Soccer Fellowship [28th June]

Soccer Fellowship is ON this Saturday, 28th June back 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!

Agape Cup Match Report #6 [22 June]

At 5.15pm, the weather was just perfect for a soccer game. We all knew this was a must-win game if we were to harbour any thoughts of advancing to the quarters and we were mentally prepared (if not physically!) to give our best.

We adopted a 4-3-2-1 (Christmas tree) formation with Maurice, Mark, James and Daniel at the back. Kee Min, Kevin and BangShi held the middle, and Rusydi and Uncle Ronnie played a little higher up with Justin as the lone striker. And Michael took the keeper position.

The formula appeared to be paying off as the two teams were more or less evenly matched for the first 20-25 minutes. While HMC tried to unsettle our defence down their flanks, PMC threatened with long throw-ins into their final third. However, it was HMC who drew first blood. A miscommunication allowed HMC to gain possesssion on their right of midfield and play was quickly transferred to their left midfield player who ran into the box before releasing a shot which went past Michael at the far post. HMC 1, PMC 0.

Although a bit discouraging, the goal actually increased our urgency and we surged forward in search of the equalizer. Our efforts were rewarded 10 minutes later when a long throw-in into the 6-yard box led to a goalmouth panic frenzy which allowed Justin to poke in the precious equalizer. Yes! 1-1. When the whistle blew for half-time, both teams were glad not to have conceded a second before the break.

A few substitutions were brought in after the break to introduce some fresh legs and more spring into our attack. This appeared to work as PMC started the 2nd half more lively and threatening. Unfortunately, a turnover of possession in the opponents' final third forced us on a desparate backfoot. HMC launched the ball into our half and their left winger latched on to the pass to unleash a shot into the back of the net despite Michael trying to close down the angle.

Before we could get over our shock, another counterattack saw HMC's striker 1-on-1 with Michael. HMC's striker coolly side-stepped Michael to slot the ball home. HMC 3 - PMC 1. By now, our spirits were deflated and it was no surprise that we conceded a final goal to end the match HMC 4 - PMC 1.

Though we lost this game, I felt the team was united and supported one another. While we showed we could hold our own for one half, clearly we need more focus, stamina and discipline to finish as well as we had begun. I'm sure we will learn from our experiences and improve our game as we play together more often to understand each other better.

Congratulations to Kevin on the arrival of his baby girl, Kayla! Please keep Kevin and his family in your prayers as they adjust to having a precious new life in their family. We will miss him for a while at soccer fellowship!

Photo from Sunday's Match

Here's the photo I took from Sunday's match. Doesn't look like we lost 4-1!

Soccer Fellowship Report [14th June]

PMC moved back to its old "homeground" at Springfield Secondary since East Spring Secondary is currently having its scouts camp. We welcomed Viji for the first time and Gabriel who had not joined us for quite a while.

The weather was rather nice and everyone gathered their pair of boots for a kick-about. The game was more likely to be a 9-aside game. So everyone would expect much more space to play around and the "offside" rule was not in-place.

The game kicked off with Kevin leading the white and Ronnie leading the blues. The whites started off well with great possession and some feet-to-feet passing before a throughball was made by Kevin to set JZ up for the first goal.

The blues then pressed on for an equaliser and they did it when some passing outside the box wasnt closed down fast enough allowing Ronnie to bring the ball into the box and brought an equaliser for the blues.

The goals came running wild for both sides that no one could keep track of it.

Around 10mins after kick-off from half-time, everyone had a feel of the blazing sun which grilled everyone on the pitch. The game slowed down a little due to the scorching heat.

When the whites conceded a goal, Kevin did a "one-man show" from kick off and went through the blues defence. On both attempts, Kevin managed to harass the blues defence and get something out of it. But the whites were far stronger and outscored the blues by at least a couple of goals through Gabriel.

Soon it was about time for a final goal. Both sides pressed on for that last goal, only to have the blues managing to secure the final goal.

In short, it was a good run-out for everyone to stay in touch for next week's Agape Cup with PMC still mathematically in for qualification.

Soccer Fellowship [14th June]

Soccer Fellowship is ON this Saturday, 14th June at our old home ground Springfield Secondary School. This is because the Scouts are having a camp at East Spring Secondary. The session will be from 3 - 5 pm as usual.

For those who have never joined us at Springfield Secondary before the address of the school is 30 Tampines Avenue 8, Singapore 529593. Refer to the map below if you are not sure how to get there. It's really close to Temasek Polytechnic.

Update: For those driving, the school car park is NOT available this Saturday so do park at the public car park behind the school.

View Larger Map

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

See you on Saturday and please pray for good weather!

Agape Cup Match Report #5 [8th June]

It was fantastic weather that favoured all the soccer players on the field – windy and cloudy sky.

We were well prepared for this game because we were aware that we had to win the remaining matches. Therefore, Ronnie had an ideal starting line-up with 3 hard tackling midfielders, Bangshi, Kee Min & Bevan and 3 young and speedy wingers, Rusydi, Daniel and Jingzhong to choose from. Therefore, Kevin was selected to partner our No. 1 defender, Mark as the Centre Back with Daniel and Andy as Right and Left Back respectively. In the middle, we played a diamond formation with Ronnie as the defensive midfielder, Kee Min as the attacking midfielder, Bangshi on the left and Rusydi on the right. Forward, we had both Justin and John. In goal was our agile goalkeeper, Jeremy Tan. Everyone present was certainly motivated to start the game, and give his best for the day!

Playing a 4-5-1 formation, HP's midfield was “camping” in the middle for the first quarter of the game. We played well as a team but were unable to clear the ball out of trouble sometimes. With HP’s experience playing together for many years and on their home ground, they always kept possession of the ball and pressed wave after wave of attack. Unluckily, Jeremy dropped a shot and their No. 9 was there to shoot from close range. Baffled by the goal, PMC tried hard to counter and we were given a lifeline when Justin headed in a goal from a corner. Bravo! Score: 1-1

PMC was definitely boosted by Justin’s goal and we started dominating the middle to seek another goal. However, in one of HP’s attack, Jeremy spilled another shot and again their No. 9 was at the right place and at the right time to stab in the goal. Soon, we found out that Jeremy’s boots was torn and needed to change to a new pair. Thus, the referee gave PMC & HP some “breathing” time for Jeremy to put on Joel's boots.

However, before we could regain our situation, their No. 9 scored another 3 more goals (2 from speedy moves and 1 from a goalkick which Jeremy sent straight to him) which ended 5:1 to HP after the 1st half.

Substitutions were made at half time, Jingzhong coming on for John to start the game afresh. Formation was also changed to 4:5:1. Ronnie took over Kevin’s position and Kevin took the central position with Bangshi and Kee Min playing along with him. Jingzhong and Rusydi were playing on the left and right respectively with Justin as the lone striker.

The 2nd half was played with more possession on the ball and we were controlling the middle with Jingzhong and Rusydi running riots along their flanks. However, we created many chances but to no avail because either their defenders managed to dispossess us or the goalie saved the ball.

For the last 15 minutes, 3 more changes were made with Samuel Eyo coming in for Ronnie, Bevan coming in for Kee Min and Joel coming for Justin. With just a few touches, Joel toe poked a goal with only a half chance given when Mark took a free kick from our half and HP’s defender failed to clear it. Hooray! With that goal boosting up our morale, we pressed on for more goals as we had nothing to lose. Chances were created but again unsuccessful attempts on goal.

However, after a few close shave of danger lurking around our goalmouth, we conceded another goal scored from their No. 7, which was delivered by their No.9 player from their right wing.

Though we had lost this game, mathematically we can still qualify if we beat our next two opponents. This tournament has clearly showed us that we need to play together more often to understand each other better. I guess the mixture between the youth and veteran players will bring together the cohesion of two good soccer teams. Final score:

Hiding Place 6

Pentecost Methodist Church 2

[Justin & Joel]

I am looking forward to see everyone this coming Saturday, 14th June 2008 at Springfield Secondary School, 3 - 5pm for Soccer Fellowship!

Soccer Fellowship 'Special' Report [31st May]

Saturday arrived and I was looking forward to our 2nd 'Special' fellowship event of the year. The 1st saw us being educated on Sports Fitness and this time, we were going to get to know the people from the Pasir Ris community. We also welcomed for the 1st time Vijay and had with us Jonathan Jong and Jonathan Goh, who had been 'missing' for awhile.

There was a downpour before 3pm but still a group of 9 turned up at church for tea fellowship, worship and devotion. Maurice shared on how God knows each of us by name and the kind of God He is- not far off in a distance, but one who seeks a relationship with each and everyone of us. After devotion, we all kitted up in church before walking across the road to Loyang Primary School for the kickabout.

Maurice getting ready


Kitting up in the comfort of the church compound

Kris strapping on his brand new Nike Air Zoom Total 90 III

Thank you MOE & SCC for the free field!


Jonathan Goh getting ready to strut his stuff

There weren't many other people there yet, so we started with a simple 4 vs 5 match. Soon, Darren came with his schoolmates and we formed teams of 5 to play 'winner stays'. There was some slick passing given the small field, and good teamwork between players. Sometimes, we had to rely on the extraordinary to score a goal- like Maurice's goalkick which looped over Michael's head to go straight into the net.

Darren's team getting ready to launch another attack

In time, some boys from the neighbourhood joined us for the kickabout. They showed us what off-the-ball running and quick passing to feet really meant as they chalked up victory after victory against our less-coordinated teams. Only Ronnie seemed to be able to cope well with their pace and dexterity, given his experience from yesteryear. It was only after Rusydi arrived and some acclimatisation that the team of Jingzhong, Daniel, Michael, Jonathan Jong and Rusydi chalked up a victory. The other teams were quickly brushed aside.

Mike getting ready to deliver another looong goal-kick

Everyone waiting for play to start from Mike's goal-kick

Play went on until about 530pm when players started to trickle away, leaving 3 teams and finally just 2. By 6pm, everyone had enough and packed up for the day. It was good fellowship among everyone that turned up and we thank God for MOE/SSC's 'Free-to-Play Field' programme that has given us this opportunity to have fun together.

Soccer Fellowship 'Special' [31st May]

Soccer Fellowship takes a 'special' twist this Saturday with activities taking place in church and at the soccer field of Loyang Primary School, just across the road from PMC. As part of the Sports Council's goal of encouraging community bonding and interaction through sports, many school fields are being opened up for free during the weekend. As part of the Pasir Ris community, we will be taking this opportunity to play soccer closer to church and get to know people in this community.

We will start in church at 3pm with some afternoon tea, followed by a time of worship and devotion. After that, when the weather has cooled, we'll kit up and walk across to the field for soccer. Depending on the numbers we have and others present, there will probably be 5-on-5 or 7-on-7 'winner stays' matches. Should be fun!

If you are interested to participate in this 'Special', please leave a comment on this post (so that everyone knows who's coming and how many) and so that there will be enough food and drink on for everyone!

Agape Cup Match Report #4 [25th May]

The weather was great initially- the hot morning was cooled by a cloudy sky and intermittent rain showers. This however was replaced later in the game by a much warmer afternoon as the showers dried up and the sun peeped out.

Due to a variety of reasons, the turn up for this game was not as 'strong' as before. Certainly, have 4 central midfielders out for the day gave Ronnie a challenge in fielding a balanced starting line-up but having said that, everyone present was certainly enthused to start the game, and gave their best for day!

Playing a 4-4-2 formation, FMC's midfield and forwards were pretty much encamped in our half for the first quater of the game. Individually, we defended well, but were unable to string together passes that would have led us out of trouble. With only 1 true central midfielder in the form of Kevin, there was a lack of compactness and cohesion in the middle of the park to take possession of the ball and keep it, allowing FMC to press wave after waves of attack. Passing between the midfield 4 of Kevin, Damien, Justin and Jingzhong was nondescript and up front, Samuel and Joel had few touches. After a succession of corners against us, one in-swinger saw Jeremy unable to hold the ball due to the wet conditions and we were 0-1 down.

Buzzed by the goal, PMC tried hard to counter the offensive but a quick ball through the middle saw their #8 cut through our backline. James tried his best to hold off the #8, who managed to fizzle a stinging shot into our goal. 0-2 down and we were starting to look a little more than rattled.

Having said that, we played better (decent) and kept the game pretty evenly matched for the remainder of the half. Andy and Daniel and fullbacks started to find their feet and wing play was better. A golden opportunity to score from a cross (or was it a corner) was unfortunately headed over the post from 3 yards out by Joel, who was left completely left unmarked by the FMC defence. Another well taken quick free kick by Damien was bound for goal from more than 30 yards out, but the crossbar prevented us from clawing our way back into the match. Like Ronnie mentioned later in the post mortem, perhaps it was not meant to be our day. These 2 opportunities would have clearly turned the match on its head and the momentum in our favour, on another day.

This was made worse in the last minute of the half when the defence was caught ball watching over an apparent off-side player- which saw another opponent make a dash from the midfield to slot coolly into our net from our left side, despite the best intent of James to cover the angle. 0-3 at half time to FMC and another tough job on our hands.

Substitutions were made at half time, with Glenn coming on for Samuel and Maurice coming on for Jingzhong to start the game afresh. The second half was a comedy of errors on our part. 2 yellow cards for James meant that we will miss him in the next game- 1 for a mistimed challenge, and 1 for an apparent 'block' at the half way line. There were another 2 goals from our opponents to add to the misery- One a misplaced pass/shot which slipped through Jeremy's gloves due to a bad bounce and another a super stinger from outside the box which went into the net, due mainly to the shot, and the fact that Jeremy's view could have been obstructed. We didn't have too many chances in the 2nd half. Ronnie's dribbling lent us a bit more control in the middle of the park but some 'squabbling' between our players and theirs due to some overly 'physical' play (use of arms, shirt-pulling and pushing from behind) from FMC players meant that the match was losing its flow. 3 attempted shots and crosses from distance by Glenn which sailed wide and long summed up the the kind of day that PMC was having- wasting possession and lack of teamwork.

In summary, this seemed to be a poor game on our part- defensively lacking cohesion, failure to control the middle and hence hold the ball. It was a pathetic result for us, but definitely a game our opponents deserved to win. Morally defeated, and physically, we could have done more to win the game. But again, being 1st time participants in the Agape Cup, it was a great learning experience on how we need to maintain the right attitude/mentality over the course of 90 minutes and improve from here. The next game against The Hiding Place will be another good challenge for us. Final score:

Faith Methodist Church 5

Pentecost Methodist Church 0

- Reported by: Mark Leong

Upcoming National Team matches...

Here's some information on the upcoming matches that our National Team will be playing...yes, still at the 'supposed to be already torn down' National Stadium. If there's enough interest from the Community, we can organise the purchase of tickets (early bird cheaper!!!) so that we can go together as a group. All matches kick-off at 730pm.

(1) International Friendly
Singapore vs Bahrain
Wednesday 28 May 2008

Grandstand $10.00
Gallery Adult $6.00
Gallery Student $2.00 (applicable to only Secondary / ITE /Junior College)

(2) 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Singapore vs Uzbekistan
Monday 02 June 2008

(3) 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Singapore vs Saudi Arabia
Saturday 14 June 2008

Early bird sale !!!
Gallery Adult $6.00
Gallery Student $2.00 (applicable to only Secondary / ITE /Junior College)

On match day
Gallery Adult $8.00
Gallery Student $3.00 (applicable to only Secondary / ITE /Junior College)

Responses will be collated through comments left on this blog ONLY so that everyone can see how big the interested group is (as I often get asked 'who's going' or 'how many people ah'). So if you are interested, leave a comment on this post with your name to say how many tickets you want for which match and the breakdown of student or adult tickets.