By REDintern Siti Rohaniza Muhammad. Photos by REDintern Clara Yuan
TP celebrate their IVP Floorball championship title. (Photo 1 © REDintern Clara Yuan)
Republic Polytechnic, Wednesday, January 22, 2014 — Temasek Polytechnic (TP) defeated hosts Republic Polytechnic (RP) 2–1 in a nail-biting final to bring home the men’s 2013/2014 Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Floorball Championship trophy.
Both teams met during the group stages of the championship, where the match ended in a 1–1 draw. That match provided evidence that this final would be one worth watching.
Within seconds of the start, RP’s Amir Afiq (RP #96) nearly scored from a well-taken faceoff. His shot from half court hit the goalpost to stun the TP keeper and RP almost took an early lead.
After a box play only two minutes into the game, TP stayed calm and kept possession before they finally found an opening in the RP defence. With fast, accurate passes, TP found the back of the RP’s net through their skipper, Yeung Chun Yin (TP #16), with an assist from Lim Jian Hong (TP #10).
Minutes after the opening goal, RP soon found the equaliser with a half-court drag shot from Ryan Cheng (RP #92), which ended in the top right corner of TP’s net, which leveled the score at 1–1.
RP then had the opportunity to take the lead when a TP player was given a 2-minute penalty for multiple slashing. However, they failed to capitalize on their chance and the scoreline remained 1–1 at the end of the first period.
The second period remained a close affair. After Muhammad Alif (RP #8) received a 2-minute penalty early in the second period, TP continued their barrage of shots on RP’s goal as they tried to make their numerical advantage count. However, the stubborn RP defence and agile RP keeper, Jay Pal Singh Sidhu (RP #19), prevented TP from capitalizing on their opportunity.
A momentary lapse in the RP defence provided TP the opportunity to take the lead when Muhammad Akmal (TP#13) brought the ball from his own half before unselfishly passing the ball to his teammate, Sng Jian Da (TP #17), who placed the ball coolly in the RP net.
Both goalkeepers put up an outstanding performance, making vital saves for their teams despite the pressure mounting. The second period ended with TP holding onto their 2–1 lead over RP.
With only 15 minutes left, RP started the last and final period with a new sense of urgency. The forwards and defenders alike took shots on goal but were still unable to find the equaliser.
TP were also not contented with their one-goal lead and tried their best to extend their slim lead over RP. With the IVP title on the line, both teams became more physical, with more pushes and slashings.
After an RP box play with six minutes left in the game, it seemed as though it was going to be an easy last few minutes for TP. However, after the RP coach called for a timeout, the RP boys came back with a newfound desire to at least find the equalizing goal.
With only 50 seconds left on the clock, a TP player was given a two-minute penalty. RP, desperate to find the equalizer, substituted their keeper with an outfield player to play with 6 outfield players instead of the usual 5. The crowd was on the edge of their seats with the game hanging precariously in the balance with only a goal separating the two teams and RP having the numerical advantage. Despite the multiple chances and attempts, RP still were unable to find the back of the net.
In a turn of events, TP managed to retrieve the ball during the last few seconds of the match and Kwek Muhammad Danial (TP #15) collected a poorly-passed ball from an RP player and guided the ball into a momentarily unguarded RP net. Both the TP bench and their supporters erupted in joy and elation at the goal.
Upon further deliberation with the timekeeper, the referees disallowed TP’s last goal as the ball only went into the net after the buzzer had sound. Nevertheless, TP were still happy, despite the disallowed goal, as the 2–1 win meant their first IVP floorball title in a long while.
RP captain, Muhammad Alif (RP #8) said, “We were prepared for this game but it was hard luck. We could not convert the chances we had.”
Jay Pal Singh Sidhu (RP #19) felt that it was a good match. “It was a pretty intense but very enjoyable match. Both sides were strong but TP had the edge,” said the RP goalkeeper.
TP skipper, Yeung Chun Yin (TP #16), commented, “To be honest, it was a really exciting game. Both teams played really well but we managed to capitalize on their errors and minimized ours.”
On his vision for his team next year, he added, “ We would like to come back as champions next year and to also win POL-ITE.”
TP’s gold in IVP this season is an improvement from their fourth-place finish in the 2012/2013 IVP Floorball Championship.
RP Roster
Iskandar Bin Zolkarnain (#3), Muhammad Zulhakim Bin Zailani (#4), Mohamad Nazri Bin Mohamed Sani (#6), Ong Jun Wen (#7), Muhammad Alif Bin Ibrahim (#8), Teh Kee Cheong Demas (#9), Qamarul Fahmy Bin Mohd Zin (#10), Jerrald Loke Wei Jun (#11), Mohamad Rashid Bin Jalaluddin (#16), Muhammad Nur ‘Aidil Bin Juraime, (#17), Muhammad Khalis Imran (#18), Jay Pal Singh Sidhu (#19), Muhammad Afiq Bin Sumsudin (#21), Muhammad Sufian Bin Samsuri (#24), Muhammad Iqbal (#28), Tan Choon Yang (#30), Colin Cheng En Yao (#31), Muhammad Frankli (#49), Nithiaraj S/O Sukumaran (#80), Ryan Cheng (#92), Amir Afiq Bin Mohd Kamal (#96)
TP Roster
Shannon Pang Zhi Wei (#2), Muhammad Rauf Amirul Hamzah (#4), Muhd Adib Bin Salim (#5), Jansen Lim Hong Heng (#6), Muhammad Rausyan Bin Musa Ji Angullia (#8), Lim Jian Hong (#10), Samuel Tan Bao Sheng (#11), Muhammad Akmal B Shaharudin (#13), Muhammad Hafiz Bin Azmi (#14), Kwek Muhammad Danial Bin Bakhtiar (#15), Yeung Chun Yin (#16), Sng Jian Da (#17), Simran Saach Singh Sirna (#18), Wee Hong Yu (#23), Abdul Rahman B Abdul Rahim (#24), Muhammad Zikri B Mohd Z (#36), Roy Chong Yu Keong (#46), Muhammad Faresh Hakim B Mohd Y (#69), Crenshawn Lim Kai Xuan (#70), Foo Jun Yong Joey (#87), Jake Chen Yi Xian (#95)
2014 IVP Floorball Championship (Men) – Fixtures and Results
More photos next page
Leave A Comment