What goes on in a week of Mok's life

*Screen shot of my desktop background

Huijie asked me one question yesterday that prompted me to write this post. He asked: 'Eh mok, you dont have to study one ar? How come u can organise games for the team, organise compression wear sprees and etc and still have time to meet Cat or even study?' My reply was: 'haha i dont know, i guess i just have time for the team.'

I would just like you guys to know what encompasses my weekly routine for the team.

Monday: Lias-ing with organisers the details of our game for the upcoming weekend. I have to make a decision on whether venues are decent and opponents are worth playing. Once confirmed, i will then put up a blog post citing links of directions to the venue and hopefully also of our opponents background. This will then include some words of encouragement at the end of it.

Tuesday: I will have to send out mass messages to 24 of our guys citing the details of the game. Hopefully, i get 24 replies swiftly. However, this is not always the case. I will then try my best to update team strength on the blog so as to allow the team to have an understanding as to who may be missing and who will be playing. I will also have to pay the league organisers in advance usually doing ibanking before doing the necessary accounting to ensure that the sums tally.

Wednesday: Usually a day where nothing much happens. However, i continue to have trickles of smses about player unavailability due to certain reasons and etc. There comes a time whereby I have a rough idea as to player positions that we may be lacking in for the weekend, and I will try my best to reach a compromise with the player to see if he can make it for the game after all.

Thursday: I try to make at least one additional blog post to ensure that the blog remains fresh and worthy of being read. Recently, it has included the organisation of the compression wear spree where our guys get excellent prices for their stuff. Though being the exception, I did have to do lots of co-ordinating in terms of sizes, prices, transferring of money and etc in order to eventually accomplish the orders. Done.

Friday: I will start sms-ing or calling the guys who have not confirmed their availability for the weekend to see if they would be there for the game. Each and every player will have their reasons and in order to get the necessary info, this is what i have to do. Furthermore, on friday night after my weekly dates with cat, i will sit down with the expected personnel list to plan out tactics and formations that will hopefully benefit us. I will also try my best to allocate adequate playing time for each and every player that is expected to turn up.

Saturday morning: Never has a week gone by where I have not received smses of last min pullouts. The reasons have more often than not been perfectly reasonable however this creates a problem as i have to mentally readjust plans for playing personnel and playing time. Then, i will have to do the what everyone does, which is to hope and pray that it does not rain cats and dogs.

Saturday early afternoon: Preparation for the game as i have to wrap my weak ankles to ensure that they dont give way during the game. I also have to ensure that equipment such as jerseys, shinpads, pumps, balls, captain's armband and every other thing is brought. Like everyone else, i will make my way down to the venue hopefully by the stipulated timing.

Saturday just before the game: Seeing players stream into the venue and with the sky being nice and bright, i feel a sense of anticipation for the game. Whether is it a big game or a friendly, this is what i have been looking forward to all week. Like everyone else, i prepare myself for the game and also mingle with the guys that i meet only once a week. As game time approaches, we gather and admist the joking I have to organise everyone by explaining my ideas and thoughts as to how we should play during the game. Assurances are then given to those who do not start that ample playing time is available. On weeks where playing personnel are in the excess, I will have to let everyone know that sacrifices have to be made to allow everyone to enjoy some playing time.

Game time: The game kicks off and whether I am on it or off it, I am busy organising and fully focused on whatever happens on the pitch. Just like any other manager, I am animated. Frustrated when things do not go our way and elated when we do well. In my mind, i continually try to process the ongoings of the game to ensure that we keep improving in the 2nd half. Finally, i get my chance to play and like everyone else, I can only give 100% for the cause of the team. Eventually, I rejoice when we win, feel frustrated when we draw, and sad but determined when we lose. I will then gather everyone to have a quick briefing after the game, nothing fanciful but just enough to summarise the day's events.

Saturday night: I sit down in front of my computer and process my thoughts to ensure that a decent report that is worth reading is typed out before i even bathe. I choose the man whom i believe is most worthy of the MOTM and also type out my thoughts about the game. During the time where Cat was taking most of the pictures, i will upload the pictures onto my laptop and then facebook before i assist in tagging them. I will then update the blog in terms of goalscorers, results and etc. My mind continues to reflect on the game and possible ways to improve for the rest of the night.

Sunday, aftermath of the game: Nothing much happens but most of us use the blog to review and joke about the game and stuff. I'm just like everyone else. I will scour the usual local football websites to see if excellent fields are available for usage and if so, i will email to see if the venue can be secured for us to play on for the following week. I will also try my best to gain feedback on what we can do better for future games and to also assure specific players whom i noticed feeling demoralized during the game that it is all good and there is always a next time to prove yourself. Morale is important for team spirit and throughout the time that we have been in operation, there have been many instances whereby individual morale have been waning and it is necessary that i keep these guys motivated.

Extras:

1) Lias-ing with thorb to create our 1st jersey. Collection.

2) Creating a 'business proposal' for huseyin to obtain our 1st ever sponsorship. Working hard with rudee to ensure that we both seal the deal with the boss. Frequent visits during weekdays to SUFI whereby schoolwork piles up to meet and discuss with the boss. Once the deal was closed, i had to lias with weston to create our jerseys. Team logo and sufi logo's were not done and saved on the computer by the boss, so i had to ask cat to help out to rush out the designs in order to get the jerseys done asap. Selection of jerseys. Plenty of screw ups along the way. Finally, collection.

3) Planning in advance for games and league matches so as to ensure that excitement remains around the team and that we will know who is likely to be missing in upcoming weeks.

4) Countless spreadsheets of player stats that i update every week and also of player details.

5) Seeking players who are suitable for the team in terms of playing ability, character and their will to win. Liasing with them to appear for games and also having to reject some of them when they are deemed unsuitable, quite simply... The dirty work.

My purpose of posting this is to let u guys know that behind the scenes, this is the amount of work that i willingly do for the team cause yes, i do have passion for the team quite literally flowing through my blood. I am not paid to do this and I have my own life outside of football to lead just like everyone else. School work, family life (parents) and also my beloved gf, cat. Yet i try to ensure that the team keeps rolling on and everyone is excited to play, week in and week out.

I would hope that everyone is appreciative of the effort i put in solely for the team and to not take anything around this team for granted. One day our sponsorship with huseyin will be gone and we may just very likely have to go back to paying for our own jerseys and games. Are we going to disband cause of that? For as long as I am around, that will not happen. Will we keep winning week in and week out? No. But i will ensure that no matter what happens, we will always be fighting. 7 months since the day where this team was just another plan on paper. Look how far we have come, and look how much further we can go. Would just like you guys to look or ask around to see if the blogs or websites of other teams are continually updated and refreshed to such an extent. I may not be the best writer in the world, but i know that new posts on the blog keeps you guys entertained during mundane moments of your week. And that is what i hope to continually achieve.

Each and every player just simply has to turn up for games hopefully by the arranged time, understand that sacrifices has to be made at times in order to achieve collective contentment from the entire team and hopefully enjoy themselves at our weekly rendezvous on the field. There will be misunderstandings and discontent along the way, however before you submerge yourselves in these feelings of frustrations, take a step back and think about what u have around u with this team. Brotherhood, competitiveness and an avenue to simply fulfill your weekly needs for footie all for free. I myself, am human and i have my own emotions too. I understand what each and everyone feels. My only wish as we approach our 8th month together as a team is that we do not let ourselves be derailed spirit wise and to be contented with the luxuries that we have. Cheers.