALSO KNOWS IT'S ILLEGAL. What bizarred me was that the referee did not do anything about it though the goal was disallowed.

Luck was again against us as Calvin intercepted a pass into the goal just before the end of the first half.

Second half commenced with nearly most of us being pissed at their playing style. Still we maintain our cool although they scored a quick goal with a fierce low shot. Again lack of finishing wasn't there even though there were plenty of clear-cut chances, and with their keeper on form as well, we bowed out in the end.

Of course, gamesmanship was the most important in the end, and we accepted the defeat with grace as we knew, we lacked that bit slice of luck. At least we wacked the organizers, some consolation right? XD

The joke of the tournament...

It was a kick in our match when Y-han was trying to take a kick-in:

Y-han : Referee, who's kick-in?

Referee : I DON'T KNOW.

0=0

Back to law assignment RONNIE! LOL!

This was one footballing experience to remember, and if we were to play again next time, we know what to do. =D