“The highlight was the 4-0 win over RJC.” – An interview with the St Andrew’s Junior College footballers (Part 2)

By Les Tan

Earlier this year, the St. Andrew’s Junior College football team went unbeaten all the way to the semi-final of the A Division Football Championships before they lost to Meridian Junior College in a penalty shootout.

Remarkably, the SAJC team only had three players with B Division experience, yet they showed an ability to play intelligent, beautiful, passing football which warmed the heart of neutral fans.

In 2006, SAJC made it to the semi-finals and lost 0-2 to Victoria Junior College. In 2007, SAJC made it to the semi-finals again, this time meeting MJC. A 0-0 stalemate at the end of regulation time brought on the dreaded penalty kicks and MJC prevailed 4-3.

SAJC had their hearts broken again this year in 2008 when, after outplaying MJC to lead 2-0 in the semi-final, MJC came back to equalise and force extra-time. MJC’s equalising goal was a controversial penalty two minutes from the end of regulation time.

The game then went into penalty kicks with no further goals in extra-time and MJC prevailed 2-1 in penalties for a 4-3 overall win.

The SAJC squad is one of only two teams (the other being VJC) that went through the preliminary rounds unbeaten in the 2008 A Division Championship season. Their only loss over 90 minutes was a 0-1 defeat to Anglo-Chinese Junior College in the 3rd/4th placing game through a freak own goal.

The SAJC team shows that Singapore does have football talent but most of them don’t go on to play for Singapore in age-group or the full national team. This team has shown a brand of football that would stir hearts and ignite passion, such is their raw but obvious talents. If they played for Singapore, there would be long lines for tickets to watch them.

Red Sports caught up with the players for an interview.

Part 2

Red Sports: What was the highlight of this season for you as a player?

Mohammad Asyraf (#3): I feel the highlight of the season was when our goalkeeper Guang Hao stepped onto the pitch against Raffles Junior College for the first time in 3 months. Despite the severity of his injury, his perseverance and determination to get back was truly inspiring. Everyone was filled with renewed courage that day just by looking at him and it was very much reflected by the football that we played on the day.

Benjamin Yeo (#6): Of course the highlight of the season is to be able to play and start in an A Division match! In fact, our match against YJC is my first ever competitive match in any sports! And also, it is fascinating to be part of the team that plays a competitive match at Jalan Besar Stadium. It is an unforgettable experience as we spend most of our time on the stands as spectators in Jalan Besar Stadium.

Augustus Set (#7): Ironically it was the loss to MJC. Although it was a very painful moment for all of us as a team, it bonded our team together even tighter and closer. This helped me realize that the win isn’t the most important thing, but the lessons learnt and friendships forged.

Sean Seah (#8): The highlight was the 1-0 win over ACJC and the 4-0 win over RJC. The way the ACJC crowd taunted us in our postponed match made us very determined to put one over them. The win was especially sweet as it brought their winning streak to an end.

The game against RJC was one of the most enjoyable games I had, and I admit I was dumbstruck by our team’s play, which was so brilliant that I was often admiring our own attack from the back. Personally, it was an honor to be playing beside these teammates and an achievement to be part of such a great team.

Billy Wong (#9): Highlight is the RJC match. I didn’t start in that game and I saw what SAJC soccer was all about on that day on the sidelines – the passing play.

Fahrun Anderson Tanamalo (#11): Being part of this team itself is already a blessing as we journeyed together for the past 10 months. We’ve improved a lot together as a team and this time spent together has been truly enjoyable and memorable.

Nathaniel Mark Gregory (#12): Overall, though I didn’t take home the 1st place medal or carry the trophy, what mattered most was my friendship with my team and the people who put this team together. I’ll honour and respect SAJC for allowing me to play soccer for the team and I’ll always be proud of my boys.

Irwin Goh (#14):Well, watching our goalkeeper Cheng Guang Hao coming back from his injury and playing the game of his life without his in the semi-finals. He showed me the true meaning of determination and that is not just the highlight of this season but of my life.

Brandon Low (#16, also the bowling captain, who joined the football team after the bowling championship): For me, I’ve had a very short season – only five matches. So my highlight would be playing in the first team, even though I totally lacked match fitness, sharpness and match feel as I did not play football three months prior to my first match. Credits to my teacher and coach, Mr Roland Lee, for having the faith in me and the team for spurring me on and giving me the confidence.

Chong Kuo Loon (#17, two-time Golden Boot winner): Seeing keeper Guanghao playing again and putting up such an outstanding performance in the semi final after rupturing his ACL in February is just amazing.

Cheng Guang Hao (#18, first-choice keeper who came back from a severe ACL injury): (Returning to play after my ACL injury) definitely has to be the highlight of my season as I have learnt many important skills in life that cannot be taught in the classroom. Obstacles that seem impossible to climb seem easy to me now that I look back at the season.

Benny Ng (#19): The highlight of my season would definitely be the semi-final against MJC. This was the game I saw what SAJC soccer was about. The friendship, the football we played, and even the disappointment I felt, the experience that I felt will last me a lifetime.

Kevin Liam (#21): It was our convincing (4-0) win against defending champions Raffles JC in the final group stage game, which was our last win of the tournament in which we played some of our best football.

Andrew Ng (#25) – second-choice keeper who played the first eight games): Playing in the ACJC game during the group stages and winning it.

Related stories:
Part 4: "…we were knocked out on penalties, of all things. It was cruel." – An interview with the St Andrew's Junior College footballers
Part 1: "The loss to MJC was a total kick in the teeth" – An interview with the St Andrew's Junior College footballers
Part 3: "I dislocated my knee. It popped right out of the socket." An interview with the St Andrew's Junior College footballers