The Name of the Game??

As the alarm clock went off, I jumped out of bed. The Media can’t be late for this game coverage. U.N.C.L.E. said Captain Chin wanted all to report to Cage at 7.45am and so said the clock while I was at the last junction, waiting for the light to change. With my stomach growling, I bluffed myself that the reporting time referred to players only and not me. So I bought my breakfast before driving my way in, praying that they (our team) won’t KO without me. Spotting Chin, I quickly found out that Biao Shu has just reached with U.N.C.L.E. We quickly settled down at the nearby coffeeshop and waited for others to arrive. The clock ticked by as Biao Shu wolfed down his fried noodles, and Ian made his appearance. He told us he had a bottle of volka last night and U.N.C.L.E. started worrying about Ian being dehydrated. The topic then changed to how to punish Raphael who wanted everyone to report at 7.45am. U.N.C.L.E. suggested that Raphael play without his underwear, but Biao Shu said he might...

This morning, I was reminded that the Charity Shield is on this Sunday, and I realised that my last blog for the Cage was in February. So before my “nightmare” starts, I thought, maybe I should make this match my own Charity Shield. Arriving about twenty minutes after KO, the first piece of action I witnessed was a finger-tip save from U.N.C.L.E at the far-end, just before the hour mark, and he was playing with a heavily strapped knee. Then, my eyes went searching for Biao Shu Shu. A little bird told me that his skills have very much improved since I last saw. The next thing I knew was, someone was shouting out 3-1. Then I realised that Biao Shu was playing keeper, with his back facing me. Couldn’t recognise him with his new hair-cut. Nice boots! Raphael was keeping goal at the other end, and he came all the way up to try his luck against Biao Shu, which nearly resulted an open goal at the other end. Just after the hour mark, Chin tried his luck next against Biao Shu, making it 4-1. St...

The traffic jam on PIE almost kept me away from this week’s outing – the last game for the Year of Dog. Kelvin told me to change into my shoes and shorts until Biao Shu Shu arrived. I looked around. Some of the regular players were not here. With the arrival of Remesh, the numbers were just enough for four-a-side. Inside the Cage, it took a long time before the two teams can be formed. Daniel kept goal and in his team were Alvin, Ahmad and Shih Chuan. U.N.C.L.E. took his place in between the sticks at the near end, and with him were Remesh, Jusri and Kelvin. As the teams KO, the music ringing through was Liverpool’s theme song, You’ll Never Walk Alone, and the next piece sounded like Champions League theme song. Such were the songs the boys played to in the first ten minutes, and Alvin bagged the first goal of the night. Ian entered the Cage and joined U.N.C.L.E.’s team. His first piece of action was forcing Daniel to a splendid save. But Remesh showed him how it should be done when he...

I have been seriously contemplating about “resigning” as the official media for about two weeks. Call it a writer’s block or a summer’s break. It has been getting tougher and tougher to find new angles to this weekly blogging of the Cage. Thinking out loud was a wrong move as this was met by serious objection. I was even threatened by a gangster, who wore blue boots with studs in the Cage. He was the only one wearing the boots. So people, keep a look out for this grey hair uncle. Huiting had to accompany me to the Cage for fear of the grey hair uncle. Before KO, Chin was walking with a limp. His injury was caused by Alvin last week. Like Peter, he carried on playing. It’s something about men and football, something I can never understand. Just like why people fail to comprehend why I loved this beautiful game so much. Remesh once asked me some years back before his KO at Changi. “This kind of game also you want to watch?” I guessed a smile was the best reply then, and now. Playing with...

It has been an age-old rule that players should warm-up first before each KO. But Raphael was the only one who adhered to it. Others just did a couple of stretches and relax to one corner. In what was the biggest turnout to date at The Cage, there has to be some adjustments to existing rules. There was simply no way to fit 18 players inside, with 9 on each side. Instead of playing it in league style with win, draw or lose, the games played became similar to a knock-out tournament. Divided into three teams with six players each, the team who conceded the first goal exit and let the other team take over. In the players’ own term, the RULE was “First Goal Out”. Naturally, the first 12 players who went into the Cage started first. A writer from CEP (sorrie, not good at remembering names), U.N.C.L.E., Wenchong, Alvin, Ahmad and Raphael (Team 1) played against Weiming, Daniel, Chris, Yaohan, Kelvin and Chin (Team 2). Team 3 was made up of Simon, Melvin, Rongming, GK, Patrick and Jusri. Befor...

Near side team: U.N.C.L.E., Alvin, Ahmad Fakhry, Kelvin Tham, Wenchong and GK Far side team: Daniel, Simon, Chris, Peter, Rongming Kelvin Tham and Ahmad Fakhry made their debut at The Cage today, as three regulars did not pass the late fitness test for KO tonight. Casualties include Remesh, Johnni and Chin. Peter played with an ankle injury, as he limped into the Cage. He played was the last man at the far end. At 2010hr, Simon opened the account, scoring the first goal against GK. Simon was really getting into the game, with better techniques and touches. Junior commented at one point of the game that debutant Kelvin Tham played like Simon when he first started. Another debutant tonight, Ahmad, was being bullied by the regulars. Everyone targeted their “oi!” at him. Well, he CANNOT play badly as he’s the spokesperson for NIKE. Sorry dude! Three minutes later, Rongming sent his shot straight at the keeper. Chris too, missed the target despite a gapping goal moments later. And our Nike ...

It all started when Johnni requested Raphael for an eleven-a-side game on 9th January after the weekly session at The Cage. Alvin said he could get his team and the "signing" of players started once again. The notice was sent out, we KO at 5pm at Nanyang JC. Five days before the game, Alvin came back with the unfavourable answer – he couldn’t get his team. Given the short turnaround time, Raphael activated his team and started to scramble for players on his side. It was Friday when we finally confirmed the number of players for both teams. More bad news followed the next day. Due to the rainy season, the pitch at Nanyang JC couldn’t be use. Now, it was a last minute rush to search for a field. Alas! Rongming managed to get the pitch at Braddell-West Lake Secondary School. Though the condition of the pitch was lousy, Raphael and I decided to go on with the game. Sunday morning greeted us with players calling in sick. I had one sms that said he failed a late fitness test as his...