It was a wet, dizzly morning as 18 teams met at the Tampines Practice Field for the Soccer-For-Bibles event. This event seeks to raise funds to organise Bible distribution trips to Cambodia, China and Vietnam. In 2007 and 2009, over $30,000 (approx 6000 copies of Bibles) was raised for Bible distribution in Cambodia and Myanmar.
The team representing PMC at this tournament were:
1) Maurice Lim
2) Michael Chua
3) Nigel Woo
4) Daniel Low
5) Steve Flynn
6) Marcus Tan
7) Jacob Che Xuan
8) Choo Jingzhong
9) Lincoln Tan
10)Lee Kee Min
11)Samuel Eyo
John and Wei En were also in attendance to support the team.
After a short worship and devotion, the matches kicked off. PMC was grouped together with AMC, CMC and St Andrew's Cathedral. Our first match against AMC (the defending champion) was closely contested and unfortunately, we lost narrowly 1-0. Our second game against CMC ended 0-0 as both teams failed to take their chances. With only one match remaining and an inferior goal difference to CMC, our only hope to enter the quarter-finals was to win our final game against St Andrew's and hope CMC lose to AMC by a larger margin.
As it turned out, we won our final game 1-0. A clearance deflected off Samuel fell nicely to Jing Zhong to tuck home. And courtesy of a 3-0 thrashing of CMC by AMC, PMC was through to the quarters! Our Quarter-final opponent were to be Cherith Baptist Church.
PMC started off the match brightly and was the more offensive of the two teams. PMC should have wrapped the game up as both Steve and Jing Zhong saw their shot and header respectively beat the goalie only to be denied by the crossbar. The final whistle went, signalling for the game to go into penalties.
The system for penalties seemed rather strange. Each team was to take 3 penalty kicks, after which if the result is a draw, another two kicks would be taken. If the result was still a draw, there would be a coin toss where the winner of the toss will decide to kick or defend. If the winner decides to kick and misses, then the opponent is declared the winner.
Undaunted, our 3 brave penalty heroes (Daniel, Jing Zhong and Steve) stepped up to the task. Our 4th penalty hero, Michael, of course did not have a choice as he stood bravely between the posts. Special commendation must be made of Michael who provided tremendously safe hands throughout the tournament.
The first 3 penalties ended in a draw but not without some 'controversy'. Michael saved one of the penalties as it was shot straight at him. However, the referee on the goalline adjudged Michael to have stepped forward before the shot was taken. The CBC penalty-taker retook the shot and scored. Daniel and Steve lined up to take the next two penalties for PMC. With both CBC takers and Daniel having scored, it was now left to Steve to even the score and the game to sudden death. Unfortunately, Steve's shot flew just over the crossbar to the jubilant shouts of CBC players.
So, PMC's march was halted at the Quarter-finals (both CMC teams went on to win in both the Cup and Plate competitions) but I was personally very proud of the team as they displayed teamwork, commitment and good sportsmanship throughout the competition. Well done to the team!
We'll be back......
After a short worship and devotion, the matches kicked off. PMC was grouped together with AMC, CMC and St Andrew's Cathedral. Our first match against AMC (the defending champion) was closely contested and unfortunately, we lost narrowly 1-0. Our second game against CMC ended 0-0 as both teams failed to take their chances. With only one match remaining and an inferior goal difference to CMC, our only hope to enter the quarter-finals was to win our final game against St Andrew's and hope CMC lose to AMC by a larger margin.
As it turned out, we won our final game 1-0. A clearance deflected off Samuel fell nicely to Jing Zhong to tuck home. And courtesy of a 3-0 thrashing of CMC by AMC, PMC was through to the quarters! Our Quarter-final opponent were to be Cherith Baptist Church.
PMC started off the match brightly and was the more offensive of the two teams. PMC should have wrapped the game up as both Steve and Jing Zhong saw their shot and header respectively beat the goalie only to be denied by the crossbar. The final whistle went, signalling for the game to go into penalties.
The system for penalties seemed rather strange. Each team was to take 3 penalty kicks, after which if the result is a draw, another two kicks would be taken. If the result was still a draw, there would be a coin toss where the winner of the toss will decide to kick or defend. If the winner decides to kick and misses, then the opponent is declared the winner.
Undaunted, our 3 brave penalty heroes (Daniel, Jing Zhong and Steve) stepped up to the task. Our 4th penalty hero, Michael, of course did not have a choice as he stood bravely between the posts. Special commendation must be made of Michael who provided tremendously safe hands throughout the tournament.
The first 3 penalties ended in a draw but not without some 'controversy'. Michael saved one of the penalties as it was shot straight at him. However, the referee on the goalline adjudged Michael to have stepped forward before the shot was taken. The CBC penalty-taker retook the shot and scored. Daniel and Steve lined up to take the next two penalties for PMC. With both CBC takers and Daniel having scored, it was now left to Steve to even the score and the game to sudden death. Unfortunately, Steve's shot flew just over the crossbar to the jubilant shouts of CBC players.
So, PMC's march was halted at the Quarter-finals (both CMC teams went on to win in both the Cup and Plate competitions) but I was personally very proud of the team as they displayed teamwork, commitment and good sportsmanship throughout the competition. Well done to the team!
We'll be back......
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