On and off the pitch...

Hi guys, Kathir here and I'd like to make some announcements. I'll split this post into 2 bits. Firstly, I'll touch on some admin matters on behalf of the gaffer and prem. The gaffer being Abi of course. Then i'll go on to some issues regarding our football. I'd like to invite everyone to leave a comment below this post or in the comment box. Feel free to say anything and everything about what is to be announced. So here goes...
Off the pitch:
As you may have already noticed, I have attained the password to the blog and re-arranged the site a little and updated it. Please orientate yourself to this slightly new layout and let me know if it sucks. I've placed the fixtures and results list at the end of the page and have also placed the league table at the side. I will help prem to update this as often as required. There's is also a link to the AFL site right above the league table. Next, prem has assigned abi and myself to be the ones to inform everyone about the games everyweek. You will receive a text message from us and all you have to do is to let us know whether you can make it or not. If you do say yes, please make sure you turn up as promised. Abi will take attendance for all games and those who fail to turn up despite giving your word and/or without a valid reason will have your playing time reduced in the next match. Abi will see to this. There are no superstars in the team and to be quite honest, we all agree that this has become quite a prevalent problem. This rule of regular attendance for matches applies for friendlies and league matches. Prem has also appointed Vishnu as the new treasurer. All friendly games will cost $10 bucks a person. The excess amount will go into the team fund (which will be kept by Vishnu) and be used to fund the consecutive season(s). Abi will once again take attendance for these friendlies and those who dont turn up enough will not gain the benefit of having to pay less for the the following season's registration. Abi, Vishnu, Prem and myself will all keep accounts and I will undertake the responsibility of posting the accounts on the website every month. Those who have not paid for this season, PLEASE DO SO ASAP. You will only receive a free jersey if you are paying the full amount of $110. Those who don't pay the full amount, can purchase a spare jersey for $20 or loan a jersey everyweek (You must return it to me after every game). This is to maintain fairness to all those who have paid the full amount. As it stands, Ezek, Lavin, Praga are yet to pay half a season's registration fee. All three will also have to pay for your jerseys (if you do want to buy one). Vijay is yet to pay the full amount. When these payments are settled, the team fund will have around $150 to $200. I will confirm this once all payments have been settled. A big thank you to all the rest who have paid up.
On the pitch:
A few things regarding our football. I urge everyone to turn up early before every game so that we can conduct a little team warm up. We can do about 4 slow jogs across the breath of the field and then proceed to stretch. During this, Abi and Prem can name the team and pass instructions regarding how we're going to approach the game. Finally let me state my 5 cents worth regarding what I observed on the pitch over the last 2-3 games. As I've said, there are no superstars in this team and therefore please correct me if I am wrong. We are all friends and we should never take things personally. Learn from one another and improve as a team.
1) Wingers and fullbacks: I've mentioned this alot of times. The importance of wingers and fullbacks and working together. I urge the wingers to communicate with your fullbacks and take responsibility for your flanks. Work together to keep the opponents wingers quiet and limit the amount of crosses and diagonal balls coming into the penalty area. Attack together and defend together. When defending, fullbacks please call out to your wingers to come and help. When we're defending, the defense will shift towards the the flank from which the opponents are attacking. For example, lets say rethish's right flank is being attacked. The four defenders will all shift towards rethish's flank. Naga's left flank is bound to be left empty and the opposition winger will most likely slot into this space and try to receive a through ball or diagonal ball from rethish's flank. We will get caught if this happens. There fore, it is naga's duty to call out to prashant (the left winger) to slot into this empty space and mark the opposition winger if need be. I really hope that the wingers will be responsible enough to not leave your fullbacks exposed. Let's work on this part. The centre backs will guide you guys, so dont worry. Just keep this in mind.
2) Centre Midfielders: There were quite a few instances of the centre midfielders losing the balls in crucial areas over the last few games. This is very dangerous. I urge centre midfielders to try and reduce this. Try to not beat players in the centre of the field, unless it means that after that you will be able to make a crucial pass or move. Always go for the simpler option. Use your wingers, use the centre backs. As a rule of thumb, do not attempt to beat players in our half. It is perfectly alright to play the ball back and relieve yourself of pressure. Do trust your team mates. Similarly, i would like all the defenders (including myself) to brush up on your first touch. If under pressure, learn to put the ball away. Play it out or towards the wingers. NEVER ACROSS THE BOX OR ACROSS THE CENTRE OF THE PITCH. It was my hesitancy to put the ball away that caused the goal against kampong and I will improve on that.
3) Communication: Very simply, talk to one another. dont expect telepathy. Impose authority on the players around you and tell them what to do. I dont see the strikers talking to each other or the midfielders talking to one another. I must, however, commend the wingers and fullbacks. They seem to be doing the most talking. The rest of us must not be afraid to talk to one another and learn to leave whatever is said on the pitch.
4)Releasing the ball: I observed the strikers making alot of runs and creating spaces in the last game. However, the rest of us failed to release the ball early and many times blamed the strikers for being offside. Do remember its a two way thing. The moment the strikers ask for the ball, release it as soon as possible. Strikers, time your run and ask for the ball. I was guilty of not doing that on sunday and I will improve on that. Another thing that the strikers can work on is , as prem mentioned, working together to pressure the forwards. Never give defenders alot of time. There were many passes from the opposition full backs that almost caught us out. Please pressure them into playing the balls early so that they wont be that accurate.

These were just some thoughts that I hope we can work on for now. As we go, I will gather feedbacks and help prem to make posts regarding such matters. Please add on guys! Till the next game, which wil probably be a friendly, do maintain your own fitness, take care of yourselves and have a great week. Cheers.

League Game 1 Premier Division

Guys this week the new season commences on sunday 9am @ Tanjong Katong Sec..Its near paya lebar mrt..Some of u'll will remember the first game against kampong at that location..Pls bring along ur green kit..I still havent decide on whether we're gonna use the new kit as yet..Anyways the first game is against Torpedo who look rather good on paper after an impressive 2nd place finish in the premier division..So this is definitely gonna be a cracking game..And to add to kawabangers woes we have a few players on international duty..Keys players Vish,Lavin and Keerthi are overseas and will take no part in this fixture.So our squad is rather thin and i expect the rest of the squad to turn up..Another important thing is pls be early so that we can distribute the new kit to u'll..As for those who havent pay yet pls do so by latest May 1..Take note jerseys will only be given to u if u have paid the full fees.We will be welcoming our two new signings for this season..Murali formerly from SJI and CJ who will provide the much needed Centre Mid cover and Jraj who is joining us on dual club pass from Kamikaze will be deputising at left back in the absence of Mahendran for this season..We are looking to secure another two signings before the close of the transfer window..Hopefully the team will be back to full strength by the 18th of May by when i expect all exams,international duties and other committments to be over..So esp for this game we need to work our sock out to drind out a result..So its time to Kawabang again boys..See you'll on sunday..Transportation pls aliase with the usual fellas..

Teams in the upcoming season

Premier Division

Tusser Ranger FC Elite

Torpedo Rovers FC

Charlie FC

Kampong Boyz FC

Marine Devils FC

CU FC

Kawabanga FC

TL FC

Team Sofeene FC

Looks like we're in for a ride guys..Its probably the toughest league in singapore..Team Sofeene are previous Champs of Premier Division..Now they're back..I'm targetting a mid table finish which will be good considering the standard of the teams but with the quality we possess i'm sure we can beat the odds to claim a podium place..Ok boys pls get yourselves ready for the journey of hell!!

Update on Season 08/09

Good day fellas..Firstly i would like to wish all the uni dudes best of luck in their upcoming exams..Friendly will resume next week due to these boys mugging away...Hopefully the two week break would have given u'll a breather and done the legs some good..Ok now as for the new season..Tentatively the first game is on the 4th May..Ok as u'll know i had fixed the rate at $110 taking into account the total no. of games as 14 for the seaon..But latest updates from the FA has reached me indicating tt the new premier division is gonna have 9teams which means 16 games in total..tt also means more $$...ok in order not to complicate matters u guys pls transfer the 110 asap..the balance i'll negotiate with the organiser for extension.which i'll collect at a later part of the season..Ok eventually u'll will pay ard $130 for 16games which is abt $8 per game..Ok now some good news..After some persistence i've managed to convince someone to sponsor us a new kit for us..Detail of sponsor will be released after confirmation of the deal..The new kit will carry the team name as well as ur name..If all goes well the kit should be launched on Apr 28..Ok now fellas this is the important part..The jersey will only reach those who have made full payment for the league or on case by case basis if u arent able to pay full due to acceptable reasons..This is to be fair to those who commit their time and money to keep the team going..The jersey will also act as an incentive for u guys to committ and pay for the league i hope..So think abt it for $130 u get a free new kit and 16 games..sounds like a good deal i think..Ok the deadline for payment is Apr 30 which coincidentally falls on the day we get the gst shares..So those with tight budget try to allocate some money from there for the team..I hope u'll understand that without everyone's cooperation this team is gonna struggle esp financially..I'm doing my part to get u'll a good deal for your money and i sincerely hope you fellas will make prompt payments..A few more things to add..Next season is gonna be very tough coz the premier division consist teams of much higher calibre than the likes of Mustang and Merida..So i need u'll to show ur committment and we must stay strong as a unit..Its not gonna be easy but i'm sure it'll be a fun ride..I need some of you guys to confirm your committments with me..Namely Karthik,Mahen and Ezek..You guys are definitely the core of the team and its gonna be an uphill task without u'll..So pls try to commit.As usual if any of you think u'll got any friends who'll be committed and essential to the team pls bring them down..Ok guys post is getting abit lengthy so i'll end here..look out for more updates on the website..Take care..KAWABANGA!!

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