Story by Leslie Tan. Pictures by Lai Jun Wei.
Geylang United celebrate another goal in the 6-0 thrashing of FC Puerto in the U-16 boys category. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Tampines SAFRA, Sunday, March 16, 2008 – The Geylang United Under-16 team ripped apart their opponents FC Puerto 6-0 in the final of the adidas +challenge to earn themselves a trip to Vienna, Austria. They will represent Singapore in a regional final involving other Asian countries in Austria and will also get the opportunity to catch a game at Euro 2008 while they are there.
The Geylang United team, coached by ex-national player Samawira Basri, were a cut above every other team in this 5-versus-5 tournament played on small artificial pitches at Tampines SAFRA. With space at a premium on a small pitch crowded with players, the Geylang boys showed superior technical skills to undo all their opponents with ease and it was always a matter of how many goals they would score in the final.
Within 2 minutes of the start of the final, Geylang United went 1-0 after Sahil had set up teammate Firdaus to score. Sahil then helped himself to a goal and Geylang’s second with a back header straight from his goalkeeper’s throw.
With the experience of playing two years together under their belt, their teamwork showed through again when the second half resumed with Sahil helping himself to his second and Geylang’s third for a 3-0 lead. Sahil then completed his hattrick after an exchange with Shazlie before Fadli and then Shazlie added two more for a comprehensive 6-0 win.
Sahil, who could not remember how many goals he scored throughout the tournament – “More than ten,” he said – scored with a beautiful overhead kick in the knockout phase which must rank as the best goal of the event.
“It feels great. It’s good for us to win the tournament because we wanted this badly,” said Mohd Azzli, the captain of the Geylang United U-16 team. “It was a dream come true for us. It was quite challenging and the weather was bad earlier in the week. We had to perform at the highest level.”
In a controversial semi-final game that provided sparks off the field of play, FC Puerto won a hotly-contested coin toss after their game against CHR United had ended deadlocked 5-5 on penalties. Regulation time had produced a 1-1 stalemate. With the rules demanding a coin toss to determine the winner, the innocuous coin toss became a huge bone of contention when the losing party contested the definition of “heads” and “tails”. After much argument, FC Puerto were declared the winners based on the coin toss but they might have preferred being somewhere else after their 0-6 whipping at the hands of the clearly superior Geylang United team who made them look very ordinary.
In the Women’s Final, EB Sports A beat Sporting Westlake 3-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at full time. In the U-12 boys category, Young Stars beat Yang Zheng Nite 2-0 with goals by Amirul and Matthew of St Joseph’s Institution (Junior).
The victorious Geylang United U-16 team celebrate their victory by wearing one of their prizes – a pair of adidas sunglasses each. The bigger prize is a trip to Vienna, Austria to represent Singapore in a Asia Pacific regional final. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Shazlie (left) and Sahil of Geylang United line up their wall against FC Puerto during the final. Sahil scored a hattrick in the game. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Geylang United (in red) led 2-0 by the end of the first half and it was only a matter of how many more goals they would score given their clear superiority. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
National goalkeeper Lionel Lewis gamely posing for photographs with young fans. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Eager players grab hold of souvenirs given out by an S. League player (anybody know who?). (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Young Stars beat Yang Zheng Nite (blue bibs) 2-0 to win the Under-12 category. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Yang Zheng Nite created the best chance of the game in the first half but could not score. Young Stars made them pay for it with two quick goals by Amirul and Matthew in the second half. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
An FC Puerto player about to take a free kick while CHR United line up their wall in an Under-16 semi-final. The game ended 1-1 at full-time and both teams went to penalties. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
All eyes glued to a coin toss after the penalties ended in a 5-5 stalemate and yielded no winner. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
While the coin toss is underway, players of FC Puerto say their prayers. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
When news came through that they had won the coin toss to qualify for the Under-16 Final, the FC Puerto guys erupt in jubilation. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Ex-national discus thrower James Wong made an appearance in the Media vs Celebrity game. He played in goal for the Media team. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
National footballer Aide Iskandar shields the ball from Marc Lim of the Straits Times. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Ludo of Home United. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Peres de Oliveira shows off some ball-juggling skills to a group of youngsters. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
National footballer Shi Jiayi and another S. League player speak to a group of youngsters during the clinic. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Ludo takes part in a game with the youngsters. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Over 230 teams signed up for the tournament with categories for NSmen, Corporates, U-12, U-16 and women. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
With the small pitch, skills and teamwork were key to advancing. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
The rain came pouring down half way through the final day but with the artificial turf, there were no problems continuing. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Geylang United’s Firdaus (blue bibs) in action during his team’s run to the final. He scored one goal in his team’s 6-0 final win. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
A women’s category was created for the first time given increased interest among women footballers. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Mimi (in red), who is from Cameroon and representing EB Sports A, challenges for the ball against a Sporting Westlake player in the women’s final. Westlake missed 3 good chances in the first half while EB Sports A were guilty of at least 2 misses. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
Ovah, also from Cameroon and turning out for EB Sports A, goes up for a header with a Sporting Westlake opponent. In the second half, EB Sports A missed a golden opportunity to win the game in full-time. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
The game eventually went to a penalty shootout after the score remained 0-0 at full-time. EB Sports A eventually held their nerve to triumph 3-2. (Photo © Lai Jun Wei)
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