By Les Tan
Muhd Khairil glances in the winning goal for VJC in second half stoppage time to ensure a 3-2 victory. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Jalan Besar Stadium, Monday, May 25, 2009 – Victoria Junior College scored a stoppage time goal to eke out a 3-2 victory over Meridian Junior College.
The 3pm start time under the scorching sun plus the adrenaline of a national football final meant fitness would come into play in this game. Added to that the heart-pounding and ear-splitting cheering from supporters of both schools – the loudest cheering you’ll hear at a football game on this island – the stage was set for an exciting game.
A blistering start saw VJC take an early 1-0. Alex (#10) found some space on the left flank and his cross was met by Asyraf who placed his header over Edmund Wong in the (#32) in the MJC goal. 1-0 to VJC.
But MJC came right back. Their constant pressure yielded them a free-kick from 30m out. Up stepped their captain Fazli Hisham (#7) who hit it straight at the VJC keeper Ifwat Wafiy. It was not a hard shot and everyone expected the keeper to pluck it safely from the air. To his and the collective horror of the VJC crowd, it squirmed from his outstretched hands and bounced over the line. 1-1 and the MJC crowd roared their approval.
Man for man, MJC had the measure of the VJC team, nullifying any attack, while their constant probing left VJC fans with the gnawing dread of another MJC goal.
Alex (VJC #10) then missed a one-on-one situation to leave the score unchanged and the miss would haunt VJC.
VJC’s Jasper gave away another free-kick to MJC and this time Attah Joseph (#21) stepped up. Of all the people in the VJC wall, Joseph’s blast chose to take a wicked deflection off the head of Jasper and the ball hit the back of the net while VJC keeper Ifwat was left flat footed. VJC, and Jasper, were feeling particularly unlucky by now.
With MJC holding their first lead of the game at 2-1, VJC did not look likely to score. But an individual piece of finishing by Alex changed the scoreline. VJC keeper Ifwat’s kick upfield was met by the head of Anders Aplin (VJC #9). Another teammate met Anders’ header with another flick on and the ball landed nicely in the path of Alex who bore down on the right side of the MJC penalty box.
VJC fans wondered: Was he going to shoot? His answer was instantaneous – a blast with his right leg that arrowed across the diving body of MJC keeper Edmund Wong to nestle in the far corner of the net. A predator’s goal and the score was now 2-2. Game on.
After the excitement of the first half with four goals and lots of action, the second half was an anti-climax. The 3pm start was taking its toll as players from both teams started going down with cramps. The most pained sufferer was Attah Joseph (MJC #21) whose cramp was so severe that his bulging thigh muscles were rigid with cramp and he had to be carried off the pitch.
With the injuries, the game was going nowhere as a spectacle but with the passing minutes, the tension ratcheted up. A goal at this late juncture would surely spell the winner.
MJC had two golden chances to score through Joseph Tai (MJC #23), the second of which was a header that was headed for goal but Ifwat pulled off a stupendous save to make up for his first half error.
The miss of the game though, was by Alex (VJC #10), this year’s top scorer with 16 goals.
A blistering shot by Anders (VJC #9) from outside the box was not held by MJC keeper Edmund. The ball spilled loose and bounced up nicely into the path of the onrushing Alex. However, from less than 2m from the goal line and with the whole goal gaping before him, he somehow contrived to put the ball over the bar.
Even though the ball fell to his weaker left leg, he pounded the ground in extreme frustration while the VJC bench saw coach Tan Yew Hwee sprawl to the ground like he had been shot. The VJC bench must have thought this was going to be a repeat of the 2008 final where Alex also missed chances that cost them the championship title.
By this time, everyone was expecting extra-time but the final act was yet to be played out. In the second minute of extra time, a throw in by Cephas Ong was headed on by Anders Aplin. In the middle was the waiting Muhammad Khairil (VJC #5). Rising with him were two MJ defenders but Khairil got his head to the ball first.
It was not a hard header but the ball’s bounce fooled MJC keeper Edmund and went in to send the VJC crowd into delirium. 3-2 to VJC was how it finished, and VJC put to bed their 1-2 loss to MJC in last year’s final.
In an on-field incident witnessed by many and sure to be discussed for days on end, the MJC taunt to VJC to “go fly kite” got the better of VJC’s Khairil and he made a mocking gesture – putting his thumb on his nose and wiggling his fingers – to the MJC crowd in return after teammate Alex scored the second VJC goal.
After getting scolded by coach Tan Yew Hwee immediately after the incident, Khairil was marched to the MJC principal after the game by his coach and made to apologise.
“That kind of game, heart attack!” said VJC coach Tan Yew Hwee. “The chances they missed!”
The winning goal was unexpected.
“The goal was a soft goal,” he said.
For MJC, this was their fifth A Division final appearance in a row.
“That’s football,” said MJC coach Fabio Fanticelle Da Silva. “It was a loss of concentration in the last two minutes.”
“It was a very good save by the VJC keeper,” said coach Fabio, referring to the save from Joseph Tai (MJC #23) in the dying moments of the second half.
“Last year was our year, this year is their time. Our boys worked very hard and we have very good support from the principal and teachers.”
MJC are also well placed for A Division football honours next year.
“Seven of the players will be back next year,” coach Fabio confirmed.
“It’s really honourable to score in the final on such a big stage,” said Muhd Khairil, the scorer of the winning goal and who also bagged the man-of-the-match award. “Lucky the ball went in. We had many chances to score but we threw it away.”
Khairil finished the season with four goals, but that last one will live long in the memory for him and VJC.
to Hm,
Majority of the MJCian didn’t know he apologised. Not that we witnessed it till the principle told us he apologised. So over generalising the fact that MJC is not graceful is
Come on guys, this is getting ridiculous.
Firstly, I think the MJ side should just clear their heads and look at this objectively. There’s no point in getting all emotional and hyped up over an incident that took up a fraction of the match. By focussing on what the VJ #5 did, you guys are actually belittling the efforts of what your own soccer boys did in the rest of the match. Not once have I seen a positive encouraging comment to the MJ boys without reference to the VJ player. When you look back on the ’09 final, is the image of a VJ player all you’re going to remember? Because the way you’re reacting, it sure looks like that. And that is a sad situation for the MJ soccer players who tried their best on the field. Not only did they manage only second place, they also lost all post-match glory because of what a member of their opponent did. MJ supporters, you should know better than that.
Secondly, let’s just for a minute try to remember that the VJ #5 is only 17. Even soccer players on the world stage lose their cool sometimes — are you seriously crucifying him for having done a gesture in a moment of impulse? And let’s not forget, that he did apologise after that. Now THAT, is the mark of a true Victorian. Nobody said that the Victorian Code of Conduct consisted of being perfect beings with no capacity for mistake. Instead Khairil and his coach demonstrated the Victorian Code by having him admit to his mistake and going up to the MJ principal to apologise. You claim he should apologise to everyone, but let’s be realistic here. How do you expect him to do that — make a guest appearance at an MJ assembly? By apologising to the MJ principal, he is effectively apologising to the crowd too for she represents the school. By overlooking the fact that he apologised, MJ are acting in a rather ungracious manner.
Plus the thing about the MoM award. It is true that there were many players on the field that afternoon who deserved the award. But questioning whether the vj #5 deserved it is an insult to the officials on the scene and their better judgement. True, #5 displayed a moment of unsporting behaviour, but let’s not let that eclipse the fact that he played defender, forward and scored the winning goal all in that match. The officials must have seen something in him that some of us try to deny. Whatever it is, doubting the validity of the award only reflects badly on your own attitude towards sportsmanship and respect.
Let’s not let one small incident mar the fact that yesterday’s match was a superb display of Adivision football. And please, lay off Les. Without him, there would be no platform for all your whinings. If you can’t give him credit for making the effort to go down to the games and report on them in a bid to seek the flourishment of singapore sports, then at least give him credit for that.
I love MJC.
One is VJ no. 5, the other mjc’s cheer “Go fly kite”.
Hm, if No. 5 is sincerely apologetic towards his action, he’s still a gentleman. For everyone makes mistake, as long as you have the courage to face your wrong doings. Well, it’s certainly wrong for MJ to jeer at No 5 when he was awarded the best player. But wouldn’t you do the same if you are MJcian at the heat of the moment? And Mjc’s cheer. To you it may be a taunt, to Mjcian it is to fight together. A way of bonding, just so different from vjc’s. Different people have different point of viewing it. So what’s the point of arguing.
But, I am really proud of MJ soccer. Not only had they improve since their match with ACJC, they have certainly showed sportsmanship during the match.
VJ played well too, no doubt the team is strong. Congrats.
Firstly,
is Uncle Les sure that he only hear mjc people cheer when the mjc goal keeper managed to save the ball being kicked by vjc boys? How about times whereby the vjc goalkeeper managed to save a ball from mjc boys? Dont VJC students cheer( look i mention its cheering not jeering) out loud too? So did mjc students critising them for cheering when their goal keeper managed to save a goal? No! This is because MJC students know that VJC students are cheering for their players and nothing against MJC.
Is it that people are trying to find all sorts of problems so as to cover that so called immature act of no5. player?
Here comes another problem. Why Mjc jeered when no5. was awarded the best player of the match? Think…if a match just required one to kick very well, then i guess no5 could win the award. However, if the judge panel is looking for an overall performance which includes CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT of the players, then this award doesnt belong to no5. It could be given to other VJ players like no 9 and no 10. They have performed much more better than him. Also why didnt the report mention that player no5 despite mocking at MJC students won the best player of the match? It is something glory right to won a best player award, isnt it?
How sincere no 5 is people say that he apologised to the MJC principal? Unless he step out and redeem himself, i bet anyone will believe that he is that sincere to apologise for his mistakes. He could be forced to do so by his coach or for the sake of the award that he is going to win right? Be a man stand out on your own to admit your mistakes. Dont blame the audiences as the focus is on the players and all the players are the most important representatives of your school. You represent the college you made a mistake, your college have to pay a price for it and so its your school reputation. It brings us to the topic of the emphasis of character development in schools. Is it just about academic excellence and winning lots of awards only?
Next, when one of the VJC player attempting to kick the ball into the goal and yet he kicked MJC Goalkeeper right on the nose, did he stop apologised and make sure he is ok? No he didnt do that…he merely turn around look at MJC goalkeeper and walk off to have his water break! The Goal keeper was bleeding after the game and i hope that the VJC player did apologise out of respect. If he did, please comment to acknowledge.
Lastly, why is it that last year MJC students did not hear VJC students singing their school anthem? Just a suggestion, Please play the school anthem so that people in the whole stadium know that you are singing your school anthem. Be proud of your school anthem and sing out loud so that people can hear if you do not wish to play your school anthem. For people to notice you, remember, you must be heard. Also, i think this explains why MJC students didnt hear the 3-cheers to Mjc by the Vjc students. Next time, be louder please, thank you for all those encouraging cheers( hopefully not jeer) that MJC students couldnt hear.
Its a pity that ACJC beat MJC but couldnt get into finals…if you say MJC guys are rowdy think again…how could MJC compete with ACJC in this area? Before ACJC match with MJC, how badly have they hurt their opponents? And how serious it is? I think this is the time for you guys to go find out.
Congrats to all the soccer players with any of the numbers 1234678910!
how come when VJC lost to MJC last year, nothing of this sort happened? so issit because MJC lost to VJC this year then this kind of thing happen? hmm i ge tthis feeling that MJC are being sore losers. lose liao then raise a hoohar about what happened in the game. its not as if that taunt by VJCno.5 helped VJC get another goal or what. so whats the big deal? just let it drop lah.
haha. chill guys. just put this matter to rest will ya. fine wht #5 did was inappropriate. and yes mj’s cheer was not saintly as well. but its unfair to put down the #5 tht harshly. if you guys think tht wht he did was disrespectful, you guys shld have seen wht the acjc player did to our crowd when he scored in the 3rd/4th. he showed his middle finger to the crowd!!! still think #5’s action was disrespectful?
and i think tht #5 did deserve the man of the match award. he created the second goal and scored the winning goal. so cheers #5!
mj did great too. gave vj a tough fight till the v end.
so cheers both teams 🙂
This is getting ridiculous. the gesture isnt really the worst possible gesture i can think of. It may not necessarily be due to the cheer. It may just be due to the reactions of the mj fans as the vjc players were running towards the vj side to celebrate the goal. I dont think Khairil deserves the ridicule he is getting from some. Also, there was nothing malicious about his two challenges on the goalkeeper. I dont think people should make a big deal of both the gesture and the cheer. I enjoyed the game tremendously and it is unfortunate that such a small incident is becoming the biggest talking point from a very exciting game.
HEY GUYS, what are you guys so angry about! although i wasnt a vj/mj student, i was at the match! seriously, you cannot deny that vj had put up such a strong fight. so did mj. does it mean that #5 did that sign, the winning goal should be cancelled? i dont think so right? besides, he DID apologise anyway. there were also so many occasions that mj players suffered cramps and why are you guys accusing vj of faking injuries at the last few minutes? does that mean that mj was faking too when they were leading in the match?
this match was really a tough one against vj considering the number of free kicks given to mj & the chances they had to score against vj. um, so i think the issue should stop here and congradulate vj on their win, they fought so hard for it and great job!(:
It’s just a freaking cheer for god sake.
Post no. 33 by boon:
“but what happen next was truly uncalled for and missed by many. after scoring and celebrating, he suddenly dropped to the ground in cramps. why didnt it happen during the celebration? or even after the match. only the vjc no 5 has the answers.”
What the..? You even have comments on him cramping? Let me ask you, how can you predict when will you suffer a cramp? These kind of things are not predictable at all, it can happen anytime. By the way, I don’t think there is any so called “motive” for him to act injured. I can only think of the point that he was trying to drag the time. But won’t some more time be given? It is the A Division final after all, a very important match. So I don’t see any justifications in bringing up this point because I can make neither head nor tail of this part of your comment =/
to statingtheobvious, VJ players did help MJ players when they were brought down. Of course, MJ players also help Vj players when they were brought down.
It’s true that some people from both schools do not display good sportsmanship, but we have to understand that no one is perfect. Even if one player/supporter from the school does not display good sportsmanship, it does not mean that all students from the school do not have good sportsmanship.
Anyway, sports require not only skill, but a little bit of luck. However, we have to agree both teams are strong. Both schools were in the finals for these few years right?
yeah im sure the 2nd choice keeper played enough games to show that he is outstanding
from my knowledge, he played a grand total of 20 minutes this season
wow
he must be fantastic then
Uncle Les, “fly kite” was originally an innocuous phrase that NEVER meant to be malicious. If an opponent chose to interprete it as such, so be it. But giving it unneccessary attention would cause further misunderstanding and hatred to a match already fraught with its own tensions.
Anyway, most of mj’s cheers originate from vs due to the of the influx of vs boys in mj.
I think we all should stop blaming either school. One act of disgrace or poor sportsmanship does not reflect the whole school’s character. Saying that a cheer reflects arrogance or is provoking someone is really reading too much into things. Because the main purpose of cheers is to motivate the players, and not to provoke the other side.
And all of us, me and you, are sure to support our own school when it comes to issues like this and so the comments are sure to be biased.
Having said that, during a game, everyone tends to get emotional and thus will let their emotions control them and get agitated. We can only blame human nature. Come on, surely there are times when you get agitated and do stupid things as well right?
So no one should blame anyone else unless he is God. because only God is perfect.
Thank you (: there will always be winners and losers and so MJ accepts this result 😀
this thing wouldnt have started if not for some person called ‘mjcian’, who began all the discussion on tagboard.
and why is everyone saying that it was wrong for victorians to do that because, i quote one of the comments ‘[vjc is supposed to] create gentlemen, sportsmen and professionals’?
you mean your allowed to not show sportsmanship cos your sch never impart these values on you? and it is so unforgivable for #5 cos vjcians arent supposed to do that.
both schs made mistakes.
mj shldnt have booed vj players. #5 shldnt have showed that sign.
For goodness sake, the suppossedly taunting cheer ” Go fly kite” is inculcated in mjc’s cheer right from the beginning. It was cheered in last years, 2008 soccers finals between mjc and vjc. Why didnt anyone raise this up till now? Obviously, these people are out to incite conflict and tensions between the two schools. To say that it was meant to taunt vjc was an utmost overstatement. What was the writer thinking when writing down this contentious statement? Another point of rage would be the symbolic taunting gestures of vjc’s Muhammad Khairil an obvious symptomatic of his lack of graciousness and sportsmanship. No doubt, he may be very good at his game but when it comes to character development and attitude, it only tells us much about his complete lack of respect for his opponent, and most importantly a total lack of sportsmanship and graciousness, period!
i believe the article eluded many factors that contributed to MJC’s reaction towards the #5 player of VJC. even before he did the weird action towards the MJC crowd, he did stick his boot into MJC keeper’s face in the first half as well as tackling a MJC defender while he was trying to shield the ball out. despite so, MJC in many occasions showed their sportsmanship by helping out the VJC players when they were injured.
however, it was only the individual that was wrong. the VJC team has better candidates for the man of the match award, such as #9 who had great dribbling skills and great vision and power to pick out long crosses. he was always a threat to the MJC defence too.
It’s ok MJ. We might have lost, but we did it with grace. Keep your heads up guys! You guys will always be our champions! It will be unfair to say that VJ doesn’t deserve it since both teams put up a really strong fight. However, their victory is blemished but that disgraceful player of theirs. He doesn’t deserve to be crowned the man of the match with his dirty play and disrespectful actions. Any player on the field deserves it much more than he does! Kudos to the vj coach for showing great sportmanship by reprimanding his player for what he has done. I really respect that. He was undeniably the coach of the year.
anw.. it’s juz a game.. n is ovr. bth sides did well.. we shuld juz rmbr e gd n 4gt e bad.. tt way every1 could get on wif life. wad’s e use of gettin stuck in tt debate abt e “fly kite” ting n wad VJ no.5 did?? waste of time man..