Sunday, January 31, 2010
1ST DAY CNY, VALENTINE'S DAY, 2ND SUNDAY OF FEBRUARY
A survey is being conducted to ascertain if the games could be played on 14 Feb, 15 Feb or 16 Feb representing the first 3 days of the Chinese New Year. Unless there are at least 14 Ayes for any of those dates, we shall have to assume an automatic cancellation of the games. It is therefore also possible for games to be played on 2 or all the above mentioned dates though I remain pessimistic that this is likely. The die hards are pushing for games on 14 and 16 Feb including a special event on 16 Feb so do respond. There has been requests for other dates but whereas my own firm is closed from 13 Feb to 22 Feb (re-opening only on Tuesday 23 Feb'10), it is unlikely that other companies will remain closed beyond Tuesday 16 Feb, so it would be a pointless exercise.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010 - the beginning as it will be, 2009 - the end as it was
Colours started the 28th year since the Social Frees was established the usual way - with a win over White. However, the winning margin is getting increasingly tighter. Colours won by three goal margins in the more recent two years (4-1 in 2008 and 8-5 in 2009) and huge margins in the years before. This time it was just a 2 goal margin 6-4 win with 22 players playing.
Yours truly still managed a goal in 2010's first game to maintain a tradition of having scored in the first game of every year. However, this time it was not a usual field goal, rather it was a penalty taken and scored. It looked pretty like a set-up (a nonetheless legal penalty though) either to 'reward' my loyalty to the team (or perhaps a X'mas present from some very dear friends to cheer me up) but given my recent lack lustre performance, I accepted the charity with much humility and thanked both those who got me or gave me the penalty. I will maintain the role of acting coordinator until a new coordinator is appointed (if it does ever happen).
Statistics for 2009 are as follows:
51 Games played: Colours won 30 games, 5 games were drawn and White won 16 games.
Total number of goals scored: Colours (170) White (136)
Clean sheets: Colours (9) White (2)
Longest winning streak: Colours (5 weeks) White (3 weeks)
Best win: Colours (7-1 on 28/1/09) White (9-0 on 21/6/09)
Most goals in a match: 13 Goals (Colours won 8-5 on 1/1/09)
Least goals in a match: 1 Goal (White won 1-0 on 15/11/09)
Yours truly still managed a goal in 2010's first game to maintain a tradition of having scored in the first game of every year. However, this time it was not a usual field goal, rather it was a penalty taken and scored. It looked pretty like a set-up (a nonetheless legal penalty though) either to 'reward' my loyalty to the team (or perhaps a X'mas present from some very dear friends to cheer me up) but given my recent lack lustre performance, I accepted the charity with much humility and thanked both those who got me or gave me the penalty. I will maintain the role of acting coordinator until a new coordinator is appointed (if it does ever happen).
Statistics for 2009 are as follows:
51 Games played: Colours won 30 games, 5 games were drawn and White won 16 games.
Total number of goals scored: Colours (170) White (136)
Clean sheets: Colours (9) White (2)
Longest winning streak: Colours (5 weeks) White (3 weeks)
Best win: Colours (7-1 on 28/1/09) White (9-0 on 21/6/09)
Most goals in a match: 13 Goals (Colours won 8-5 on 1/1/09)
Least goals in a match: 1 Goal (White won 1-0 on 15/11/09)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
IDEAS ON COORDINATING FROM 2010 ONWARDS
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.
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, 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.
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