RAIN UNITED
FOOTBALL CLUB
[ET Came Home]
There were all smiles on Saturday.
Lionel specifically ran towards me and told me to look afar when one of the players was walking towards our training ground. "ET came home"! Soon after, our ironman Ah Long also made his way into the field on his cool bike just like the movie "Terminator". It was home coming for both Keng Yong and Ah Long after 3 months. Ah Long has been kept busy with his army training while Keng Yong had made his way back from somewhere - Space?
Before we went on with our football, I took both Tony and Keng Yong to the middle of the field. I have explained to both that in life, we go through mistakes, lessons learnt and all should be forgiven and forgotten. KY was humble in offering his apology with Tony nobled with his accepting over racists remarks made that were uncalled for. I respected both for their well-being.
Despite the haze where the PSI reading was 150 on this day, we played 90 minutes of football. Ah Long though leaner and fitter through his military training, was dominant in his role except for his lost touch on his ball controls. I had expected KY to falter but he did not fare too badly. Once again, I would like to thank the guys for playing good, clean and fun football. It was nice when Ah Long shares his military experience with some of the friends. It was also nice when KY asked me if I was planning to blow the whistle for a throw-in he was about to take after the game. I gave KY a smiley answer. Thought those who were present and heard it had a laugh. I knew this was KY.
Max over the last three weeks has got back his football momentum, since he came back from his summer holidays. Apart from fitness, Max has brought back the performance football he is capable of. Jia He, easily the most improved player of the season demonstrated his intelligence and overall good ball skills. He has been able to adapt to multiple positions and stuck to football instructions. I was impressed with his holding midfield position when I decided to try him out. Chee Khin, on many occasions, has been singled out by most of the adults as a good player. I had told them that apart from CK's football abilities, I am looking out for something else in him. Having kept tracked on his field discipline where CK is capable of even better football if he concentrates on his focus into letting his feet do the talking, he has earned admirations from the adults. CK's football has impressed me most. I certainly hope the guys continue with their well being and not let success climb over the head. There are always new things to learn in our daily lives, be it young or old.
I invited some guys from the team to attend to a business league match against a foreign expatriate team on Sunday. This is to give exposures and the players to understand the gamesmanship and what it takes to play football the right way with the true spirit of the game. We thoroughly put our training into practice and Bernard was impressed with the players effort. With Bernard's good intentions, Rain United has been invited to put up a joint team with him for the entire season and the next. This is the ESPZEN League that I had previously talked about and had wanted to plan for Rain United when we first started. We will play the team made up from the Brazillians and Portuguese community in our next match. www.espzen.com
Time flies and Rain United will be one year old on 22nd October 2006.