After weeks of discussion amongst the Senior Committee members, Schwarz Star FC has sent in their application to register the Competitive Team to compete in the 2010 D2D Saturday 5pm League.

The D2D League Management brought good news to the team on 27 January 2010 at noon, when Team Manager Brandon Sng, received the approval for the team to participate in their league.

Upon the arrival of the news, schwarzstarfc.com met up with Brandon and asked for his thoughts regarding the news.

“It is with great delight that I am announcing the participation of the Competitive Team in the 2010 D2D Saturday 5pm League. This will be another milestone for us as we will be sending in another team to compete in a league. I am certain that it will allow the guys to be exposed to the competitiveness of a league and also provide an avenue for them to see where they stand.

This will allow players to fulfill their dream of playing in a league similiar to the Equatorial Football League that the SSFC League Team is currently participating in.

Coach Jason has been tasked with the responsibility to lead the team in its maiden venture into a league and I have utmost trust that Coach Jason will guide the players well and bring glory to SSFC under his charge.”

When asked about the players who will be representing the players in the league, Brandon gave a reply that suggested that the team has yet to be selected.

“Players will be shortlisted and selected to represent Schwarz Star FC in the D2D League. The nominations for the captaincies are currently under discussion.”

Exactly 2 years since his last POTQ, Kevin is still ever present in this team.

Kevin has been switched regularly between goalkeeper and attacker and his versatility and adaptability is instrumental in being POTQ Oct – Dec 2009. Also Kevin’s return of goals in the last 6 months of 2009 has been brilliant.

While the team was going through a rough patch in the last 3 months, Kevin’s out-standing contribution was in the match against Newton Heath. Kevin, having scored the goal in the first half, played GK in the second half. In this match, Kevin showed the responsibility towards the team when he saved a thumping shot over the bar in the dying minutes, winning the team 3 precious points, giving the demoralized team something to cheer about.

Kevin is a player who is able to hold his own and do his “own thing”, and for him to move one level higher within this team, Kevin will have to start “to make his teammates look good”, contributing more with his passing and movement for his teammates to be involved in play.

Congratulations to Kevin. Let’s all give an appreciative pat to Kevin when you see him as his enthusiasm in helping out within the team is exemplary and shouldn’t be ignored.

Thank you Kevin

The competitive team was up against Team Wasabi and it was a surprise for all to see Yun playing for the opponents, but a bigger surprise was in for the Falcons. With a smooth playing surface to play on, it would allow the Falcons to play possession football on the ground.

Things got off to a flyer for Schwarz Star as the opponent’s right back made a back pass to their keeper, who allowed the ball to roll into the back of their net for an own goal. Minutes later, a string of passes let to a cross from the left flank by Kok Hui. The cross went right over the opponent’s defenders and found Sanjay lurking at the far post, who connected with the ball with his first touch to tap it into the back of the net.

It was a dream start for the competitive team, leading by 2 goals just 20 minutes into the game. The team showed signs of extending their lead, especially with the team looking so lethal in front of goal. However, it was not to be.

From a corner, the opponent whipped the ball into the box, only to be cleared by the Falcons defender. However, the ball was only cleared into the path of an opponent, lurking at the far post unmarked. Without hesitation, he sent the ball into the roof of the net, and sparked a possible comeback for themselves.

The surprise came as the opponent’s goalkeeper stepped forward for a free kick. His blistering effort found the back of the net and he atoned for his mistake earlier in the half when he let the ball roll into the net for an own goal.

The half ended 2-2 and after a team talk by Jason, the team switched from the usual 4-1-4-1 formation to a 4-4-2 formation.

Chances were presented to both sides and the best chance for Schwarz Star to score in the second half fell to Leon. After a scramble in midfield, the ball ended up at the feet of Fernando, who sent a through pass between the defence to find Leon’s timed run.

It was a race between Leon and the opponent’s goalkeeper. Leon managed to gain control of the ball first, and the opponent’s goalkeeper rushed out to close him down. Sensing the onrushing keeper, Leon pushed the ball past the grounded keeper, and looked to have the whole goal at his mercy. However, his touch past the keeper was too strong and he sprinted to keep the ball in play. Managing to keep it in, he was dispossessed by the opponent’s defender.

Minutes later, an indirect free kick was given to the opponent. With neither side realising that it was an indirect free kick, the opponent’s goalkeeper stood forward for the kick. With his confidence boosted by the earlier goal, he fired a shot at goal, which came off a defender and went in. Lucky for him, the shot touched another player before it went in, thus making the goal valid.

A fourth came soon after from the opponent. A well-executed volley at the edge of the area beat Whye Ming at his near post, and it summed up the game for the Falcons.

The Falcons were left to wonder how they managed to throw their lead away and would have learnt from their mistakes in this game. The experience they got from the game would be useful in their upcoming matches, starting with the game against Team BLAS.

31/1/2010(NextSunday)

there will be field training at Nan Hua High School next sunday and players are strongly encouraged to attend the field training as our current AH field will be out till Mid Feb
Players are to be at Nan Hua High School at 430pm..Players are enouraged to be there on time.
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/…travel_id_6014/travel_site_10330/

Best Regards,Brandon

Coach K’s post-match comments against MDIS

… on SS performance in the first half
This was one of the better performances from the players. Keeping ball well and penetrating well, winning numerous corners and keeping the opponents at bay. Going 3-0 up by half time allowed the players to enjoy playing without pressure.

… but the second half patter-off
The match was won in the first half, and so the second half was for the players to show some tactical maturity. The first half was for the attacking players and the second half for the defenders to take over. The tactical understanding of this team will surely grow with more overall performances like this.

… but we conceded
Yes we did, and it is more of the expectations of local football that we have been exposed to all this while. It seems like teams are not suppose to concede? But SS will grow into understanding that defending is an art and science and that we can win even if we defend for 90 mins. The team must learn to know that defending is a bigger aspect of football and that it is absolutely alright to be under pressure repelling attacks by the opponent. There is no need to let excitement get the better of players as long as the defenders know their craft.

…defending football is boring
No it is not, defending is as exciting, at our other side of the field. Watching your opponents try their utmost to crawl their way back going 3-0 down is fun, especially if they just can’t break down our defenders. Our defense must know that defending is part and parcel of football. No point shouting at players when they are under attack. Show off the defensive aspect of SS. I would love to have an opponent who attacks us 90 mins non-stop to be repelled by our stout defending and we win 1-0 with a superb counter-attack. Sweet victory. Allowing the opponents to attack us is a strategy too.

…what’s ahead?
Keeping up the momentum against Newton Heath. To instruct play according to the edd and flow of the match. To know when we are attacking and when we are defending. For the players to grow in maturity and understanding of football. That is what SS players will aim to grow in their time with SS.

EFL Qualifying Division
SSFC 4 – 1 MDIS
5pm, Boon Lay Secondary School

Two goals each from vice captain Muhammad Farhan and former POTQ winner, Muhammad Noorazmy secured an emphatic victory for SSFC, as they beat MDIS, 4 -1.

This is Coach Kenneth’s first game in charge after a December hiatus and it was a perfect gift for him, as well as SSFC members. There were odd moments of déjà vu at the ground where the Falcons triumphed over Dong Shin. But our opponents were no pushover.

MDIS – made up of students from Singapore’s better-known private, non-profit, educational institute – were full of exuberance as they kept the Falcons well occupied at both ends. The MDIS lanky centre backs were blasting balls deep out, twice into the school compound. Up front, their speedy strikers were building up a pacy rhythm as they danced perilously close to scoring.

But with the return of experienced ‘enforcers’, P.H. Ong and E. Donohue, there was that steel to disrupt their flow. Conversely, at the other end, it took some guile from SSFC to unlock a strapping MDIS defence.

The two scorers combined for a clever set piece play that brought the opening goal. Corner taker Razmy passed to Farhan who received at the left edge of the penalty box. As an opponent rushed into a tackle, the midfielder shifted the ball to his left and with his weaker foot, drove it through a throng of bodies, into the bottom right corner.

Razmy poached his first goal soon after, as he swooped onto an aerial assist and lofted it over the goalkeeper. Farhan’s 2nd goal was a long range drive from 30 odd yards out, in a successful attempt to catch the keeper off his line. 3 goals in 45 minutes – not since the Dong Shin game have SSFC felt so relieved of pressure early in a game.

There were some nervy moments though as the MDIS’ strikers chase for half-chance almost paid off. Mix-up and mis-kicks saw the ball roll on for a 1-on-1 with SSFC’s goalkeeper. But credit to Yun whose timely interventions, through dives and parries, ensuring a clean sheet at half time.

Perhaps having the notion that there is nothing else to lose, MDIS stepped up their efforts and scored from the 1st corner they earned in the 2nd half.

SSFC’s fourth goal came after a throw-in with the goalkeeper deceived by the flight of the ball; and possibly taken aback at the audacity of the effort. Razmy’s opportunistic cross-shot at the left side of the attacking third guaranteed the Falcons their 3 points.

2010’s first challenge for the competitive team was an encounter against Techwood FC. With 2009 ending on a positive note with a win against RP Staff Team, the team looked to continue that form.

However, it was evident that the cancellation of the last 3 games due to various reasons took a toll on the players’ fitness levels. Players showed signs of tiredness within the first half an hour and it added more problems to Coach Jason’s worries. With just 4 players on the bench, it would be important for him to make his substitutions at the right timings.

The match got off to a bad start as just minutes into the game, the Falcons conceded their first goal. A through ball from the opponent down their left flank exposed Reuben as he was beaten to it by the opponent. The opposing winger dribbled down the flank and powered in a low cross that was met by the right foot of the opposing striker. All Maverick could do was to pick the ball out of the net.

A flurry of substitutions were made, and Leon came on for Reuben, while Yen was replaced by William.

The first opportunity arrived as Melvin pressured the keeper, forcing the keeper to clear the ball quickly, which Leon picked up. His decision to take an extra touch to kill the ball was a poor one, as the opponent closed him down before he could attempt a shot from outside the box towards the unguarded net.

The second goal was a dubious one, with the Falcons surprised by the decision. The opposing striker was at least a couple of steps ahead the Falcons’ defence, but as the ball was played in, the referee signalled for him to play on. Despite being surprised by the decision, Maverick remained composed but was beaten by a lob that he could only get his fingertips to. The team was clearly dissatisfied by the decision and wasted no time in letting the referee know, but was turned away.

The Schwarzians battled hard and was denied a goal by the opponent’s keeper as Jason fired in a volley after a clearance from the corner. Many more chances came and went and the half ended 2-0.

Falcons returned to the field, looking to take a much more aggressive approach to try and win the game back. However, the referee decided to steal the limelight again as he ignored several hard and unfair challenges on the Falcons.

Another chance arrived for Schwarz Star when a throw taken by Ishak found Leon down the line, and Leon dribbled past 2 players and found an opening. He took a shot but an opponent slid across in time to deny the shot. The ball took a deflection and trickled to Jason, who took a couple of steps into the box and was lining up for a shot when he was swept off his foot by the opponent. The referee blew his whistle immediately but his decision surprised many.

Instead of awarding a penalty, he gave a free kick on the edge of the box. The players were incensed by the decision but could do nothing about it. The free kick was dispatched but was well over the bar. Another subsequent free kick taken by Leon was wide as well.

The game fizzled out in the last 10 minutes with neither side able to find any opportunity. The match ended 2-0 but was marred by many poor decisions by the referee.

EFL Qualifying Division
SSFC 0 - 1 Team Orange
9th Jan, 3 pm, Marsiling Secondary School
 
Schwarz Star FC began the new year on a sour note as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Team Orange, with both teams ending the game with 10-men.
 
The Falcons started sluggishly as they struggled to find their rhythm after a lengthy 3 week layoff from competitive action. Good passes were few and far between for SSFC. In the opening quarter, SSFC resorted to punting hopeful balls far up left but with little success. The holiday mood was probably still running within the team. Much of their usual composure and playing skill was missing.
 
Team Orange’s enthusiasm was much more evident as they pressed hard and fast, more so on SSFC’s right. Not surprisingly, our Right sided players were disproportionately overworked by the time stand-in Coach Jason arrived, just after the half-hour mark. Dismayed by the sight of the team at sixes and sevens, tactical changes were made to freshen up things and SSFC managed to slow down Team Orange’s advancement as we entered the break.
 
The 2nd half was a more open game, as SSFC managed to find some in-roads into the attacking third. Our wingers gained much ground as they exploited the deep spaces afforded by the long dimensions of the Marsiling venue. Halfway through the 2nd half, Azam managed to find himself in a shooting position inside  the box after a cutback from the right wing, but the finishing was found wanting. Not long after, the Silent Sprinter, Leslie ghosted past his marker and in a precarious one-on-one moment, went for a cultured chip that failed to clear the onrushing keeper. Couple of inches more and it would have been quite the goal.
 
An opponent was sent off after receiving his 2nd yellow card, having being adjuged to have incessantly committed several offences. The opponents did not fall back though as Team Orange’s strikeforce tried repeating their 1st half endeavours – dragging the SSFC defence all over the place, proving to be quite a handful. But even when they shot, SSFC’s keeper was up to the task, deflecting them out and away. Yun’s growth as a goalkeeper is most heartening over the past weeks.
 
Unfortunately, there was little he could do as a moment, a quick flash, of brilliance from a Team Orang striker gifted SSFC their new year gift of defeat. Running onto an aerial ball which was bouncing away from goal, the striker turned a harmless situation into a match winning goal. Back facing the goal, and with just one and half shoulder length apart from his marker, he agilely spun and volleyed from just inside the right corner of the box into the top left in goal.
 
In the closing minutes of the game, SSFC’s defender made a rash act, swiping at on-rushing opponent and was duly sent off. With the extra man advantage forfeited, SSFC chance of leveling diminished and thus a taste of bitter defeat to ponder over as 2010 begins.