This is to invite ideas and suggestions and/or nominees for a new coordinator or if you prefer, a coordinating team to take up the task of managing the Social Frees from 2010 onwards. Please post only constructive comments. The old coordinator will retire at the end of 2009. Thanks.
To preempt questions on the 'suddenness' of my decision to retire and whether it is related to certain incidents recently, I have to categorically state that those incidents have little to do with the decision to retire, rather the incidents involved a difference of opinion between two friends (individuals with very strong personalities and views) who have known one another for more than 20 years, and I even considered myself to have the upper hand in those arguments. My decisions are never influenced by such petty issues (though it does make the decision slightly easier to make), instead certain near fatal accidents, one towards the end of 2008 and another earlier in 2009, combined with the recent marriage of the second last bachelor among my former classmates (making me the last bachelor, certainly not 'eligible' and more the case of being 'overdue'), prompted my decision much earlier. I had earlier announced that I was systematically ending of my active involvement in Ramblers SC where I have been serving as VP. Like some of my other friends who have ended their tenures as club coordinators due to 'family commitments', I am pursuing a similar course of action to possibly start such 'commitments' in the future. Someone told me that the true test of a great leader is in his ability to create other leaders and in preserving the legacy of his charge. I truly hope to pass this test.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Analysis of friendly match on 20 September'09
20 September 2009
Social Frees 5-2 Dalat
It was a game which started with a slim 1-0 first half in favour Social Frees (captained by Lee Eu Beng). However, the second half was an explosive and exciting period with half-a-dozen goals scored. Everything favoured the Social Frees, the fact that the team was 26 years old, playing on its own home turf and most importantly fielding nearly 2 teams as it had a complement of 20 players. Dalat played well considering it had for a long time not played competitively on a grass turf (more of a futsal team). The Social Frees strategy was straightforward, when playing a team more attuned to the short pass system of the futsal game, play long passes and utilise the full length and width of the field. As futsal teams are quite good at proximity defending, the best scoring option was to place "rocket launchers or mortars" at the rim of the penalty box about 10 m away from the goal posts and 4 goals were scored from that distance. This distance is the traditional weak point of most futsal teams attempting to play on the grass court. The Dalat team will be a force to be reckoned with in the future as it continues to build its experience on the grass court. It has players who were better built whom I believe some to be capable of faster sprints but had yet to be able to master the long overhead pass presumably because such a pass is absent from a futsal game. The game was a "social" success as both teams started and ended the match on very friendly terms. Other than unintentional fouls, there were no other serious incidents occurring during the game.
Social Frees 5-2 Dalat
It was a game which started with a slim 1-0 first half in favour Social Frees (captained by Lee Eu Beng). However, the second half was an explosive and exciting period with half-a-dozen goals scored. Everything favoured the Social Frees, the fact that the team was 26 years old, playing on its own home turf and most importantly fielding nearly 2 teams as it had a complement of 20 players. Dalat played well considering it had for a long time not played competitively on a grass turf (more of a futsal team). The Social Frees strategy was straightforward, when playing a team more attuned to the short pass system of the futsal game, play long passes and utilise the full length and width of the field. As futsal teams are quite good at proximity defending, the best scoring option was to place "rocket launchers or mortars" at the rim of the penalty box about 10 m away from the goal posts and 4 goals were scored from that distance. This distance is the traditional weak point of most futsal teams attempting to play on the grass court. The Dalat team will be a force to be reckoned with in the future as it continues to build its experience on the grass court. It has players who were better built whom I believe some to be capable of faster sprints but had yet to be able to master the long overhead pass presumably because such a pass is absent from a futsal game. The game was a "social" success as both teams started and ended the match on very friendly terms. Other than unintentional fouls, there were no other serious incidents occurring during the game.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Analysis of friendly matches on 15 August'09 and 29 August'09
15 August 2009
Social Frees 1-3 Sparrow
Sparrow achieved its first win over Social Frees in the 5th edition of the Social Frees-Sparrow series thus enabling its outgoing manager, Chan Howe Whye, to salvage some measure of pride. Sparrow had been improving rapidly under Chan who had diligently arranged for them to have a constant stream of matches translating to a match nearly every alternate Saturday. In fact, it would have been a professional injustice if Sparrow hadn't won as they were already more organised and stronger, and should have won an earlier 4th match up if luck had not deserted them in favour of the Social Frees.
There was no shame in defeat as the Social Frees continues its policy of promoting equality among players with no distinction between the more skillful and the lesser skilled players. Despite having drawn level at 1-1 with Sparrow at one stage, player changes which weakened the team strategically but strengthened it socially were unreservedly implemented to ensure everyone including players like Andy Chew and certain players still recovering from injury to have adequate play time. Social Frees will continue to pursue its objective to be a pure social fellowship of football enthusiasts with no discrimination in terms of race, colour, creed or skill.
29 August 2009
Social Frees 1-2 A-Line
For the first time in its history, the Social Frees hosted a "foreign" club. The A-Line Club was a club that played in the 2nd Div. of the KL Social League. It made a journey north to Penang to have 2 friendly games, with the Social Frees (29 Aug) and Chung Ling'97 (30 Aug). It was a revealing and wonderful experience to play the KL team and the Social Frees will look to reciprocate their visit in the near future. Chung Ling'97 which drew 1-1 with them, has already arranged to play them in KL in October.
Social Frees 1-3 Sparrow
Sparrow achieved its first win over Social Frees in the 5th edition of the Social Frees-Sparrow series thus enabling its outgoing manager, Chan Howe Whye, to salvage some measure of pride. Sparrow had been improving rapidly under Chan who had diligently arranged for them to have a constant stream of matches translating to a match nearly every alternate Saturday. In fact, it would have been a professional injustice if Sparrow hadn't won as they were already more organised and stronger, and should have won an earlier 4th match up if luck had not deserted them in favour of the Social Frees.
There was no shame in defeat as the Social Frees continues its policy of promoting equality among players with no distinction between the more skillful and the lesser skilled players. Despite having drawn level at 1-1 with Sparrow at one stage, player changes which weakened the team strategically but strengthened it socially were unreservedly implemented to ensure everyone including players like Andy Chew and certain players still recovering from injury to have adequate play time. Social Frees will continue to pursue its objective to be a pure social fellowship of football enthusiasts with no discrimination in terms of race, colour, creed or skill.
29 August 2009
Social Frees 1-2 A-Line
For the first time in its history, the Social Frees hosted a "foreign" club. The A-Line Club was a club that played in the 2nd Div. of the KL Social League. It made a journey north to Penang to have 2 friendly games, with the Social Frees (29 Aug) and Chung Ling'97 (30 Aug). It was a revealing and wonderful experience to play the KL team and the Social Frees will look to reciprocate their visit in the near future. Chung Ling'97 which drew 1-1 with them, has already arranged to play them in KL in October.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Analysis of friendly matches on 28 June'09 and 4 July'09
28 June 2009
Social Frees 4 - 4 AIA
AIA (also a majority Paya Terubong) is a reasonably strong team currently playing in the Merdeka League. It was a see saw game which saw AIA taking a 2-0 lead at half-time. The second half was dramatic as an infusion of fresh players allowed the Social Frees to score 4 goals within a 10 minute period to lead 4-2. Then a further change of players caused a reverse reaction with the Social Frees conceding 2 goals in the last 5 minutes due to a comedy of errors for the game to end all square at 4-4. The result is I believe fair as both teams took turns to dominate each half.
4 July 2009
Social Frees 1 - 0 Sparrow
This represented the fourth occasion that Social Frees have played with Sparrow in Sparrow's young 1 year history with the 26 year old Social Frees having won 2 and drawn 1 game in earlier encounters. The Sparrow team showed tremendous improvement and matched or exceeded the Social Frees in almost every department. However, luck was on the side of the Social Frees with an unexpected clearance by the Sparrow keeper re-bounding of a Social Free player back into its own net. That goal decided the whole match allowing the Social Frees to claim its 3rd win and maintain an unbeaten run in 4 games against Sparrow.
Social Frees 4 - 4 AIA
AIA (also a majority Paya Terubong) is a reasonably strong team currently playing in the Merdeka League. It was a see saw game which saw AIA taking a 2-0 lead at half-time. The second half was dramatic as an infusion of fresh players allowed the Social Frees to score 4 goals within a 10 minute period to lead 4-2. Then a further change of players caused a reverse reaction with the Social Frees conceding 2 goals in the last 5 minutes due to a comedy of errors for the game to end all square at 4-4. The result is I believe fair as both teams took turns to dominate each half.
4 July 2009
Social Frees 1 - 0 Sparrow
This represented the fourth occasion that Social Frees have played with Sparrow in Sparrow's young 1 year history with the 26 year old Social Frees having won 2 and drawn 1 game in earlier encounters. The Sparrow team showed tremendous improvement and matched or exceeded the Social Frees in almost every department. However, luck was on the side of the Social Frees with an unexpected clearance by the Sparrow keeper re-bounding of a Social Free player back into its own net. That goal decided the whole match allowing the Social Frees to claim its 3rd win and maintain an unbeaten run in 4 games against Sparrow.
Monday, June 22, 2009
DARKEST DAY IN THE HISTORY OF COLOURS
COLOURS 0-9 WHITES.
"Yesterday, June 21st, 2009 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of Colours was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Whites."
(adapted from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation with deliberate changes to names and dates)
Led by the new "Sports Emperor of the OFA" (himself scoring a hat trick), the White army crushed a heavily splintered, disunited and partitioned Colour unit with a salvo of NINE (9) goals suffering at the same time no casualty of its own. White has never scored more than 8 goals against Colours in the 26 year history of the Social Frees. The nine goal margin is the greatest margin in the history of the games and White also recorded their first clean sheet of 2009 in the process.
Surprisingly, Colours did have a number of good players but the results proved a point, that a well coordinated and united team will usually prevail over a team playing with several factions (and leaders) with individual preferences dominating play over strategic positioning. Never has a nation been so divided with a clear line drawn between the inferior players and the better ones. The unfortunate ones were treated as inferior until they felt inferior and in a self-fulfilling prophesy became inferior. Sometimes even a misguided attempt at goal is considered as a "wonderful" pass to an inferior player who seems to have botched the entire move.
However, give credit where credit is due, White played with a vigour and precision never seen (ever!) before in the history of the games. A newly crowned Sports Emperor and his college-aged Prince trading places in goal as if the kingdom belonged to them as the rite of succession was determined by the wounds inflicted on Colours. Then 5 goals later, the dynasty grew with new goal-poachers with the ninth and final goal being scored all the way from the half-way line by a galloping (seemingly tame nowadays) horse who was thought to have lost his speed and stamina. We do however recommend that tests for the possible use of steroids be conducted on the goal scorers........they were not very normal and nearly inhuman.
"Yesterday, June 21st, 2009 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of Colours was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Whites."
(adapted from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation with deliberate changes to names and dates)
Led by the new "Sports Emperor of the OFA" (himself scoring a hat trick), the White army crushed a heavily splintered, disunited and partitioned Colour unit with a salvo of NINE (9) goals suffering at the same time no casualty of its own. White has never scored more than 8 goals against Colours in the 26 year history of the Social Frees. The nine goal margin is the greatest margin in the history of the games and White also recorded their first clean sheet of 2009 in the process.
Surprisingly, Colours did have a number of good players but the results proved a point, that a well coordinated and united team will usually prevail over a team playing with several factions (and leaders) with individual preferences dominating play over strategic positioning. Never has a nation been so divided with a clear line drawn between the inferior players and the better ones. The unfortunate ones were treated as inferior until they felt inferior and in a self-fulfilling prophesy became inferior. Sometimes even a misguided attempt at goal is considered as a "wonderful" pass to an inferior player who seems to have botched the entire move.
However, give credit where credit is due, White played with a vigour and precision never seen (ever!) before in the history of the games. A newly crowned Sports Emperor and his college-aged Prince trading places in goal as if the kingdom belonged to them as the rite of succession was determined by the wounds inflicted on Colours. Then 5 goals later, the dynasty grew with new goal-poachers with the ninth and final goal being scored all the way from the half-way line by a galloping (seemingly tame nowadays) horse who was thought to have lost his speed and stamina. We do however recommend that tests for the possible use of steroids be conducted on the goal scorers........they were not very normal and nearly inhuman.
Friday, May 8, 2009
May 2009 Monthly Chat
Some players are asking for the games to start earlier at 5.30pm. Currently most assume that there will not be enough players by then and prefer to come much later and as a result games usually commence after 6pm. If we tried to start by 5.30pm, how many of you guys would be able to come?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sunday Social games: Should it continue? How to make it the preferred event of the week?
It is an open secret that the Sunday social game does to a certain extent compete with Saturday or Sunday friendlies. It is seen by many as inferior because it is perceived to be "uncompetitive" because there are no referees involved as well as the non-application of the offside rule. There are also no fixed team mates as players are basically divided according to coloured or white jerseys with those with perhaps with a better torso (body) in their own skin colour making up the balancing group. Meanwhile, players do not have to make a commitment to come as the event is of a social nature thus resulting in differing numbers (between 17 to 32 this year) and identities of people every week. As facilitator, I often have two questions that seeks answers: "Should the games be continued?" and "What can be done to make it the preferred event of the week?"
Current positives are:
1) An opportunity to play in one of Penang's best playing field
2) Complete freedom to decide on whether to come or not to come
3) Opportunity to network with a well diversified group
4) Chance to play or experiment in any soccer position
5) A good retirement alternative for those who prefer not to play friendlies any more
Current negatives are:
1) Lack of an ability to prevent rough or dangerous play
2) Some feel that certain players are too critical and vocal on the pitch
3) Games are starting a little bit late so as to limit play time
4) Hardly as challenging and exciting as friendlies
So what say you?
Current positives are:
1) An opportunity to play in one of Penang's best playing field
2) Complete freedom to decide on whether to come or not to come
3) Opportunity to network with a well diversified group
4) Chance to play or experiment in any soccer position
5) A good retirement alternative for those who prefer not to play friendlies any more
Current negatives are:
1) Lack of an ability to prevent rough or dangerous play
2) Some feel that certain players are too critical and vocal on the pitch
3) Games are starting a little bit late so as to limit play time
4) Hardly as challenging and exciting as friendlies
So what say you?
April 2009 Monthly Chat
I realised that I have been doing most of the talking and have not provided for others to chat as well. Hence, starting from this month (April 2009) and for every subsequent month thereafter, I will create a monthly chat column with no restriction on topics to be discussed. However, please avoid offending others or the use of abusive language. I will put up additional posts if there is a request through this monthly chat column.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Analysis of football match played on 7 March 2009
Orange Ramblers 2-1 Social Frees
Orange Ramblers is the strongest team currently playing at the PFS home ground and its strength is increasing rapidly through exposure to state level competitions. A day earlier, they held team Medical (3rd in last year's Div. 1) to a scoreless draw. It is my believe that the commitment to the match with Medical resulted in Orange Ramblers fielding an understrength team against Social Frees thus allowing the Social Frees (perhaps the weakest team playing in PFS) to get away with a very flattering 2-1 defeat.
Social Frees tried (but failed) to achieve a 5-3-2 formation with players being advised to play wide and to utilise both wings to secure as many corner kicks as possible given that we had taller players to dominate the goal area. The Orange Ramblers tend to play a narrower game with the ball seldom remaining at the wings for long as it is played to centrally located players who were pretty good with short passes. Alas, Social Frees players continued to play a more central game and throughout the match, obtained only one corner which was badly taken eventually. I can only say that there is a natural bias that players possessing better footballing skills are assumed to be better at football strategy as well. Hence, it can be frustrating for a manager not skilled in football techniques to advise those with better skills. Was Sir Alex Ferguson (one of the best managers of all time) an excellent football player?
Orange Ramblers is the strongest team currently playing at the PFS home ground and its strength is increasing rapidly through exposure to state level competitions. A day earlier, they held team Medical (3rd in last year's Div. 1) to a scoreless draw. It is my believe that the commitment to the match with Medical resulted in Orange Ramblers fielding an understrength team against Social Frees thus allowing the Social Frees (perhaps the weakest team playing in PFS) to get away with a very flattering 2-1 defeat.
Social Frees tried (but failed) to achieve a 5-3-2 formation with players being advised to play wide and to utilise both wings to secure as many corner kicks as possible given that we had taller players to dominate the goal area. The Orange Ramblers tend to play a narrower game with the ball seldom remaining at the wings for long as it is played to centrally located players who were pretty good with short passes. Alas, Social Frees players continued to play a more central game and throughout the match, obtained only one corner which was badly taken eventually. I can only say that there is a natural bias that players possessing better footballing skills are assumed to be better at football strategy as well. Hence, it can be frustrating for a manager not skilled in football techniques to advise those with better skills. Was Sir Alex Ferguson (one of the best managers of all time) an excellent football player?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Results of fiesta social match on 28 January 2009
Final Score Colour 7 - 1 White
First Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Second Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Third Goal Scorer - Andrew Lim (Colour)
Fourth Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Fifth Goal Scorer - Vincent Yeap (Colour)
Sixth Goal Scorer - Kenny Lim (White)
Seventh Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Eighth Goal Scorer - Vincent Yeap (Colour)
Last Goal Scorer (after Azan) - None
Winning team - Colour
Clean sheets - None
First Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Second Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Third Goal Scorer - Andrew Lim (Colour)
Fourth Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Fifth Goal Scorer - Vincent Yeap (Colour)
Sixth Goal Scorer - Kenny Lim (White)
Seventh Goal Scorer - Leow Khang Heng (Colour)
Eighth Goal Scorer - Vincent Yeap (Colour)
Last Goal Scorer (after Azan) - None
Winning team - Colour
Clean sheets - None
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Schedule of Red Packets (Ang Pows) for match on 28 Jan'09
To add an air of festivity to the social game schedule on 28 Jan'09, we will give out 'ang pows' for the following achievements:
1) Team with clean sheets: 1 ang pow (RM2) to each team player
2) First player to score a goal (except own goal): 1 ang pow (RM10)
3) Second player to score a goal (except own goal): 1 ang pow (RM5)
4) Player to score after announcement of "last goal": 1 ang pow (RM5)
5) Shoot for "gold". After any goal is scored, the player scoring the goal gets to place an orange on the penalty spot in a penalty shootout. If he scores, he gets an ang pow (RM2) otherwise the goalkeeper gets the ang pow (RM2) for the save.
6) We will dangle 5 ang pows (RM2) on each goal. Players scoring a direct hit on any of those ang pows gets them (own goal also allowed).
7) Winning team: Each player gets one shoot for "gold" attempt
8) Losing team: Each player gets to be a goalkeeper once in the Winning team's shoot for "gold" attempt.
1) Team with clean sheets: 1 ang pow (RM2) to each team player
2) First player to score a goal (except own goal): 1 ang pow (RM10)
3) Second player to score a goal (except own goal): 1 ang pow (RM5)
4) Player to score after announcement of "last goal": 1 ang pow (RM5)
5) Shoot for "gold". After any goal is scored, the player scoring the goal gets to place an orange on the penalty spot in a penalty shootout. If he scores, he gets an ang pow (RM2) otherwise the goalkeeper gets the ang pow (RM2) for the save.
6) We will dangle 5 ang pows (RM2) on each goal. Players scoring a direct hit on any of those ang pows gets them (own goal also allowed).
7) Winning team: Each player gets one shoot for "gold" attempt
8) Losing team: Each player gets to be a goalkeeper once in the Winning team's shoot for "gold" attempt.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Analysis of football match played on 17 January 2009
Citibank 3 - 0 Social Frees
This is the first away game played by Social Frees and it was played at the Technics Institute football field as this was the home ground of the Citibank team who has played there for several years.
We tried a conventional 4-4-2 formation to try to break down the Citibank team who is well known for their rather accurate passing and high rate of ball possession. However, the Social Frees lacked strike-minded players for this match and there were hardly any effective shots taken against the opponent's goal since most had a midfielder mentality and were content to maintain ball possession and passing it around without actually planning to take any shots towards goal. I have always maintained that a pure striker is one who must be selfish, who goes for glory himself by taking on defenders and making sure he gets a shot at goal. Our "strikers" that day were reluctant to take on the defenders and regularly back passed the ball whenever defenders challenged them. Secondly, the idea behind the playing of the ball appears ineffective. My personal view is that the effective way in which a ball should be played is that defenders should make early and accurate passes to midfielders who should maintain brief but effective possession of the ball before passing it to a more forward midfielder. However, I do not think midfielders should pass the ball directly to a striker, rather they should place the ball in a position which threatens the opponent's goal and allow the strikers to seek out the ball and drive it towards goal. Citibank played well and scored one goal late in the first half and another in the second-half while they were gifted with an own goal towards the end of the 2nd half.
This is the first away game played by Social Frees and it was played at the Technics Institute football field as this was the home ground of the Citibank team who has played there for several years.
We tried a conventional 4-4-2 formation to try to break down the Citibank team who is well known for their rather accurate passing and high rate of ball possession. However, the Social Frees lacked strike-minded players for this match and there were hardly any effective shots taken against the opponent's goal since most had a midfielder mentality and were content to maintain ball possession and passing it around without actually planning to take any shots towards goal. I have always maintained that a pure striker is one who must be selfish, who goes for glory himself by taking on defenders and making sure he gets a shot at goal. Our "strikers" that day were reluctant to take on the defenders and regularly back passed the ball whenever defenders challenged them. Secondly, the idea behind the playing of the ball appears ineffective. My personal view is that the effective way in which a ball should be played is that defenders should make early and accurate passes to midfielders who should maintain brief but effective possession of the ball before passing it to a more forward midfielder. However, I do not think midfielders should pass the ball directly to a striker, rather they should place the ball in a position which threatens the opponent's goal and allow the strikers to seek out the ball and drive it towards goal. Citibank played well and scored one goal late in the first half and another in the second-half while they were gifted with an own goal towards the end of the 2nd half.
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