I still remembered exactly how it felt, the day before my official football debut, 7-a-side football, on a grass pitch. I was only 10, it felt like yesterday. I do not own any pair of boots then, needless to say football socks and all. The night before, I was too excited to sleep and was staring at the window till about 12am before i have to wake up at 5:45am.
Finally dawn broke and I wore my beloved Reebok sports shoes to the game, in my kiddish PE attire.
On route, one of my friends passed me a pair of shin-guard, that's like the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life, then. The other classmate of my asked me if I had the socks required for the guard, I shook my head and passed the guard to him. Gutted but I was still extreme excited about the games ahead.
Our pool had Henderson Primary, Queenstown Primary and Blanga Rise Primary.
1st game vs Queenstown Primary.
We played 2 1 2 1, 2 defenders, 1 anchor defensive mid, 2 wingers and a striker, I'm the obvious choice for the right flank role; useless left foot, abundant stamina, work rate as well as a solid right foot. The game began and I was booked barely 4 mins into the game. I was running towards the opposition holding the ball, I tried to stop but the inertia was too much, pitch was slippery and I wasn't in studs, I slipped and went straight at him. Not the debut I had in mind.
10 mins into the game, we had a corner, the ball was in the box and the opposition couldn't clear it well, I went straight at the defender holding the ball, robbed him and smashed the ball into the goal. That was my debut and it started with a card, and a goal.
That feeling was etched within me, even till today, everyone came and celebrate with me, the typical pat on the back and messing around with my head.
We won 2 - 0.
2nd game - vs Henderson Primary.
They were very very tactical and technical, experienced too. Formation was similar to ours but they played possession football, which was too intimidating to us then. We were only 10, with barely any match experience, disoriented and chasing after the ball, they got the goal in no time.
Leading by 1 goal with minutes remaining, they had a corner and the keeper came all the way to the middle of the pitch, he was really huge and tall, the ball came, my defender cleared and I ran after the ball, the keeper was running towards the ball too, at my direction.
My determination proved too much for and as I knocked the ball passed him and skipped past his challenge only with the empty goal ahead, i simply had to get to the ball and kick it 20 metres into the empty net.
Well, life has never been that kind to anyone eh? Within seconds he caught up to me and ran past me...
We lost and was 2nd in the group. Only the top team qualify for the knock out, which eventually Henderson Primary won 2 - 0.
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The world is really fair and just, everything comes at a price, you gain something, you have to lose something. When I was that age, all I wanted was to grow up, to be independent, to be able to give my parents money and to buy something for myself.
Right now, I just want to go back then, where I just have to study hard and play even harder. Maybe I'd be in the National Team now.
My mother has very strict rules about bikes and football. My dad brought her on a date to the national stadium to watch the national team play. Goh Kim Song, our speed demon broke his leg in front of my mother, and that was how I am allowed to join any sports club except football.
That is also why I was selected by the school to represent them, I juggle, dribble and kick the ball whenever, wherever I get the chance. Everyone 20mins recess time was never about food, it's only about chasing after the ball. . .
Inter-class games trophies, Champion in Primary 5 and 3rd place in Primary 6. I scored a hat-trick during our 3rd and 4th placing game :))
Finally dawn broke and I wore my beloved Reebok sports shoes to the game, in my kiddish PE attire.
On route, one of my friends passed me a pair of shin-guard, that's like the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life, then. The other classmate of my asked me if I had the socks required for the guard, I shook my head and passed the guard to him. Gutted but I was still extreme excited about the games ahead.
Our pool had Henderson Primary, Queenstown Primary and Blanga Rise Primary.
1st game vs Queenstown Primary.
We played 2 1 2 1, 2 defenders, 1 anchor defensive mid, 2 wingers and a striker, I'm the obvious choice for the right flank role; useless left foot, abundant stamina, work rate as well as a solid right foot. The game began and I was booked barely 4 mins into the game. I was running towards the opposition holding the ball, I tried to stop but the inertia was too much, pitch was slippery and I wasn't in studs, I slipped and went straight at him. Not the debut I had in mind.
10 mins into the game, we had a corner, the ball was in the box and the opposition couldn't clear it well, I went straight at the defender holding the ball, robbed him and smashed the ball into the goal. That was my debut and it started with a card, and a goal.
That feeling was etched within me, even till today, everyone came and celebrate with me, the typical pat on the back and messing around with my head.
We won 2 - 0.
2nd game - vs Henderson Primary.
They were very very tactical and technical, experienced too. Formation was similar to ours but they played possession football, which was too intimidating to us then. We were only 10, with barely any match experience, disoriented and chasing after the ball, they got the goal in no time.
Leading by 1 goal with minutes remaining, they had a corner and the keeper came all the way to the middle of the pitch, he was really huge and tall, the ball came, my defender cleared and I ran after the ball, the keeper was running towards the ball too, at my direction.
My determination proved too much for and as I knocked the ball passed him and skipped past his challenge only with the empty goal ahead, i simply had to get to the ball and kick it 20 metres into the empty net.
Well, life has never been that kind to anyone eh? Within seconds he caught up to me and ran past me...
We lost and was 2nd in the group. Only the top team qualify for the knock out, which eventually Henderson Primary won 2 - 0.
-----------
The world is really fair and just, everything comes at a price, you gain something, you have to lose something. When I was that age, all I wanted was to grow up, to be independent, to be able to give my parents money and to buy something for myself.
Right now, I just want to go back then, where I just have to study hard and play even harder. Maybe I'd be in the National Team now.
My mother has very strict rules about bikes and football. My dad brought her on a date to the national stadium to watch the national team play. Goh Kim Song, our speed demon broke his leg in front of my mother, and that was how I am allowed to join any sports club except football.
That is also why I was selected by the school to represent them, I juggle, dribble and kick the ball whenever, wherever I get the chance. Everyone 20mins recess time was never about food, it's only about chasing after the ball. . .
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