On this day..during my official break time for work..as usual I went down to the soccer field to see the lads training..and what a sight to behold…

Picture this…

Coach Kenneth taking a group of about 14players for crossing and finishing ,Coach Jason taking another 14plus players in the basic drills..at the goalmouth of the other end ..Alfie is taking a small group of GKs going through their routine..

It is something as a Manager that I had wished for and the sight is something that I will always remember..Its just like at a training group of some S-League team..such wonderful co-ordination and timing..with coaches shouting out instructions..one word…Magical..

This is because I had the priviledge of working with the most committed and wonder ful committee members in SSFC (From Kevin,Yun,Leonie,Leon,Helmi) and also Coaches Kenneth and Jason..plus adivce from Alfie in terms of GK training and last but not least..every Schwarzian whom was there..

We may not have the financial might or fundings like our opponents such as Questra Vipers or JSSL Arsenal..but we have only 1 thing in common..which is Passion..

A special mention also goes out to Coach Kenneth whom have been with us for almost 3years..his committment,passion and love for SSFC has NEVER been questioned..The knowledge that we have gained from him has been immense..Everyone in Schwarz Star FC truly respects him..because he is special..

With Jason or affectionately known as Uncle Jason getting his Coaching Cert soon..will add another dimension to the development of SSFC..and with his newfound knowledge..the 2 Coaches will only bring SSFC to further heights.

People may ask why is SSFC not doing as well as we had wanted for the EFL and am I worried??…Worried? Not worried..but rather am glad this string of results has bonded the team even closer and more focused on the tasks at hand..My ave age of the squad is only about 22years plus..and they are not even in their prime yet..My Team Captain Taufiq is only about 23 years old..Give the guys 2-3 years and they will hitting their prime and with Senior players like Helmi,Kevin,Yun,Leonie,Melvin lending their experience to the younger group..the team will only grow from strength to strength.. 

I still remember the time when Yun said to me..how nice to see SSFC one day on the computer screen of the Singapore Pools which reads..Schwarz Star FC VS SAFFC..

With my break time also up and while heading back to my Department..SSFC will grow even stronger and go the distance further..and it may not be next year or 3 years time or even 6yearstime but with hard work,passion and sheer determination we will one day achieve our dream..to play in the highest tier of Singapore Soccer..S-League..

I leave with ths Quote

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

Keep believing my Schwarzian Warriors..because your manager has belief in you guys..to Live the Dream…

Here’s a quote I saw online and I think it’s well-said.

I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion. – Mia Hamm

Remember that there’s no one bigger than the team, and always bear in mind that, when you decide to give up, it’s not only you but the team that gives up as well. We’re all a part of the team, a gear in the machine. Without any one, there’s no way we’ll function properly.

As we always say, make the ball yours. Show the desire to win the ball, and once you have it, do something with it. Most importantly, never lose focus.

Being down by a goal doesn’t mean it’s over, it just means that you should give even more, since you have nothing to lose anymore.  Similiarly, being up by a goal doesn’t mean the game is ours, it just means you should focus even harder to keep the opponent out and get the killer goal.

Lastly, remember that everything we do, we have to be accountable to Coach and Schwarz Star FC. All the hard work Coach has put into the team, show it on the pitch. Show it by giving it your all and going for the win.

I’m certain every one of us has a role to play in the team and let’s show it on the pitch. Be confident. All the best to everyone in the upcoming matches!

… the overall performance

It was a good team performance, with the team keeping good possession and playing some football. Once again a good team performance will be able to cover up those players who didn’t turn up. And once again, individual players didn’t turn up.

… there are plenty of goals scored against your team

We conceded on individual mistakes this time round. The first one was a lack of concentration between the keeper and his defender. Both didn’t want to play football. The second was a clear handball, a clear mental lapse by Isa, which he had already accounted to me. And the third, lack of concentration by Siva to get to the ball at the corner. Just like what I said after the match against Lions, my players have to turn up. We have the strategy in matches, and my players have to turn up.

… how about the 3 goals your team scored?

Helmi scored through a counter attack from a corner which we defended well. I think Helmi was released by Farhan from the corner. It was something out from our training. Farhan scored with a position-based shot for the second, lofting the ball pass everyone into the right corner. Kevin’s was energy and enthusiasm from the right. I was shouting to myself for Kevin to shoot and wondered what he was doing 3 secs before he shot. Good that he took the shot 3 secs later. So we scored one through organized training. One through intelligence and one through pure hard work enthusiasm.

… what was the rant all about?

I really don’t know. It could have been fed-up tension, something. All I can say that it was natural and I was panting after the half-time. I sense that my players after 4 matches, havn’t turned up. Players were making silly individual mistakes and after conceding such a silly goal, I think I was just manifesting the supporters’ frustration. I think some players still don’t realize what football is all about. There are so many supporters to be accountable to. I think the players have to acknowledge the supporters with some accountability. And I had to do it for them. Melvin, Ishak, Alfee etc etc did not have to come watch, but chose to. And yet they were expose to such lack of “wanting to play football”.

…what happened against Arsenal? Your team was leading from the first half?

We got beaten by a team that in the second half taught us how SS wants to play. Without playing our strategy, means no scoring opportunities. We tried to be cute with individuals trying to force the game with their own style. Whereas Arsenal scored 2 brilliant goals from such strategy. I wish that my players watched and learnt and know what it means from such a team. We all deserve to learn from such an opponent.

…it was a thrashing in the second half.

If you considering conceding 3 goals in 45 minutes a thrashing, yes then it was a thrashing. On that note then it was worse than the thrashing by Vipers. At least we scored first in this match.

… so you are out of the running?

You can say that too. Its pretty much out of our hands. We need both Vipers and Arsenal to lose 2 matches, before we can be challenging up there. There are another 17 matches to go, so we have to win every match as it comes. The pressure is on. Unfortunately, no one is afraid of playing SS because our famed team play has been cruelly torn apart by our opponents and they are wondering what’s the big deal about the so-called SS team play that opponents have been talking about. We have to start to play SS football soon before it all goes out the window by the end of Oct.

…since you brought that up, how does SS play? I didn’t see any form of team play in any shape, form or function.

I cannot lie and say that we did. That’s true, the team has not played the SS way since the first match against Lions. So we have disrespected the very thing that gave us victory. We are turning our backs on the very thing that make us happy by trying to act cute with the little egos that have sprang up all over the place.

… most of your boys are young and have had no prior success in football, don’t you think that you should bring in more experienced players who have tasted success before?

I won’t write off my boys yet. Yes they are young, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to have success. The players will learn in due course what football can mean to them. They will learn that the only thing that gives them pleasure will slowly leave them if they disrespect football further. They have to realize that they are not joggers but footballers.

Well its was quite accidental actually…I was playing for a club in the Espzen League, a bunch of former SP students…I feel there is no unity in the team, so I decided to look for a club in Socialsoccer.com
I always want to be apart of a club where I can feel at ease like a family.
That is when I come across this team that is looking for players to play Sunday soccer.
I thought this is something new for me, because I usually were invited by words of mouth by friends and family.
Now I’m venturing to local football alone.

Well I have so many preferred position if ask me.
I started playing football as a Left & Right Back, but after my skills develop, I play as a Winger.
They say as you grow older, you can easily adapt to the position you playing in.
For me, that is the case, as a fullback I know my main responsiblities is to defend and as a winger I should be sending in crosses and create goal chances.
So in any position I play, I put every knowledge I have to good use.

Well as part of the pioneers of the club, no doubt the difference is so huge.
Look at it this way when we started out other clubs can thrash us by double digits…
We use to train near a construction site at Marina, the field was horrible but we came together to play football nonetheless.
Now we are training at Falcons Arena….
We use to play without a coach and I can remember there was this time I was appointed as the club trainer.
I tried my best to put every knowledge I have in the game….but we need a man who really have the experience and knowledge of both practical & theory of football.
We thought we have him, when Coach Gan was appointed….but we were going nowhere. He was so uptight and more of a school teacher.
Then comes Coach Kenneth and this guy here I must salute cause he does this volunteerly.
That is what I call passion.
He showed us purpose to reach our ambitions.
He just lay the plans and for us as players, we have to follow and learn the philosophy of football that he teaches to reach our ambitions.
The Coach change our preception of football totally.
We are now a Team, a Family, United as one with one Goal.
Other Teams & Clubs starting to take notice and fear us….We are the Super Falcons, we will soar high up there at the end of the day.

Since day one when I started to train with Schwarz Star Football Club, there was no turning back.
Yes this team don’t even have a name and I can see something special as I went for Sunday kick about with Brandon, Jing Xiang, Scholes and Kevin back then.
I was welcome like a part of the family no doubt they even let me help them come up with the Club Name, Logo (emblem) and our first website was even done by me.
That was when my passion for Schwarz Star FC stuck to my heart eversince, it was the feeling of being apart of a Family.
So far, the brothers whom I play with since day one have been a major reason of me to stay with the club, especially our Club Manager, Brandon Sng.
I felt leaving this club will be a waste of my passion for football….why would I want to leave a club that I love (damn I even argue with my ex-fiancee and current girlfriend because of this club I’m passionately in love with)
All the downfall, glories and memories, how can you replace that?
Especially the friendship and brotherhood we developed all this years can never be replaced with money or anything in this world.

Realistically I want Schwarz Star Football Club to be amongst the best clubs in Singapore Amatuer Scene.
I truly believe we can bag a few Cup Medals under our belt in this five years to come.
Then we can talk about the next Level, The National Football League.

On behalf of the SSFC Committee,we would like to wish all our Indian players and the rest of the squad a Happy Deepavali and happy holidays.

SSFC team committee will be undergoing a re-vamp..details will be revealed in the coming weeks.

There will be field training on the 18/10/09 at AH field 445pm..players to pass on the message..

After a 3-0 defeat to league leaders Questra Vipers, the Falcons will be looking to end the winning streak of another team, JSSL Arsenal.

JSSL Arsenal have notched up 3 wins after playing as many games and will be eyeing a fourth win on the trot.  Schwarz Star will be no pushovers, and will be keen to start a winning streak of their own.

It will be an exciting encounter, and a win for Schwarz Star would help close down the gap at the top of the table.

Previous Meetings: None

JSSL Arsenal’s Last 5 Matches: – - WWW

Schwarz Star’s Last 5 Matches: - – - LW

Match Details

JSSL Arsenal v Schwarz Star

Chua Chu Kang Secondary School

Kick-off at 1500 hours on 18 October 2009

… on the performance of the 2nd match after a victory in the 1st

We lack conviction and it was disappointing for the watching supporters of Schwarz Star. The 17 players forget why and what they were there for, which is to enjoy and to play in a manner that is enjoyable for the watching fans. Our players were irresponsible and I, accountable as Coach, apologize to the fans. I did not prepare the team well. I hope the supporters do come back to believe in the team again.

… why the reversal, a 3-0 defeat after a 3-0 victory?

While every opponent offers different challenge, I guess my players think that they have the obligation to adjust their style to different opponents. And that is what contributed to this reversal. If my players would have just played the SS way, play keep ball, passing the ball across the width at the back and penetrate with depth quickness like in the first match, then we wouldn’t have disappointed our supporters.

… did that lead to your defeat?

On a big part, yes. Without the ball, we are mere joggers jogging on a beautifully maintain ground. Without having possession of the ball, we can do nothing. My players have to acknowledge that. I guess the supporters watch more jogging then footballers.

… Vipers seem to be winning the ball and having the edge over your players

Vipers were strong because they felt that they could win it. My players lost it because they didn’t believe that they can win it. They told me they were, but in their actions, it wasn’t believed. When one doesn’t believe in something, it is manifested in your actions.

… care to elaborate?

Vipers were fully charged up and ready 30 minutes before the match. They were all dressed up and pumped up much faster as a group. Our players’ behaviour did not manifest that they wanted to win. We were scattered with many egos on all over the place. Some players wanted to be different, some players wanted to be last to walk onto the pitch, some players just wanted to sit there and talk, some took their own sweet time to change, some didn’t want to wear the red wrist band, many players didn’t have their water ready, their equipment ready, the list can go on and on showing how we lost even before we start. I apologize to the supporters once again for the childish ways of the players.

… wish you all the best for your next match.

Thank you for your blessings. If we were to play SS football, we actually don’t need luck. We can be in control of our match. If my players respect the supporters and respect football, we will know how to be in control of our match. But thank you for your kind intentions.

2 well-taken goals were not enough to secure a win in Schwarz Star FC’s debut EFL Cup Tournament match against Premier Division opponents, Kool and the Gang, as the Falcons went down 2 – 3 at Bendemeer Secondary School.

Though a forgettable result, it was nonetheless a game of many notable firsts. Andy and Remi netted their 1^st competitive goal. Fernando got his first-team start while Quang was introduced midway through the first half. For Jason, this Cup match was an opportune chance to hone his tactical acumen before he went for his FAS ‘C’ coaching course.

SSFC started out well, absorbing the opponents’ direct approach, with our reliable centre-half pairing coping well against pacy forwards. Yet, Kool and the Gang drew first blood in the 7^th minute as they capitalized on a passing error outside SSFC’s penalty box. But SSFC showed resilience as they recovered from that early shock within 4 minutes. And in familiar fashion.

A hopeful cross into the penalty right that was squared from the right, was feebly dealt with. Debutant winger Andy surged onto the loose ball, and despite a defender closing fast, calmly potted the black in the pocket between the keeper and the bottom right corner. Stephen Hendry would have been proud of that precise placing.

Lifted by the goal, SSFC pushed forth to try and control the game. Norman’s lengthy absence did not lessen his usual reassuring presence, with our protector frustrating the opponent’s game.

But against the run of play, Kool and the Gang grabbed the advantage again in the 39^th minute. From the 5^th corner conceded, chronic confusion amongst the markers led to an opponent steering in a free header.

SSFC was down but not out. The leveler came ten minutes after half time.

From an opposing throw-in, a relentless Azam wrestled the ball back then tapped the ball to Remi, who was waiting outside the left corner of the penalty box. With a sweet swing of his right foot, Remi deftly curled in his first goal into the top right corner – all from 30 yards out!

Dazzler duo, Azam and Razmy, toiled hard for the winning goal, leading the line upfront. The former, forced a great save from the opposing goalkeeper.

The Falcons’ custodian was not left idling, having being called into action on several occasions, most significantly in the 70^th minute as Kevin bravely smothered the rebound off a penalty kick.

But there was little the stand-in keeper could do when Kool and the Gang snatched the winning goal in extra time through the final corner. A glancing header flew towards the wretched fullback who could only helplessly slice his attempted goal-line clearance, guiding in that fortuitous goal.