By REDintern Amir Yusof
Dilip Thapa (VJC #10), arguably the best player in the National A Division Football Championship. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Perennial powerhouses of A Division football, Meridian Junior College (MJC) and Victoria Junior College (VJC), will face off in an intriguing final on Tuesday evening, May 24th, to decide this year’s champions.
Current holders, MJC, will be looking to retain the trophy for the first time in their illustrious history in this competition whilst VJC are hungry for a win after they fell to St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) in the semi-final stage last year.
Both sides deserve to be in the final as they each have a 100% unbeaten record in this competition thus far. MJC and VJC both topped their respective groups in the first and second round and in the semi-finals, MJC beat Raffles Institution 2-0 while VJC saw off SAJC by the same margin. Both were comfortable winners.
However, in what is set to be a clash of the titans on Tuesday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium, something has got to give.
Magnificent Meridians
MJC are widely considered the most consistent side in this competition. A place in the final is an annual tradition for the team and this year, Brazilian coach Fabio Da Silva’s side has not disappointed.
The MJC side of 2011 epitomises efficiency. Key players include the technically gifted forward Mohd Amsyar (#8) and their skipper cum playmaker Mohd Naufal (#25). Both are skilled in finishing difficult chances and killing off opportunities as a result of their direct style of play. However, Naufal’s absence in MJC’s semi-final victory over Raffles Institution due to injury is certainly a cause for concern. It is not known if he will be fit to start but his shoes will definitely be hard to fill.
A key point to note is MJC’s defensive record this season. Their superb goalie Daniel Lightfoot (#19) and composed centre back, Mohd Khair (#16) are largely responsible for MJC’s perfect defensive record this year. An unprecedented eight consecutive clean sheets in addition to the 37 goals scored are certainly impressive statistics. This run of clean sheets will be under threat on Tuesday with Dilip Thapa (VJC #10) and company set to pose the sternest test yet for MJC’s defence.
Valorous Victorians
VJC has been the most prolific team in the A Division this year with 42 goals. Led by arguably the best player in the competition, Dilip Thapa, VJC stand a genuine chance of wresting the title from MJC. VJC’s style of play oozes fluidity and technical superiority. Their boys are widely regarded as the fittest in the competition, evident from their habit of demolishing opponents in the closing stages of matches when legs begin to tire. They are also dangerous in set pieces with their well-worked corners and free kicks direct from the training ground.
Other than Dilip, VJC forward Santosh Magar (#11) and midfielder Shen Hao (#7) are the other powerful attacking options for coach Azrulnizam Shah as he plots a repeat of VJC’s 2009 3-2 triumph over MJC, the last time these two sides met in a final.
Despite the apparent quality in VJC’s offensive play, MJC will improve their odds of winning their second year in a row if they manage to neutralize the threat of Dilip Thapa. However, MJC coach Fabio Da Silva is confident of playing their own game. When asked of his plans to stop the VJC playmaker, he said: “I am confident that my boys will be able do their job well and we will play our own game.”
Red Sports prediction
When asked about their chances in this year’s final, VJC coach Azrulnizam Shah said: “In a final, the form book goes out the window. Any side we face will pose a threat and definitely play to win.”
With two quality sides lining up against each other it is impossible to pick a winner and it could well be decided by a moment of magic from one of the many key players on show. Both skippers Dilip of VJC and Naufal of MJC are definitely capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and leading their sides to victory. Whatever happens, not much will separate VJC and MJC on the day.
We predict MJC will win it by the odd goal.
MJC 2 VJC 1
Match Details
A Division Final
MJC vs VJC
Jalan Besar Stadium
Tuesday, May 24th
6pm
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Wonder if Dilip Thapa will take up Singapore citizenship and represent Singapore?
Give Ang Bing Quan a watch in the finals. He has defended superbly throughout the season, giving Khair no chance to feel threatened at all. It can be said that w/o Ang, MJC would find it almost impossible to keep those clean sheets.
Yes, Ang Bing Quan is superb……and so is No. 11 and No.23….
In fact kudos to the whole MJC team….They are all sooooo good! Good luck boys!!!!!
Forgot to mention Tang No. 7 is also awesome……
In short, VS soccer just rocks. Ok scratch that, VS just rocks!!
#secondaryschoolloyalismFTW
Great preview to what is going to be a fantastic match between this two sides. Cant wait for the final tomorrow. Nice work in analysis of the two teams and hopefully MJC can finally retain their title.
The players of both teams know each other very well. MJC’s Daniel Lightfoot, Mohd Amsyar, VJC’s Dilip Thapa, Santosh Magar and others had played together in the same Victoria School team for 4 years.
vjc will win 🙂