RAIN UNITED
FOOTBALL CLUB
[ Boys U-10 Football Tournament ]
Last Sunday, there were more than 50 family and friends from our team who came by to the Whitley Secondary School to support the Under 10 football tournament. The matches were held between 1pm - 5pm.
The boys, made up from the Kidz Warriors and the OBA Team played for the first time together. They were grouped in a round robin where they played 3 games altogether. The Warriors boys though feeling strained from their earlier morning match at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium put up a gallant display together with their other team-mates.
They lost the first game 3-1 to the team from Tampines, won the second by 1-0 against the Brazilians Jerico and drew the final game 0-0 against the team from ACS. The boys would have won their final match and were dominating the game for the entire match but were let down by fatigue and poor shooting. Eventually, they missed going into the semi finals by difference of a 1 goal aggregate.
Though the boys were disappointed, they demonstrated good discipline and gamesmanship throughout. The parents were proud of the boys' achievements. I felt sorry for them but this was football - you win some, you lose some. The parents gathered for refreshments and will be looking forward to 1 other local tournament and another in Malacca respectively during the school holidays.
Cheers boys ! You have done your best !
[ Plus + Plus ]
It was another day of fun football.
Professor Yu "imported" a few friends to join us that gives us good sparring workout. Ricky has volunteered to give us some warm-up so that I can spend more time working on myself. Nelson took along his eldest son Jeremy who use to play football with some of the boys. I was happy to welcome back Dr Dong, who had returned from work secondment in Boston. Mr Aw, though did not joined us for the training was at his usual humble self in looking after the field maintainence. These are people whom I have high respect and regards to. Even some coaches, parents and business associates shows their concerns when we spoke on the phone. They have been very encouraging. I do not welcome disgraced who tries to bring people and the game into disputes. I will maintained my responsibilities and will challenged it at all costs.
Today, I have learned from Dr Dong. His level of self-discipline, fitness and football character on and off the pitch has given me refreshed lessons on what it takes to succeed and maintain our daily lives. It is not all about football. It is what it takes to be what you are. Human tends to be complacent. Dr Dong is a good exemplary.
Tony has been amazing. I have always knocked in sense into him. I have seen him improving so much. I have told Tony to be himself. His flank play, accurate crosses and tireless team support play has made him a better football person. He is young and he can only gets better if he takes the right directions. Jia He has improved so much on his ball controls and confidence in himself. Even Ricky and some of the friends have voiced it out. Pako has good characteristics. Max will get even better if he focuses more on his football. These are the young guys I have respect for. Let's continue to learn from each other.
I have endured the longest injury time play during Saturday's practiced match. We have played 85 minutes of football. Each time when I called out the time left for play, I would received request for extended play. Last Saturday, we ended up playing 100 minutes of football. The game was finally stopped when the sun finally sets. It was my longest injury time play but I thoroughly enjoyed the extension as it was satisfying seeing all enjoying our football. The game would probably have gone on for 2 hours. It was indeed a good workout.
Mr Kevin Loh, CFO of a reputable company has replied to me with good support and has confirmed his offer of his maroon team jerseys for the coming match. Kevin is a prominent young grassroot leader for PAP for the Youth. I have spoken to him previously on "USB", what he has done to cause damage to the team and Kevin has been offering me some good advise. I certainly hoped Mr Naga will help us with the "push" to invite Mr Gan to play in our match. What else can I asked for........? Thanks a million.
[ Rain United Friendly Match ]
The friendly match between Rain Utd and OBA has been confirmed on 10th September 2006 from 5-7 pm where it will be held at the Bukit Timah Field Pitch 1. A FIFA Match Referee has been invited to officiate the match. The match will be played over 90 minutes.
Prior to the match, there will be 2 training sessions for the veterans at the CCK pitch on 2nd & 9th September respectively. The veterans will have an official introduction to get to know one another before being deploy for some conditioning and positional play. Mr Aw Boon Leong will be the official coach for the match. I will be responsible for the match commissioning. Mr Naga, chairman of the CCK Community Center wholly support the idea and I have invited Mr Gan Kim Yong, the Minister of State for Education & Manpower, MP for Chua Chu Kang to play in the match as well.
Apart from the match which will be played at the highest level of discipline besides the competitiveness, the veterans will also be seen conducting some networking sessions. There has been discussions that we may form up a team comprising both veterans and youths for further friendlies and football tournaments. I certainly hope we can avoid a thrashing from the OBA team, but at the same time to learn from the game. All players must be fully geared. The OBA team will wear their usual Celtic Strip jersey while Rain United will either be in a All-White outfit or Maroon White. I am awaiting confirmation from one of the player who is a CFO of an established organisation who may be sponsoring the jerseys for the game.
All players will have a chance to play in the game. Let us make the most of it to learn and grow with the team, whether you are in the first 11 or a substitute. The most important role, being discipline and respectful is the key to integration of more good things to come. We will play to win and lose as a team.
The team players for the match are as follows:-
Aw Boon Leong
Nelson Lo
Kevin Loh
Professor Yu
Dr Dong Rui
Randy Zee
Anand
Ricky Ravi
Razali
Bernard Tay
Sazalli Hassan
Pako
Chen Qi
Cao Yuan
Randy Chua
Lim Jia He
Chee Khin
Kenny Lim
Cai Quan
Sabastian Tan
During the course of our training, I will continue to monitor progress for new players who may be included in the team line-up for the game or those who may expressed keen interest to be part of the team for the future.
[ Rain United Football Events ]
Date /Time : 27th August 2006 / 1pm
Venue : Whitley Secondary School
Event : Soccer Tournament U10 "Friendship Trophy" (Mixed Culture)
Date / Time : 02nd September 2006 / 0800am
Venue : Police Academy Thomson Road
Event : Soccer Tournament U10 "Diadora Cup"
Date / Time : 02nd September 2006 / 0730pm
Venue : Choa Chu Kang Stadium (Warriors)
Event : Singapore VS Thailand (Friendly)
Date / Time : 03rd September 2006 / 9am
Venue : CCK Community Center
Event : 5 on 5 Futsal Challenge Trophy (Nationwide)
Date / Time : 6th September 2006 / 0730pm
Venue : National Stadium
Event : Singapore VS China (Asian Cup Pre-Qualifying)
Date / Time : 10th September 2006 / 5pm
Venue : Bukit Timah Field Pitch 1
Event : Veteran Soccer Friendly (Versus Old Boys' Association)
[ Good Football ]
We had an evening of enjoyable football last Saturday. A good balance of adults, youth and kids playing good clean and fun football which I had long expected. Cai Quan imported a "Zai" looked alike player who caused us problem with his nippy play and scored a brace. The kids were given chances to take penalties. Mr Aw stressed the importance of playing and training as a team through his training methods. The adults enjoyed the training and the discipline of the overall gathering. Billy, the Channel NewsAsia reporter felt healthier and fitter after training with us over the last few sessions. Professor Yu is enjoying his football better distressing himself. Razali, who last ran himself out through representing the Singapore Malays during his younger days showed a glimpse of his dashing runs. Nelson, the ex-Lion City Cup goalkeeper, who is in his late forties gives me the motivation to keep myself fit for another few years to be able to play football at his age. Tony provides us with his tireless dashing flanks and improved crosses. The youth were fit and provides good football, except for some wrong positioning. All were winners, there were no losers. Apart from fine tuning some "behaviors", these were the centrestage of football.
Nelson has decided to postpone his match with us owing to the school exams. It will be slotted after the OBA games instead. The OBA game which was supposed to be held at SJI field may be played in our homeground instead. I am also looking at possibility to play the return leg at the St Wilfred Stadium so that family and friends can join in. Chris had told me that the SJI field will be undergoing some maintenance till September. Some of the kids has been arranged to play in a mixed culture soccer tournament on 27th August 2006 where they will pitting against teams represented by the Japanese, Americans, Australians, Brazilians and European community and schools, which is organize by a Brazilian coach and members of Singapore coaches.
I have gathered a team of veterans with the hope of including some youths for our match against the OBA. The match will be played over 90 minutes and the veterans will not be able to last the whole game. The final line up has yet to be finalized. I need to convince myself. My focus is on discipline and teamwork. I have been observant. I don't welcome "USB" or players who think that they are good or they have already know everything. Be it young or old, we must keep learning.
A fishing cum overnight camping trip will also be organized during the school holidays.
[ Team RAIN United ]
Over the months, I have been observing friends who had came by to join me for weekly football session, with more and more friends coming by week after week. It has been overwhelming.
Through observing some new faces and those who have been keeping up with me, I have quietly noted down my intentions and hence, will plan to announce a pool of players, whom will form the main core of Rain United who will continue to be part of the integrated group to play football in organised friendly matches or other football events. This assembled squad will also be allocated to focus on team training methods and teamwork. The members will/have been evaluated based on their willingness in wanting to play football as a whole, training discipline, communications, respect and responsibilities they carry in themselves. It will be blended with both young and old.
The rest of the friends who had also been coming by will be encourage to continue to join us either for our training or sparring partners. They will be included in the team if they progress well and show willingness to be part of it. Non-conformists will be ask to play their football somewhere. I am all for good, clean and fun community football. Anyone found trying to violate football ethics and regulations during the course of my football sessions will be taken up both personally and lawfully.
[ Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word]
I had the priviledged to speak to the VP of the school and was left with a lasting impression. We concurred with the same views on the importance of upbringing from home.
Parents tends to put good imagination about their kids when they actually do not really know their well-being. The parents are ignorant about their kids school schedules, leading to schools in having difficulties in controlling them. While at home, the kids will put up their "angel" self when things goes wrong, the parents don't even notice the difference.
The kids would bragged and decide to use their "father's ass as his face". An example of this goes like this "Oh my house is at the corner and is far bigger than those who are by the sides". Unless it is the upbringing, I don't see any parents would teach their kids to speak this way. To me, I termed it "USB" meaning Ugly Spoilt Brat.
2 registered letters have been prepared. One for registered mailing and the other to be couriered by despatched. This is to ensure that the parents will personally receive it, read the blog and are kept aware of the "angel's" path to heaven. I am looking at an auspicious day to give the green light.
[ Friendly Matches ]
Two friendly matches have been arranged as follows:-
1. Rain United vs Church of Saint Anthony's
Venue - CCK Pitch
2. Rain United vs OBA (Old Boys Association)
Venue - St Joseph's Institution (Malcolm Road)
The first match against the combine team of veterans and the altar boys from the church will serve as a tune-up for the second match which will be played in September. As the invitation came over sudden arrangements, I will take the opportunity to form the core team with the rest having a chance. We will probably have a mixture of "young" and "old" for both games.
The second match will be play on a Sunday at the SJI pitch where the OBA home ground is. There will be 2 matches on this day. The first match will involve combine kids from the SAF Warriors / De La Salle School / Rain United juniors pitting against kids of the OBA team that has Sports School players with the second game involving the young adults / veterans.
The OBA team was formed way back in the 70s', trains regularly and has played regionally. They are a team formed from Old Boys from the Christian Brothers' Schools like, De La Salle, St Michael's, St Stephen, St Anthony's SJI, St Patrick's etc. The teams would played annual matches with Old Boys from the Raffles Institutions and the Raffles' Junior College in the "Otega Cup" which have involved ministers, ex-internationals, etc from both ends.
Some of the OBA team players comprise ex-Internationals like Leong Kok Fann, Au-Yeong Pak Kuan, football coaches, football talent scouters and others whom have played in the Lion City Cup tournaments or the local league tournament. They are currently playing in a Selangor FA tournament.
As mentioned earlier, I have invited some of the parents from the Kidz Warriors to come by to our weekly training sessions. Over the next few weekends, we will probably see some of them turning up so that we can train together with the hope to field a team to give the OBA team a good game. As the OBA team members would comprise players from age 35-55 years of age, I am hoping to field a mixed blend of young and old. Some of the parents have also played in National Football Leagues, Business House Leagues, and there will be a keeper with Lion City Cup experienced to join us too. We will probably take the 2 games at a time to see how we can proceed further. This would also gives the SAF Warriors parents support group a chance to train for future matches too.
As both the friendly matches are drawing near, we may temporary abandoned our owned "China vs Singapore" 7 series. More match details for the 2 games will be announced when we meet.
