Precisely more than four weeks ago from today, along with another stalwart of the post-GIS blogging scene, Matthew Rust; this humble editor commenced on a flamboyantly metaphorical and physical journey through the perils of football team organisation, a gripping four hour coach trip, and ultimately what turned out to be an enjoyable day on Saturday the 31st of November at the Nottingham Malaysian Games 2009 Sports Competition & Family-Fun Day.
Team DetailsLustfully thrusting themselves forward upon the Ben Teo heartland of Nottingham, United Kingdom a team comprising: Nikesh ‘Safe Hands’ Chahal, Andy ‘Pec-heavy’ Chan, Ben ‘Suspect Match Practice’ Bradley, an up for it Matthew ‘Perry’ Rust, Menzie ‘Furious’ Kee, recent Singaporean import Vincent ‘Solskjear’ Au, and the ever-present team official and administrator Clement Chew Sdn Bhd - equivocally represented the remnants of the fabled Garden U18 Team of 06/07 (forth best team in South East Asia due only to some consistently gregarious refereeing malpractice throughout their tenure), in this the perennial competition in the British Universities Malaysian Sporting Calendar.
Possessing the rare qualities of negligible match practice in the months prior to the game and a carefully selected average of two hours of sleep the night before, preparations never looked better for what became known as Team Punggol War Clan, as this troop of drained yet talented individuals collectively descended at 0800h upon the Power League Nottingham stadia, adjacent to a resplendent British Tobacco Processing Plant and the best of Nottingham’s marshlands.
Team Punggol WAR Clan - (L-R) Solskjaer, Faye, Diego Forlan, (seated) Uriah Rennie, Sun Jihai, Ronaldo, David JamesIn a nod to the fabled efficiencies of Chris Ho, by 0835h all non-tournament logistics and administration had been taken care of by the assured Clement Chew. All necessary tournament information was then garnered by team organiser B Bradley at the pre-tournament briefing given in succinct Bahasa Melayu. It was learnt that a grand total of 64 teams were present.
Emergency Servis 24 Jam Response TeamFoundations in place, at 0900h Team Punggol War Clan commenced a quick and efficient warm-up using a ball generously temporarily procured from an unsuspecting nearby team.
Warm-up in progressPreparations were dealt a blow however when the nearby team turned about face and aggressively commenced retrieval of their ball, cutting short Team Garden’s pre-game warm-up to an efficient 25 seconds.
Match 1: Birmingham ‘A’Adrenaline surging through the veins, Team Garden lumbered through their first game against Notts Games 2008 Champions Birmingham University A. Presenting the lead to their furious opponents in the first half, a lethargic run from M Rust combined with a lazy Andy Chan back-heel were sufficient for Team Garden to finish the game at level pegging with the final score 1-1.
Prior to scoringThe game also concluded with Acting Defender B Bradley on the receiving end of a torrent of nationalistic abuse from a vertically-different member of the opposing team after this upstanding individual unfortunately managed to collide with a wooden buttress.
Match 2: Leicester ‘A’ (2-3)Eventualities aside however, Team Garden entered their next game going through the motions against a ridiculous Leicester ‘A’ side.
Nevertheless whatever the final score line it could be safely said from a neutral perspective that Team Punggol War Clan stood firm in retaining the moral victory in this their penultimate game of the tournament.
Match 3: King’s College London ‘A’Highlights here included: ‘Shut the fuck up, no one’s talking to you’, ‘Fuck you’, and ‘Go learn English and go home.’
Team Garden won 4-1.
Highlights here included a last minute penalty awarded to the opposing team after keeper Nikesh Chahal opted to touch the ball with his feet.
This malicious act proved to be the final straw for the tournament organizers and thus ended Team Punggol War Clan’s brief and bittersweet campaign in the Notts Games of 2009.
Compliments to Adzim Halim for the gracious loan of his personal car as the official team transport vehicle for the day.
Other luminaries who featured on the day were:
Colin SayProvided both moral and physical support to Imperial College London volleyball team.
Jonson TanVolleyball action for Loughborough University (alumni including Matthew Rust).
Lee Ky-LingClement what did you want to write here?
Datuk Ahmed Shabery Bin Cheek, Minister for Youth and SportsWho took time out of his personal schedule to meet and greet players, fans and indeed team officials and administrators.
- GISEYE
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