Soccer Fellowship [5th April]

Soccer Fellowship is ON this Saturday, 5th April at East Spring Secondary School. The session will be from 3 - 5 pm.

Please be reminded that the entrance to the field is next to Block 362. If you are driving, the multi-storey car park you should park at is at Block 359A. If unsure, please check the street directory map.

For team identification this week, please bring / wear a BLUE AND WHITE jersey.

See you on Saturday and please pray for good weather!

Fellowship Tea & Sports Fitness Talk [29th March]

About 11 of us gathered for a time of tea and fellowship @ 3pm last Saturday. In addition to the new faces, we welcomed Dr Tan Poh Kiang and Randy, who recently joined our church. We got to know one another better and talked mostly about soccer (what else!).

After tea, we proceeded to Aldersgate Hall where Dr Tan shared some expertise on soccer injuries, using some of his personal experience as examples. We were all enlightened (especially about proprioception) and even picked his brains on 'not so soccer' related ailments like gout.

For everyone's information and benefit, here's Dr Tan's PowerPoint presentation for us to view. If you have any questions, or want some reading material on gout, please feel free to drop an email, which the PMC Soccer Community will forward to Dr Tan for his reply.

Dr Tan informing us about ankle injuries


Soccer players listening attentively


Randy shares some of his personal experience

Some light reading before Saturday...

To set the stage for this Saturday's Sports Fitness Talk, Dr Tan Poh Kiang has forwarded this article for us to read. For those of us who are old enough, we will remember the scenario which took place almost 10 years ago, at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France...

---

Hobbled Players Becoming Soccer's Pawns: 
Injuries? Ignore Them For the Love of Money

By Rob Hughes

Published: MONDAY, JULY 13, 1998

PARIS: If Ronaldo were a thoroughbred racehorse instead of the 
world's most prized goal-scorer, it is unlikely he would have been 
allowed to compete Sunday. But, limping in pain from a knee injury, 
he nevertheless started the World Cup final.

On Europe's racetracks, there are rules to prevent animals from being 
injected with the type of painkillers Ronaldo has probably been 
resorting to. A fine stallion would be protected by animal-rights
protesters who would shame the owners for putting the 
horse through unnecessary suffering, and by shareholders who would 
not want their investment harmed by a subpar performance.

Yet Ronaldo is only human, and humankind was tuning into this match 
from around the globe. Before kickoff, the question was not whether 
Ronaldo might be kept out because of his restricted movement, but 
whether a pain-killing agent might enable him to score the first hat 
trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst did it for England in 1966.

Ronaldo started the game needing those three goals to take the Golden 
Boot award for the highest scorer in this World Cup away from 
Croatia's Davor Suker. The Croatian had 6 goals to Ronaldo's 4 before 
the final.

It might be hard to conjure up sympathy for a 21-year-old whose 
combined income from Brazil's national team, his Italian club Inter 
Milan and his sponsors, Pirelli and Nike, is over $10 million per 
year. But as Ronaldo has known since his first serious knee injury at 
the age of 17, there is a limit to how much wear and tear, how much 
air travel, how many performances the body can take.

"Take care of your body," Pele, the most famous soccer player in 
history, said the other day. "I played 25 years only because my body 
was strong and I looked after it. For young players like Ronaldo, 
like Michael Owen, this is the beginning. Their bodies are the 
investment."

Pele, in his role traveling the globe for MasterCard and for 
television, is still drawing on that investment.

How long dare we hope Ronaldo and Owen have? The pace of the modern 
game is fearful. The destruction is fierce. As we have seen at this 
World Cup, one player is quite prepared to put another out of the 
next match, even if it is the final, especially if he calculates the 
referee won't see the offense.

But the forces of commerce are powerful. Ronaldo's schedule is out of 
his hands, uncaring for his limbs and overall health.

There are agents to feed. There is Nike and its $400 million, 10-year 
deal with the Brazilian soccer federation demanding that the golden 
boy plays every match that doctors will allow.

There is talk that Inter Milan might sue Brazil if, as feared, 
Ronaldo needs further surgery to correct the knee damage being 
aggravated here. Ronaldo is Inter's player, Inter's investment. The 
club wants to take priority over the country.

Indeed, Franz Beckenbauer, who was himself a pedigree player, but now 
(among other things) is president of Bayern Munich, has suggested 
that future World Cups might be built around clubs rather than 
countries.

It is not a new suggestion. Silvio Berlusconi, the paymaster at AC 
Milan, Inter's great rival, had the same idea when Milan ruled the 
world game with its mix of talents from almost a dozen nationalities. 
Both men have been visionaries: Beckenbauer in the way he changed 
defense into attack on the field, Berlusconi in his initial injection 
of Dutch master players into Milan's previously predictable team.

What they are saying — and FIFA is heeding — is that the money lies 
with clubs, not with national associations. True, but here more than 
anywhere in the rich history of World Cups, we are witnessing the 
license to print billions of dollars through nationalism, rather than 
through real soccer appeal.

But the struggle that destroys the rare talents in the sport is 
quickening. On the eve of the World Cup final, in early July, the 
first round of the "Intertoto" cup was played across Europe to 
determine which clubs might be added to the crowded UEFA Cup for next 
season.

Relentless is the pursuit of more and more matches to milk gate 
receipts, television and sponsorship. This has turned soccer into a 
greedy, and most careless, business. In a few weeks, the players who 
gave their all at this World Cup will be back on duty for the coming 
European club seasons. In a few months, players will be called to the 
qualifying rounds for the 2000 European Champions' Cup. Soon, 
qualifying for the 2002 World Cup will start.

Nevertheless, FIFA's eyes are on a World Club Cup to fill the 
precious few weeks in June and July in the years when neither a World 
Cup nor a continental championship is exhausting the players.

FIFA, I know, has a responsible medical committee. It also, I 
suspect, has bulging files concerning the repercussions of 
overplaying the players. Whether it has a responsible mind, or a will 
to restrain from profiteering, it must tell us.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo and the modern generation of star performers are 
chasing ever more impressive cash prizes during shorter career spans. 
If it is possible to feel sorry for a player made wealthy for life by 
doing what millions would love to do, then Ronaldo is the man.

The animal-rights groups might even be considering that humans are a 
part of the family of animals.

Rob Hughes is chief sports writer of The Times of London.

Fellowship Tea & Sports Fitness Talk [29th March]

This Saturday, the Soccer Community will be having its first ever Fellowship Tea & Sports Fitness Talk by Dr Tan Poh Kiang from 3 - 5 pm at Pentecost Methodist Church. After requests from players and some consultation with the doctor, the programme will look something like this:

- Opening remarks on Sports Fitness
- What is the correct way to warm-up for sports
- How to take care of our knees & ankles before/after injury
- How to prevent/manage gout
- Dialogue session

In order to make sure that we have enough food for tea on Saturday and not too much either, please RSVP by THURSDAY 27th MARCH! If you have any more requests for topics on Sports Fitness, please feel free to include that in your email.

Soccer Training + short game on March 22nd 2008

The sky was rather gloomy but it was a good weather for training. After doing our stretches, 18 of us started on our training to bolster our skills. First up, Ronnie taught us how to "trap, turn and pass". We were asked to simulate two different scenarios - A grounder and a high ball. We then had to practice our high passes. There were laughter all round as we tried our best to put our best foot forward, but at times, that best foot saw a few misplaced passes.

After that, more drills on ball control. We were told to dribble the ball in a confined space and not lose control. We were also tasked to control the ball and make our way around the cones.

As we end our training, the rain came as a drizzle but then, very quickly turned into a downpour. But being brave warriors, we trodded on. The veterans in red jerseys and the youth in blue jerseys.

Both teams were equally matched but the youth's speed were largely curtailed with the soggy pitch. Even so, Damien and Joel continued to threaten from the flanks while pacy Jingzhong put pressure on the seasoned legs of the Red defence, ably marshalled by Ronnie.

The water-logged pitch saw many "stuck" balls and tumbling bodies. But the Reds took the lead after Kevin made a nice sliding pass to John Chia who struck the ball pass the goalkeeper. Manchester United 1-0 Chelsea. erm, I mean Reds 1-0 Blues.

The downpour soon turned into a thunderstorm and a call was made to end the game, but not before another goal. Samuel Eyo received the ball from Kevin, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball home for a two-goal cushion for the Reds. Not the best day for soccer, but at least God held off the rain until we finished our training.

Score: Reds 2-0 Blues
Scorers: John Chia and Samuel Eyo

S.A.V.E. the Day, Soccer Training and Singapore .vs. Australia!

Just a reminder that S.A.V.E the Day (this year's TGIGF programme) happens tomorrow at Pentecost Methodist Church. The programme starts at 2pm and there'll be board games, an academy award nominated movie as well as food. See you there!


This Saturday (22 March), Uncle Ronnie will be taking us for another Soccer Training session, a reminder that ALL Soccer Community members are welcomed to join and improve their skills, even if they are not interested in competitive soccer. We will be doing some conditioning and technical work in the 1st hour, followed by a game for the 2nd hour. Veterans (25 years and above), please come in a RED kit and Youth, in a BLUE kit.

Finally, at the National Stadium this Saturday, our Singapore Lions will take on the Australian Socceroos in a re-match of last year's game. Kick-off is at 7pm and tickets cost $6 (adults) and $2 (secondary & ITE students). If you are interested to go as a group either after Soccer Training or to meet there, just drop a mail to pmcsoccer@gmail.com

Hope to see you at least at one of this week's activities. Pray for good weather and Blessed Good Friday and Easter...

Soccer Fellowship Report [15th March]

It was a really sunny afternoon and by 3.15pm, people were still trickling in so we decided to begin with devotion led by John. John shared on the topic of forgiveness, about Christ's forgiveness of our sins and how, as Christians, we should freely forgive one another just as God, in Christ, had freely forgiven us.

After devotion, as there were only 14 of us, we started off with 7-a-side on half-field to give the others who were just arriving time to kit-up andwarm up. It was a good 15 min kick-about which ended with the Blues scoring 2 goals against the Whites courtesy of Jingzhong and Daniel.

The 11-a-side match duly kicked-off with the red-hot sun beating relentlessly upon our backs. The first half only yielded 2 goals from the Whites before everyone almost unanimously trotted off to the shady portion of the field to get some reprieve from the heat. The first goal came when Ronnie burst down the left flank and while the Blues defenders tried to close him down, Ronnie coolly stroked the ball past the goalmouth to a waiting John, who could not miss from that distance. 1-0 to the Whites. The second goal came when a through ball found Joel at the edge of the penalty area. A fierce drive forced the ball under the diving body of the Blues goalkeeper. The Whites were 2-0 up.

The Blues fought back in the second half with 2 goals in quick succession from Jing Zhong and Damien but Damien's goal had to be the highlight of the afternoon (almost doing a Jermaine Pennant against Newcastle). A scuttle around the penalty area saw a weak shot towards goal which was easily controlled by the Whites goalkeeper, who took too much time to redistribute the ball. An on-rushing Damien saw the Whites goalkeeper trying to clear the ball quickly only for the ball to hit the backside of Damien and rebound into goal. 2-2.

The Blues' joy was short-lived as John slotted home from an inch-perfect cross from Joel to restore the Whites' lead. Two more goals from Damien and a goal from Joel once again leveled the score at 4-4. As the game wore on, it was clear the pace of the game was slowing as the heat took a toll on the players. 2-3 Blues players had to retire from exhaustion. The Whites' 5th goal came when some poor marking allowed John to unleash an angled shot which a sliding Daniel could only guide into his own goal. Soon after, an inspired pass from John through the middle allowed Kevin to beat the off-side trap and go 1-on-1 with the Blues keeper. With still some work to do, Kevin confidently converted the chance for the Whites' 6th goal.

Final score:

Whites [6] - John (2), Joel (2), Kevin, Daniel (OG)

Blues [4] - Damien (3), Jingzhong

Soccer Fellowship [15th March]

Soccer Fellowship is ON this Saturday, 15th March at East Spring Secondary School. The session will be from 3 - 5 pm.

Please be reminded that the entrance to the field is next to Block 362. If you are driving, the multi-storey car park you should park at is at Block 359A. If unsure, please check the street directory map.

For team identification this week, please bring / wear a BLUE AND WHITE jersey.

Also, we'd like to thank Isaac and Rusydi for writing the last 2 Soccer Fellowship/Training reports. If you would like to contribute to the Community in this way, please drop me an email to let me know.

See you on Saturday and please pray for good weather!

S.A.V.E. the Day...

Youth, we really hope to see you there!

Soccer Training + short game on March 8th 2008

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon - very nice for soccer!
Turnout was pretty good (about 26 players!) and we started quite promptly.
Nice to have 2 new players with us this week, Luke and Calvin.

After the usual warm ups, we proceeded on for the soccer training proper by uncle Ronnie.

First up was running round the field. We formed up into a line a jogged along the field. At the signal "Go!", the last person in the line would have to run zig-zags through all the others jogging, to become the 1st in that line.
*The secret to complete this activity well is to constantly keep yourself fit during the week.

After that was done, we played "monkey" in groups of 4 and then had some ball trapping and passing training.

After the training phase, we split ourselves into our individual colours and played a match to practice our skills in-game. (blues and reds)

The first 2 goals were by the blues in quick succession.

Within the first minute of kick off, after through pass down the right wing, Joel scored thanks to a well timed cross by Rusydi.
The second goal was scored by Rusydi 3 minutes later, who's pseudo-cross toward the goal befuddled the keeper who let it in.

However, the Reds did not give up just yet. They pressed on and about 10 minutes later, Luke scored due to a fumble by the Blue's keeper.
Not long after, uncle Ronnie equalized with a brilliantly struck kick outside the box which hit the post and went in.

After the equalizer, the teams became more compact and the pace of the game slowed slightly with a few shots and mostly missing the goal.

One shot stood out from the rest. Bryan's well taken shot from the right, outside the box, broke the deadlock after about 20 minutes!

Soon after, Rusydi scored again thanks to a cross from Damien and after some good possessive play by the Blues.
Joel also scored another which brought the Blues 5-2 up.

The final shot of the game was by uncle Ronnie, who scored outside the box yet again, to bring the final score to 5-3.

Overall, although the training really tired us out before the game, everyone had a great time having fellowship and enjoying the great game - soccer.

God Bless.


Overall score:

Blues 5 - Rusydi(2), Joel(2), Bryan(1)

Reds 3 - Luke, Ronnie(2)

Soccer Fellowship Report [1st March]

The soccer fellowship kicked off on a new ground at East Spring Secondary School as Springfield Secondary is undergoing construction of artificial turf.

At 3pm, the turnout wasn't good as many was still finding their way around.

The devotion was then led by Maurice touching on "Encouragement". Giving an example as when he was running a 2.4km run and the sight of his mates gave him an extra boost in his run. So, on the pitch, instead of blaming your teammates on certain mistakes, instead give a tap on the shoulder and give some encourage to obtain a better effort from him. =)

The weather was nice and windy. The match then kicked off at around 3.30pm. Since we started off late and we played the whole match continuously. No half-time, giving a good fitness maintenance for most of us.

The first goal came when an attack from the blues was cancelled out by the white's defence, resulting in a corner. A brilliant in-swinging corner from ex-national Ronnie Liew resulted in Kee Min producing a powerful header to the top-right corner of the goalmouth leaving the keeper with no chance at all.

The blue's midfield was compact and constantly doing triangle passing. The attack goes on. Soon after, a through ball on the left gave Choon Heng a 1-on-1 situation with the keeper. Too much on the ball, gave time for Michael and Maurice to paddle back. Being sneaky on the dribbles, he dribbled past Joel(gk), Maurice and slotted a goal through the legs of Michael.

Continuing in the through ball attack from the blues, gave Uncle John an opening on the right flank, a moment of brilliance from Uncle John's cross lobbed over the keeper giving Jonathan Jong a simple tap-in for a goal. Jonathan is Michael's colleague and it's his first time joining in for PMC's fellowship.

After conceding the third goal, the Whites pulled up their socks and played some better football, showing more passing and a little one-two on the flanks. Time and again, the whites pushed forward but had hardly much luck and some poor finishing.

Soon after, a little one-two on the right flank between Derrick and Rusydi resulted in Derrick driving a powerful shot from a tight angle on the right. Derrick is Kevin's neighbour and also joining PMC Soccer fellowship for the first time.

The goal liftted up the spirit of the Whites and make them more hungry for an equaliser.

The second goal came when David Teong tried to break Kevin's legs in the penalty box. Rusydi then cleanly slotted the penalty to the bottom right corner of the goal.

After a while, a referee for the next match stepped onto the pitch and blows for a final whistle signalling the end of our fellowship.

God bless all.

FINAL SCORE:
Whites [ 2 ] - Derrick , Rusydi
vs
Blues [ 3 ] - Kee Min , Choon Heng , Jonathan Jong

Entrance to East Spring Secondary Field

After yesterday's Fellowship session at East Spring Secondary, we can now confirm that the entrance to the field is next to Block 362. If you are driving, the multi-storey car park you should park at is at Block 359A. Please take note of this for the upcoming sessions at East Spring Secondary. If unsure, please check the street directory map.

Extra training session this month...

We just found out that we have made an additional booking made at East Spring Secondary School this month. This means that we have the field for the 1st 4 Saturdays of the month. After some discussion, we have decided to have a Soccer Team training session this Saturday, 8th March, 3 - 5 pm.

All Soccer Community players are welcomed to join and improve their skills, even if they are not interested in competitive soccer.

Veterans, please come in your RED kit and Youth, in your NAVY kit.