*A sumptuous goal from our main man that was worth its weight in gold
SUFI FC 1 TeamCuzz FC 3
(Juf x1)
I'm pretty sure most of us if not at least some of us are eagerly awaiting what I have to say after this result. Knee-jerk reactions are the easy way out in my opinion and after taking some time to think about it, that is not the way I will go about doing things.
The truth more often than not hurts and I will stick to my policy of not naming names. However whilst you read this, please touch your heart and admit to yourself if you happen to fall under any of these mentioned. I will reiterate this one last time to all of the SUFI boys.
Yes, we are a social football team. And granted that we would love to enjoy our football sessions to the best that we can. But the main thing is, we enter a league for the sake of being competitive. NO ONE and Im referring even to the most uncompetitive person in the world would like to have to deal with the bitter taste of defeat. From the moment we got ourselves a sponsor, I knew that it would be both good and bad. We have been experiencing the good and soon-if-we-dont-pull-our-socks-up-high-enough, the bad. Put yourselves in the position of our boss, would you like to be the boss of a failing business? OR the proud boss of a successful one.
Now comes the tough part. The players are the crown jewels of this exciting project that we have. However, the moment these players turn complacent and stop giving their full 120% at games... The awesome machine that we YSOSRS and now SUFI were and are will start failing. We have fantastic individual talents within the team peeps. But that is no excuse for you to stop giving your full concentration and effort. Relying on 2-3 individuals to light up and win games with their individual brilliance will never prove as successful a formula as 11 players giving at least 100%. Unfortunately, that is what we are having to deal with now. The awesome players from when we started out are down on confidence and belief. If your goals and assists have dried up and tricks that used to come off but are failing you now, you are the ones who fall under this category. To these guys, the team needs you to step up. Clear your mind and I need you to stop wallowing in self pity. You guys have all the ability in the world, once you stop comparing yourselves with the players of the professional scene.
Commitment. Punctuality and informing me when you are not able to attend games IN ADVANCE and taking the initiative to do so instead of me having to go after you. Peeps, Im not gonna go chasing after you like you are 10. We are young adults now. Time to wake up.
Being serious when it matters. Team talks just before the game and at half time. When i seek the attention of the masses, it means that i genuinely have something important to say. So please give me the respect, just like how i would give to you when you are speaking.
Finally, winning as a team and losing as a team. We lost as individuals today. Alaric (apologies for naming you dude), may have made the vital slip which resulted in the sucker punch of a goal. Thing is, where was the support?? Where was the communication from the rest. Where was the covering?!
We can berate each other till the cows come home and that doesn't change a shit. Like i said after the game, a simple 'MAN ON' can actually do wonders. Our opponents were not technically more gifted than us today. They were just more of a team.
I have been harping on this for a few games now. In fact, ever since the BWB game. Thing is, we all do have limits peeps. And mine is wearing thin. There is pressure coming from everyone and everywhere. To the ones who know that they have to step up and start showing that they wana play for the team, i look forward to seeing that. I have sacrificed minutes to allow others to play cause I want everyone to enjoy at the same time. Thing is, no one is enjoying at the moment. Nothing will change for now boys. But if we continue to lack fight and show disinterest, understand that it wont be long before something like that happens. Cheers and see you at the next game.
And this is what Teamcuzz said in their match report about us:
STimes - 'TeamCuzz's teamwork & persistence pays off against Arsenal-like Sufi.''
Well, we can be awesome when we choose to. Think about it.
P.S: Appreciate the support of the girls who came down today. A pity the team wasn't able to put on a performance to match your enthusiasm.
Well said, mok. It is easy to have a knee-jerk reactions and look for people to blame. Let's be honest here, we do have people with different levels of ability here. As a team of friends and brothers, I think we must try to accomodate everybody who is willing to commit for the team. But we are a sponsored team also and with that there's greater expectations to perform. So for those who have not enough playing time, please try to understand. Surely no matter who you are you will feel very sucky when you don't get to play much and I think Mok also knows that. I think he will try to put you in whenever he can for those that have been getting limited game time and had sucky performances. Of course that does not mean we should not give our 100% when we only have less than a half to play for. Try to be strong. Our mind should focus on improving our game and giving our best for the team. For example when I'm not 100% and the team is already loaded with CMs, I do not expect much playing time. Just try to show what you can do when you are on the field and show why you deserve to play. We're a team and I'm really with you guys.
ReplyDeleteGuys, as much as i would like to have just spew words outta my mouth yesterday after the game, i used the whole tail-end of saturday and sunday morning to carefully to think of something constructive.
ReplyDelete-Firstly,i think we all need to understand that YSOSRS was never a team known for individuals with brilliant skill and playing fluent effervescent football. It's not my goals, it's not hizam's excellent marshalling of the defence and not mok's wailing at the touchline. ITS JUST PLAIN EFFICIENCY. So rather than trying to emulate or be something else that we're never was, maybe its time we get to basics. Simple football, pass it around and we'll get the job done.
-Furthermore what i've noticed over the last 3 league games, (cause i was missing for most parts of the midweek games), there's a distinct lack of team spirit. Yes we may have beaten red saga, but for most parts of the 3 league games, we had our nervous moments. And that have somehow translated to what is seem by most of us as a lack of communication. Please guys, the biggest reason that drove us to reach such high levels last season was that team spirit. Find it in you, i'm sure its stuck somewhere.
-Finally guys, we need to remember that circumstances have changed. We are no longer playing in D2D and furthermore we are now being sponsored by Sufi. I think its plain for all to see that the gulf in standards between D2D and ESPZEN. I think we need to knuckled it in our head that opponents will seemingly get tougher. Just like what mok said earlier, if your old tricks are failing you maybe its time to change the approach. Get it in our head, the level of football has gone up a notch, maybe its time we increase the intensity too. How to? Go figure. You know where your weaknesses are.
As for the sponsorship, i don't know how some of you will look at it. Whether it was presented to us on a silver platter or we worked our ass of for it, it's time that we show to Huseyn that it's money well spent and not a total misadventure. We gotta throw a full 100% for each match we play. Nobody will fault us for losing when we give our all. Be early,be ready to fight and lets get our act together.If you all forget how it feels to be happy after a hard fought DEFEAT.. Just remember the game at Old Jurong Stadium against fighting cocks.
PS: Apologies to all who are reading, its not that i wanna offend anyone. I just feel that we are more than just a social team, brothers.