Announcement: Redbacks Field Trip!

When?
Saturday, 5th April 2008

Where?
Kluang Stadium, Kick off 8pm. Night game!

Are we staying overnight?
Details to be confirmed. Kluang is about an hour away from Singapore. But there are plans to stay at a local resort as part of team bonding. Standby for more updates.

Transportation?
I am currently trying to source for a company to provide a charter bus for the team. We must pay for it of course. If anyone has any contacts that we can explore, please get in touch with me. If not, we’ll do a convoy yet again.

What do I need to bring?
A valid passport, preferable yours. A camera to capture all the moments from the trip. It would be nice to have other photos than the ones I usually take. Most importantly, leave your troubles at home and get ready for tons of fun! Make sure to keep that day free. You wouldn’t want to miss it!

Narrow Defeat for the Spiders

UWC Staff: 2
Redbacks: 1

Venue: United World College S.E.A.

Scorer: Mok

The Redbacks were edged out in this early encounter. In UWC, we faced a formidable opponent. One better than the teams that we have faced previously. We were tested from kick-off as our hosts showed their comfort playing on their home ground, utilizing the size of the pitch to great advantage. We have Sharizan to thank for keeping the score respectable. He parried most of what UWC could throw at him and thus kept us in the hunt.

Up front, we tried to make the most of the chances that we carved out. Faiz was particularly impressive as his pace troubled UWC’s defense. He had a chance to give the Spiders a lead when UWC failed to clear Sharizan’s long punt. He swung at the ball but failed to make a clean connection scuffed his shot. Kai then tried his luck after being teed up by Faiz. He failed to find the target, missing the left-hand post by inches. It remained goalless when the first half ended.

Things got really exciting in the second as both teams tried to gain control of the game. UWC threatened more and scored the opener. Bob was judged to have handled the ball and the ensuing penalty was tucked away. Almost immediately, we equalized. Ayyub lifted the ball over UWC’s defense. Mok did brilliantly well to bring the ball down and poked the ball past the goalkeeper. We were alive once again. UWC sealed the game when they took advantage of a misplaced header by Irwan. The striker kept his cool and finished at close range despite close attention by Abang Sani.

Although we lost the game, there is much to take away from this game. We are beginning to see better understanding and awareness of the formation. Regardless of how the game was going, we kept our heads up and continued attacking until the last kick of the game. Hopefully we will be able to end our AFL campaign on a high next weekend. It will be our last appearance in the amateur league before turning our focus back into raising our game as a team.

Let’s leave a mark guys!

Core Values Contest!

If you look at the banner of our beloved website, I have put in some words to form the core values of Redbacks Football Club. Why? Because I was bored and I don’t think putting us as the “premier social football club” of Singapore is quite right.

I invite everyone to contribute your ideas. The core values should be formed from the acronym of S.P.I.D.E.R.S. Comment and put in your suggestions and the reasons why your idea should be our official core values.

Also, looking for a TEAM VISION and MISSION STATEMENT. I’m in the midst of adding new sections to our growing website so that everyone will have something to look forward to whenever they click back. You guys are the main reason this website has been so successful. Less than a year since it’s launch and already more than 6000 hits! Thank you for your support.

GO REDBACKS!

Another Six!

Redbacks: 6
White Waga: 3

Venue: Ahmad Ibrahim Sec Sch

Scorers: Kai (2), Raizal, Sani, Jaz (2)

The Spiders have been in rich scoring form lately. We have scored 20 goals in our last 3 games. Azhar sprang a surprise by opting for a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation in the first half. Kai received a bigger surprise when he was entrusted with the task of playing as a lone striker.

He repaid his captain’s faith when he scored the opening goal of the game. Ajis floated in a cross from the right side and Kai brought it down before rifling a shot into the bottom corner of the goal. From that moment on, the Redbacks burst into life. Raizal pounced on a loose ball in the penalty box to score the second goal. Then, Jaz swung in a corner and Abang Sani ghosted past his markers to power a header past the goalkeeper. We did not stop there. A stinging shot by Mok was parried away from the goalkeeper but Kai reacted quickest to lift the ball into the goalpost for his second of the game.

In the second half, we reverted to our 3-2-3-2 formation. Surprisingly, we were not be able to make much headway in the second half as Waga began to get back into the game. They pulled one back before winning a penalty soon afterwards. Fauzi did well to save the initial shot but some loose marking allow our opponents to score from the ensuing chaos. With the fear of losing our grip on the game looming large, Jaz was sent back into the fray. The midfielder did not disappoint, scoring two breakaway goals to provide a comfortable cushion for the team.  Waga scored another goal late into the game, but by then, it was too little too late.

Captain Azhar was dumbfounded at the developments of the match. We managed to score 4 goals with a supposedly defensive formation but failed to threaten our opponents with a more attacking one. Then again, we are a team who never fails to surprise, or perplex for that matter.

The victory might have come at a price. Although the game marked encouraging performances by 4 players returning from serious knee injuries (Jaz, Azam, Nordin and Kai), another player succumbed to the curse. Ayyub hurt his knee early in the game and we hope that it is not a serious one. Looking forward to see our midfield spark plug back in the fold next weekend.

An exclusive interview!

 Jaz shares with us his thoughts, opinions and aspirations.

Spiders Hit Six!

Redbacks: 6
Umbro Lite: 3

Venue: Xinmin Secondary

Scorers: Jaz (2), Azhar, Aki (2), Kai

For once, an excellent pitch welcomed the Spiders to Hougang. The game will probably be remembered as the match where two of our players broke their goal droughts. Jaz and Aki came roaring back to form, scoring two goals a piece.

However, the standout performer had to be Faizal, who had a blinder of a game in midfield. His brave challenges, enthusiastic running and enterprising passes formed the bedrock for the other players to perform. He continues to settle well into the new formation and we expect his influence to grow throughout the year.

Another player who deserves praise is Fauzi. Much lampooned as a goalkeeper, he showed great desire and aggression in the left back position. Perhaps we have found an able deputy for Ahmad. He was full of running during the entire game and his willingness to learn was an example for everyone to follow.

Aki showed good predatory instinct in both of his goals. He was missing chance after chance before that but he never allowed the misses to get to him. Instead, it served as added motivation for him to keep plugging away to find the back of the net. He showed that determination always pays off. His lay-off to Jaz for the last goal demonstrated great vision. We hope he builds on this performance.

Jaz continued his path to recovery with two well-taken goals. Both goals came from fierce drives from outside the penalty area. Undeterred by his standing in the assist charts, he provided the pass for Azhar to score. He obviously thrives in the middle as the creative midfielder in the team. It was vintage Jaz. At his best.

Kai continued to show everyone that he is still the main threat in the air. He served caution to the opponents when he headed slightly wide in the first half. It was not heeded and he rose to power home another header from another corner by Mok. The header was deemed to have crossed the goal line off the underside of the crossbar. It is the midfielder’s second goal in the last two games.

Azhar led by example, constantly barking out instructions to everybody. He was aggressive in his challenges and did not allow the defenders to settle. He combined with Jaz with great effect, spraying passes and allowing others to get into goalscoring positions.

Abang Sani put in another brave performance. He was magnificient at the back and continues dominating his opponents. Mok enhanced his reputation as a goal provider with yet another assist. That left foot is getting more devastating as time goes on. Raizal embraced his unfamiliar position with aplomb, making uncharacteristic surges down the right side. Sharizan was solid in between the sticks as always.

Everyone played a vital part in this victory. However, we are still far from the finished product. There are still a few chinks that need to be fixed and creases to be ironed out. Not to mention that we need to be more clinical in our finishing. Our opponents showed how it’s done, scoring with minimal fuss with the little chances that came their way.

Still, a win is a win. Have a great week ahead everyone.