Episode: 7-a-side soccer tournament
Saturday, September 13, 2008

During pre-dawn meal, I was not sure what kind of Murtabak I ate, but I was quite sure that it was the worst I ever had tasted. In a Murtabak, there is suppose to be minced meat, and all sorts of vegetables, but in this one, it seems that the meat is placed together with the bones. It was so tedious to slowly take out the bones, especially when it seems to be all over the Murtabak. I had to poke on each and every piece to make sure that my teeth do not break in result of biting the bones. I did not have a proper pre-dawn meal.

Anyways, hours later I had to come to school. The 7-a-side soccer tournament is today. Shah told us to meet in school at 9.30am. I did arrive at 9.30am together with a few others of our teammates. In the end, Shah was the one who came late.

An hour late to be exact.

We were the first team to kick off the tournament. We fought against one of the team from sports club. Since the rest have not arrive yet, we had to start the game without any substitute. Shah, had to be the keeper, since our selected keeper have not arrived yet.

Match 1: We went a goal up, then they equalised. After some time, we scored again, but another reply by the Sports club this time through a set piece. We then took advantage of the free kick given after Kah Hui clearly dived. Well, the referee was not really paying attention to the match. In the end, we won 3-2, but I can see that the Sports club team was pissed.

Then, as we wait for our next match to commence, we sat by the side and watched what I would call the clash of the Titans. Both teams were potential tournament champions. One is from SP's school team and the other Naga's team who had won numerous street soccer tournaments in SP itself. Well, at that time, I think the school team was leading by a goal, in what seems to be a tight game. One of the school team players was shielding the ball tactically for quite some time. This is a time wasting tactic that had one of their opponent to slide from the back to try regain possession. The tackle was a dirty one, and it had in the end sparked off...

a confrontation, which led to...

a fight. I was there, sitting with the rest of my teammates right in front of it all, and we just sat and enjoy the wrestling show. As you can see, I even had the time to whip out my handphone to capture the moment. It lasted quite some time, and the referee seems unable to stop it. After some time, it subsided and the match went to the school team.

Then, it was our turn to play our second match. In that match, two more of our team members arrived. They got to play in it and did a great job I might say. Shah scored a goal, one from Adli and two from Hidir. Our opponents hardly get possession of the ball. In the end, we won 4-0. Having to win two matches, in a group of three teams, we were the champion for that group with maximum points. We qualified for the quarter finals.

In our quarter final match, we were against another Sports club team. This time I took some hard knocks. Though we get to equalise after they scored one, the match was lost. We lost 3-1. Well, went back to our stuff, I quickly removed the boot that I borrowed from one of the substitute. My right foot was stomped by one of our opponent in our last match. Oh, ya, I borrowed a boot because, this was what happened to my boot right after the first game.

We took an early shower, and then watched the Clash of the Titans again. Yup, they met again in the quarter finals. This time, Kah Hui was the referee. I can see he is much better refereeing then the official student referees. But, there was this match deciding moment where he allowed what supposed to be an on-the-line situation, to be a goal. It went to the school team. Naga's team was pissed. It even led to another fight. Yes, another fight. But this time it was controlled in a few minutes by Kah Hui. One of Naga's teammate got a red card while one of the school team members got a yellow. Such drama. The beautiful game has really turned ugly.

As I limp slightly back home, I walked past the score board. It puts there, that our team is the only two teams to get maximum points in the group stages. I was proud of this team. They did great.

When I got home, I noticed that my nose had turned red. Soon, my cheeks and then my forehead. What else, sunburn. For the rest of the day, my body seemed slightly feverish. While waiting for break fast, I played some games and then went online. During that time, my stomach was grumbling and I started to get headaches. Maybe it was because of poor hydration. What to do, I stayed fasting for the rest of the day, even after the soccer tournament.

Then it was time to break fast. I had to drink a lot to replenish the water I lost during the tournament. My mom bought home some kiwi fruit, but not any other kiwi, this was yellow kiwi. I have not seem anything like it. When I tasted it, it tastes quite sweet with a lemony hint.

Well, all beaten up for the day, I went to sleep after watching Manchester United suffered a lost to Liverpool at Anfield. Well, all that I can say is that Liverpool deserved to win that match, even though I am a United fan.


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Aidie blogged @ 6:55 AM

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