ZONE AND INTER ZONE ......

The U-12 Keramat Zone Finals was a game to remember, both teams played their heart and soul out. Every single drop of sweat was accounted for.... St. John leading as early as the 5th minute shocked R10 boys. Nevertheless, always striving to be the best and never give up attitude... the boys leveled and drew the 1st half of the game.

The second half was even dramatic, again taking the lead on the 7th minute of the 2nd half St. John boys were playing hard defense after the lead. Through the 2nd half both team fought hard trying to win possession of the ball, at the 10th of the 2nd half the Captain, Azri was sent out on a yellow card coz he intentionally hit the stick of St. John Afifi. I told Haziq to play the center half and he played tremendously well. Composed, unusual of him maybe it was the trust that changed him into a man. Still attacking throughout the 3minutes penalty, R10 boys NEVER GAVE UP ... and with that attitude the level the score line just b4 the final 2nd half whistle blew in the 13th minute. Azri came back 3 minutes after the penalty, he pushed the boys to the limit getting a short corner. Haziq pushed to Azri, hitting the ball into the goal post with Amirul connecting at the reverse stick - deflecting slowly into the left side of the goal keeper into the goal.

St.John had a penalty corner on the buzzer and was given 2 tries to the goal but luck and destiny was with R10, and after 2 minutes into the Extra Time Golden Goal we scored with Aziz from the right passing a foul shot to the center to Azri . Azri connected the ball to Haziq 5 yards before the D area - as usual Haziq brought the ball in after 5 steps - agonizing all the supporters coz he usually would like to dribble right to the foot of the goal keeper ---> HAZIQ saw FAIZ coming from the right to the center of the penalty stroke areas - he passed -- FAIZ stop the ball dead and with a swift turn to the left he flicked the ball ankle high to the left of the keeper for the GOLDEN GOAL.

The R10 boys shouted, screamed, cried.... and the St John boys were stunned. Both team players congratulated each other showing high level of respect vice versa. Both team players salam each side coaches - another display of Malaysia's warm and respectful manners. I was thankful to ALLAH for the give .. to me, Isk, Azhar, Wan, Anwar, C.Kamal, Abu, Mamat, and to all the supporting wives who sacrificed their weekends to be with the boys.... and to the BOYS OF R10 Hockey ... THANK YOU FOR NOT STOPPING TO FIGHT, FIGHT AND FIGHT....

Well in a few more days, R10 will again be on the fighting field against the other 15 teams in KL. This time the goal will be the MSSKL 2008 Championship. Date 31.3.2008 - the tournament start date, where will R10 be ? Lets hope the boys play like what Isk wrote in the previous post - Motherless Soldiers fighting to their last drop of blood and sweat......... GO R10 boys ...... GO

TO THE KL CHAMPIONSHIP........ INSYAALLAH...

wars

Superb, Superior, Superfluous

R10 the new MSSKL Zone Keramat U12 Champions. Like motherless soldiers they fought, like lions broke loose from their cages they devoured St. John. No words can describe what had happened. The once giant had been slained and had fallen to the ground.

When Faiz dribbled and flicked the ball that trickeled into the goal - the St. John boys were shocked, dumbfounded, the unbelievable had just happened. They (St John boys) were stunned and looked lost - just like a scene of a 10 year old boy whose chocolate bar had just been taken from his mouth!

R10 coaches, assistant coaches, parents, and teachers, you should feel SUPERB, SUPERIOR AND SUPERFLUOUS over this victorious moment.

Isk...

Playing the S'pore Project School Team

Azri receiving a souvenir from S'pore Project School Captain(and perhaps saying s'thing about sorry about the 3 injured players)

We Are On The Right Track

The day we played SPS(S'pore Project School) two of the coaches we not there, therefore Wan, Azhar and Anuar took them. These coaches have different approach, tough yet gentle. We were worried as we thought that R10 boys would get the thrashing with the absence of the two game coaches.

Wan & Azhar had before pointed out the things that they need to do. Play hard, play rough, play smart and 'no mercy' and tora, tora, tora. The whistle blown and whoooosh...less than two minutes, our R10 boys scored 2 goals. The SPS were not ready for this...too fast, too furious. First half we saw R10 leading 5-0(Scorers:Faiz,Haziq, Shafiq,Amirul) but still we had missed a few good opportunities(sounded a bit too greedy despite the 5-0).

Second half the SPS marched their first team with much bigger and taller players (Aha.. we were tricked here, they have got something under their sleeves). However, although we thought we gonna have an ugly time, our boys displayed their true colours, continuing with dangerous attacks and waving their hockey stickts like magic wands and the SPS could not take it. Finally R10 won altogether 6-0.

Wan Ameer and I were relieved when we got the news. The fact that both of us were'nt there to guide them, they made it with such an impressive goals. Or may be... just may be... without us they did better. I think they did exactly what had been taught and no pressure was on them. So what the heck...just play, enjoy the game and win. No matter what ever it is... we are on the right track. Go R10...

-Is-

Useful tips from the pros

Megat and Zukifly Rejab showed some useful tips to R10 boys on effective short corner.

National Players Visit

No worries... at all! Mothers got to get a good night sleep (all food catered by our comm. with of course the help of our 'sponsor')and players may get to dream of meeting with their idols. That morning we headed for Tun Razak Stadium with much excitment, at 8.00 a.m. we had our usual session of hitting and stopping, we had got over with our disappointment over the lost with KGT, and we now have a different approach. Motivate our boys and make them happy. We continued with light short corner training when at about 10.25 a.m. the awaited Malaysian players arrived. There were 4 of them namely Megat(some mothers say he is the cutest), Zukifly Rejab(short corner specialist), Shukri and Ridzuan(forward liners). The boys were very happy and we could see that they were astonished - how in the world do we get these Malaysian players to come(once again thanks to the'sponsor').

R10 boys get to have a short training with these Malaysian players, Megat and Z.Rejab did short corners whereas the other 2 did attacking skills. After many photos were taken with parents standing by at the side watching, it was time for light refreshments(not that light actually with roti jala, kari, curry puffs, mee hoon and cream puffs).

'Eat and be merry' that was exactly what they did and had that memorable morning. Shortly players got their hockey sticks, training shirts(after permission granted by the'sponsor' of course) and even turf boots to be signed by the national players.

Later a short souvenir giving away ceremony took place, with Pn Teh(she is the HM of R10) giving the Malaysian players one red expensieve c.brook t-shirt to each of them.

That morning we parted with much happiness, we really hope our children get the message that is - we really care and we want them to be and have the BEST!

(next Wednesday 12/03/08 - friendly match with S'pore Project School Team)

Is..

(below is a pic iwth the National Players)

Megat and Friends with R10 Boys

Why?

Sometimes one wonders whether his actions are based on actual planning or spontaneous ideas burst into action. I always ponder whether what i think being taught to the players of the hockey team is best or worst for them. It is sad to watch a talented team of players struggling to find themselves in a game; well that was what i saw in the friendly match against KGT Puchong today.

Playing so hard (running, running , running - God knows where) - the boys actually ended up not thinking how to play smartly. Maybe we coaches did not train the team enough on basic game reading and understanding -- Aiya.. vely tired... but maybe that was what has been missing in this talented team ( i really mean it).

It's like someone who has 11 mechanics in a workshop; all can repair all type of cars on different part of the cars but without someone telling and training them who to start on what car and who should do what on a car - Therefore everyone will be ending up doing bits of pieces of job on a car resulting .... well broken car will still remain broken.....

I agree with Isk and the committee that the kids are burn out without really actually realizing it. Pity the boys... we really need to find the formula to bring the kids back to enjoying the game... ENJOY... really hope tomorrow's time with the National Players will fire the kids up... I mean really FIRE


...wars

It was a rainy Saturday morning

We are just 2 weeks away from the zone tournament and yet we are not there yet, in our game and team spirit. After 2 weeks of carefully structured training, we were at Tun Razak Stadium this morning for a friendly game with KGT Puchong. It was scheduled to start at 9 am but the rain kept on pouring showing no sign of stopping! Finally we started with hitting and stopping practice. Soon the two coaches decided to just go on with short corner training. Despite the heavy rain, our boys obeyed our instructions, pushing, hitting, sweeping and flicking the balls.

At about 10.05, KGT Puchong marched into the field and we got our boys ready. Somehow from their faces(R10 boys) I could tell that things would not go well. They were not nervous but just feeling dreadful! No sign of 'I'm gonna whack these fellas black and blue', or no indication of
' Okay, we are ready to show them what 2 months of gruelling training can do to them'! Instead, what was demonstrated was ' Wanna play huh...ok lah!'

The KGT played their normal game, quick passes accurate shots and blah, blah, blah. R10 boys also played their normal game(when they play a strong team), looking at how people dribble them, weak tackling just for the heck of tackling and of course and always on the menu...trying to dribble through the opponents(just like trying to drive your car through the front door, see if you can be at the living room without a scratch)! To cut the story short, our game was not very pretty(the scoreline was....no good.)

I started to think, after 2 months of hard training! Something must be not right. But the systematic trainings, the coaches and committee meetings(at Syawal-consists of parents and a teacher) to overcome the shortcomings... nah... maybe the players! So, after a short brainstorming we felt that these R10 boys are burning out. No more steam, no more excitement(not 'gian' to play anymore) and spirits are waning out.

Therefore, the committee think that we have to device a way to get them to be excited again. Some suggested we give 'makan-makan' and some said go to 'teh tarek' stall(one suggested to get them to watch a hindustani film). Finally... as always, our 'sponsor' (name cannot reveal here) saved the day! He had made arrangement for 4 National players to talk and motivate our boys. Tonight we(the committee) will have a meeting(at Syawal) to prepare for the arrangements of these national players visit(like what food to bring, camera or at least handphone camera-parents are actually good at all these).

Lastly, what do we learn today? Instead of thrashing KGT Puchong, we were the one who got whack black and blue. But hey...don't feel down, always look at the bright side of it... tomorrow we get to meet our national hockey player!
...Iskh