Here's the PR talk first. Seng Kang Pri did astoundingly well at the N1 Cluster Games. The football team reached the semis and was the only team that the eventual champions, Xinmin Sec, failed to beat. Our badminton team finished with a 100% win record.
Now here's the truth. Our football team drew two matches against strong opposition in the round-robin, before running out of steam in the semis. We eventually finished fourth, though we should have got third if not for Kalai's injury.
Our badminton duo of Daniel and Mr Lim won their men's doubles match against local favourites Xinmin Sec. Then they were informed that the next match was mixed doubles. Since neither of them wore a skirt, they had to forfeit. Like, hello? How bad can the communication be that we did not even know that it was a team event of 8 people? Apparently Xinmin Pri, just next door, had no inkling of any badminton competition too. It's obvious to me that this was a shoddy last-minute job instigated by SOMEONE in N1, with Xinmin Sec drawing the short end of the stick to organise it.
Further evidence of incompetence abounded in the football tournament. Firstly, whose bright idea was it to have it during Ramadan? It's complete disregard for the well-being of our Muslim teachers. Secondly, there were no water points despite a blazing hot afternoon sun. We had to walk to a water cooler at the other end of the field. Thirdly, how can you get Xinmin Sec boys to referee games involving Xinmin Sec, especially when their teachers are right there playing? I don't doubt their integrity, but why put them in such a difficult position in the first place? Volunteers from remaining teams could easily have been drafted in to referee the games instead of the boys being referees and timekeepers. Finally, our third-fourth placing match was sidelined by the final, so we had no ball boys, and had to keep waiting for balls to be replaced. Apparently the ball boys were too engrossed in the final. Inexcusable - if you have a job, do it.
The last point I need to mention that points to this being a last-minute job is that Seng Kang Pri's very own Staff Games Day, planned so long beforehand, had to take a backseat to this event just because it's at cluster level. If this had been planned earlier, we could have deconflicted the schedule, allowing our fitter PE colleagues to take part.
The last word goes to the football team. Many thanks and congratulations to everyone for going further than we thought we would.
Azreen & Faisal - Despite your fasting, your self-sacrifice inspired us all. Your holding the ball up allowed us to get in the game, just as your runs to the side allowed us to spread the play. And Faisal, what a cracker! =]
Kok Leong - Our captain led by example, never once letting us down. A rock at the back.
Shou Fei - Your tireless running gave us some respite from fitter teams and you never gave up.
Kalai - Cramps notwithstanding, our creative hub that allowed us to create many chances that we did not take.
Daniel - For stepping into the breach when Kalai was down. Performed admirably and threw himself in the face of danger to save us from going further behind.
Let's do this again next year!
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