The Name of the Game??

It has been raining cats and dogs (woof) the whole day. Joan Road was closed, and there was only one entrance/exit from Caldecott Hill. The haze didn't stop the boys from The Cage, neither did the floods. Braving the rain AND the floods, the boys arrived punctually at The Cage. I was debating if I should make the trip, and I’m glad that I did. Despite having post-Doha Syndrome, dealing with the jet lag and flu-like symptoms. For I have heard stories about Hady making a special appearance and Melvin entering The Cage. Yet, both were not there. Instead there was this Chris guy who keeps running out of position. They waited for the blue ball to KO officially. It was with Raphael, and we were running late due to traffic. Five minutes into the game, Raphael's shot collided with U.N.C.L.E's face and he dropped onto the pitch. It was the longest time I have known in which he was "out". Did he suffer a concussion? It wasn’t till post-match that I realised he has always be

Yes, U.N.C.L.E. I know. You don't have to remind me that I will be missing out on this weekly "outing" for the next three weeks. And you are seriously stressing me out when you said you look forward to reading this. So, without further ado... here's the blog. The first thing that caught my eye was the knee guard on Simon's left leg. Too much dancing perhaps, while teaching the PSS contestants how to dance. Then it was Simon's sense of fashion, and his "Who's Singapore's next Top Model?" pose. Then I thought, maybe it could be about the boys and their fashion sense. There is Remesh and his "bowling shoes" with his Man Utd jersey. Alvin wearing his "Made in China" Chinese jersey, and U.N.C.L.E.'s back to nature mentality (bare his top lah). Then Remesh collided with Rongming, and Junior commented "Oi! The youngest player on the pitch lang ga the oldest!" But experience does comes with age. Rongming just charged

After a “tough” journey, I finally arrived at The Cage with office mummy. While she became the Security for the Boys (take care of the barang in the picture), I finally get to see how the Boys KO inside the Cage. With both teams decided (Chris, Wenchong, U.N.C.L.E, Peter in one team, Daniel, Alvin, Chin and Remesh – I hope I got it right), it was fun time for them and Wenchong immediately forced Daniel into punching the ball away. U.N.C.L.E. refused to let Wenchong hogged the limelight, but his shot hit the upright two minutes later. Rongming and another guy (Algan??) arrived fifteen minutes later and they were playing with five-a-side. If I’m not wrong, Wenchong finally broke the deadlock in the 24th minute from an acute angle. Rongming then made his presence felt as he sent his shot past Chris, the keeper on our side. This keeper seemed to have become stiff after a long lay-off and nearly caused the ball to roll into the back of his own net. Luckily he managed to recover in time. Sen

When the Media Team "hit" the pitch, a shirt was found lying by the side. Looking up, we saw that Johnni has decided to bare it all. I reaslied that he was wearing the Chelsea shorts Alvin bought from Beijing. I was even more puzzled. Why the shorts, but not the shirt? After the game, he told me that the shirt couldn't absorb sweat! He had no choice, but to take it off. Rested for about two days after the BIG KO on Sunday, Raphael returns to the fray. Join by Chin, Wenchong and U.N.C.L.E. Both U.N.C.L.E. and Chin were carrying injuries. So, U.N.C.L.E.! Your backside still pain? Hahaha! Meanwhile, Wenchong made his presence felt all over The Cage, making his opponent confused with his fancy footwork. Jeff Mak made his debut at The Cage, while Chris and Daniel mark their returns. They all took turns at goal. There were some quite amusing combinations in between the sticks. First, there was Daniel who was tall and lanky at one end, and Chris - big and stocky - at the other.

“Whatever you do, don’t tell Raphael anything about our formation or players!” This was the strict instructions given to the players as the BIG game loomed. Raphael is playing for the opponents. Chin, Wenchong and I were determined to field a decent first eleven on the pitch before the big KO. After “chopping and changing” the formation on paper, it was decided that Chin will keep goal while Dave play in central defence, even though Dave is a goalkeeper. Chin was very serious about this game and even bought a pair of Italia gloves for this outing. Talking about formation on paper is a total different experience when it comes to actually lining the players on the pitch. First of all, we don’t really know their individual strengths and weaknesses. Our team, in white, took on a complete new look on the pitch as Dave, Chin, Peter and Wenchong reshuffled the formation after some serious prep talk with some new faces. While Raphael’s team get ready, our boys did their warm-up. As time was ru

After missing out twice for the kick-off, the media team made an early appearance at the Cage, armed with two whistles and a CD, courtesy from Sailor Girl. But as the seconds ticked away, only seven turned up in what is to be the lowest turn-out ever at The Cage. Driven to desperation, Wenchong got three foreigners over and the usual game took twist. It’s now Ang Mohs versus our boys in The Cage. Just before KO, Patrick announced his arrival by requesting for an interview from the media. But when queried about his punctuality, he said, “Good question, I’ll answer you after my game.” Against opponents of bigger built, our boys displayed more delicate touches and stick their game plan to the ground. Precise passing, sharp shooting ruled their game. The “boing” sound of the ball being kicked was rarely heard. Suddenly, U.N.C.L.E. shouted, “Junior! Junior! Boh music?” (Meaning “no music”). Junior ran to the “referee” with the CD. But it turned out that the player can’t play this particular

Our boys made their debut on the blue pitch. It took some time for them to settle down to play on this new turf. Moreover, they were playing with the blue ball. The Media Team thought that was stupid until we realised that the new ball “lau hong”. So, blue ball on blue pitch. Only nine players turned up. It was four against five. Admond went back to his place between the sticks, and Bryan Wong arrived twenty minutes later. At the other end, Alan Tern was playing keeper cum referee. Calling out fouls and dishing out cards. With plenty of space and more work to be done, players took turns at goal on our side. When Chin kept goal, he was brilliant – much better as a keeper than a player – and insisted Rongming keep out of the goalkeeper’s area. But there was no chance for him to keep out Peter’s goal - a powerful shot from an acute angle. Determined to prove critics wrong, U.N.C.L.E. came out of his corner, with his new blue hair (another blue), added variations to his play and scored a s

With the PSI lurking around the unhealthy zone, I couldn’t help but wonder “will there be KO at The Cage tonight?” But the spirit of our boys remained unimpeded as the official media team went on a scouting trip for a new player. The Cage has been a hit with our boys. The media team missed the unveiling of the rookie, with regrets. A “player” who has been with the “boys” for a long time decided to hang up “his boots”. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new ball. The new “player” was a big hit with the team. The level of seriousness took to a new level. Raphael’s weak attempt at goal was being shouted at. Lame attempts at goal are a BIG “NO! NO!” With the haze acting on everybody’s respiratory system, the frantic pace of the game from last week was gone. There was more interaction between team members. It now boiled down to skills and techniques. With the periods of short breaks, strategies and tactics emerged. Players began to shout for the ball. If lethargic was the name of his game last

It has been a long time since “the official media” turned up at the cage. There were hear-says “you must come and see, my stamina improved!” and “I scored at least five, six goals at every outing!” With so much hype going on, it was time for an outing for “the official media”. My photographer and I waited, counting the hours and the minutes till the KO time. Maybe not so much her, but I really counted. It was, for me, a highly anticipated game. A sense of conspiracy crept into the air as players arrived, donned in red. There were players who I will be watching for the first time, while others are determined to show that they have improved, in their skills and stamina. The “whistle” was blown and the match kicked off to a frantic pace. Fifteen minutes into the game, Star Idol scored! It was what I believed to be the opening goal. With the keeper at the near side coming off his line time and time again, I guess the goal deficit must have been pretty bad. True enough, I heard “three-nil!

It has been a long summer, and temperatures are soaring higher by the days. BUT the heat will NEVER prevail over football fever! Yes, we are back to The Cage, and this time the boys are prepared. Perhaps, a little more than prepared. More turned up, ready to take on one another, in a football game where there are no throw-ins, no goal-kicks, no corners and only constant running. Refused to be cured from the raging World Cup fever? No sweat! The Cage has a huge screen placed outside, and the boys can certainly pick up a trick or two while their kick-off awaits. For one who can never have enough of football, I ventured once again "into" The Cage. Laughing with kakis over fallen hero (you know who you are), it was amazing how an outing like this can bring together so many of us. For some who took to the field, it became a family outing for them. Others brought girlfriends and friends. Of course, there are those who just wanted to have fun, and some felt the need to just work the

What do you get when you put a bunch of men in an enclosed area with a ball? Easy...they play...hmmm with a little less conversation and a little more action. I went "uninvited" to some friends’ football game at The Cage - Singapore First Indoor Soccer Stadium. They have already KO when I reached. Sitting down as I watched the game unfold, the Nike ad filmed four years ago started replaying itself in my head. I’m sure everyone remembered it - the one where Eric Cantona starred with other footballers sponsored by Nike. Enclosed in a cage, it was no ball picking, no throw-ins, no corners and no goal kicks. No man in black and men with flags. So the game went on and on and on and on…. There were nice touches here and there, some cheeky back-heels, some looping balls that would turn into goals in a stadium. With the ball at their feet, some shot on sight, some took it down to the bye-line before looping it over for the poachers. And in all football games, there were brilliant sav