Countdown 7 days.

well said by harold...actually its a rather prevalent problem since last year, starting off slowly/poorly and getting better as the match progresses... other than getting into the right psyche and mindset, individually and as a team... think doing quick passing and maybe small possession game to get the engines rolling, we started doing this last year before friendlies...this gotta consult coach...

other than that... wanna say yes, its only 7 days away from our first Sunig match, for those who hasn't realized.. there's only this much that coach, dr swarup, and the team can do for you... the rest is up to the individual to prepare, both physically and psychologically... diyar went for a light jog alone at midnight before our last friendly... some others went for gym sessions alone to keep themselves toned... so please this is the last burst, watch your own diet, do 1000 crunches every night to get rid of that tummy, or whatever is necessary so when you're summoned on the field... you don't let yourself and the team down.

see you at training guys!

post-match ramble...

guys pardon me as i rant n nag like an old man (which of coz i m not....err ya...)

tink just now even if we had scored a winning goal, many of us would still b xian after that lousy performance

tink there are alot of reasons y we played badly today. some are legitimate eg long day at sch...but many others are not...tink coach and the capts have/will highlight the other stuff and individually we will reflect on our own mistakes too, but i feel theres one issue we should bring up......

...namely, the way we prepared for the match...now we all noe a good warm-up is essential to being ready for a match...this is something we definitely can control, so we shld always be serious and do a gd warm-up rite?but today so many of us were the opposite and im sure it contributed to our poor start. maybe coach not being there was a factor but lets be fair, he has to rush fr work...n we are not some small kids that need to be reminded about things all the time. we must be responsible for this sorta thing...not say cannot talk cock or joke during the warm-up but the general mood, body language, demeanour today really can be improved la...

now honestly, im not worried at all about the long term effects of today, 1 bad performance does not negate the good stuff we have done in recent matches and trainings, so we should keep our heads up. in fact sometimes a poor performance spurs a team to even greater heights. but let's really make a point to not have another match that is, like coach said, totally wasted...

cant wait for the nex match we play where im sure we will all show that today was nothing more than a unfortunate footnote in our journey to success in sunig =)

Post match for match vs Singapore U-17

Fellas, after the post match lecture from the coach, the team morale could be at its lowest since we started training together. Let's not hide the fact that we played poorly, and did not look quite like a team preparing for a tournament.

However, there were flashes of good play, and the important thing is that we know we can do better than this. This loss could end up being a good thing, depending on how we react to it. We have another week and half to get things right so keep your chin up and keep working hard. If we work hard enough and stay focused we'll be fine. Heads up!

Latest Updates - Friendly against U17 at 5pm Friday

Guys, please take note that there will be a friendly this FRIDAY at 5pm at NTU. Bring both a RED and BLUE top. Those who are not available for the game please notify via sms or make a tag on the blog ASAP so that we know how many players can make it. The following have been selected for the friendly:

Kelvin (GK)
Jespal(GK)
Feroz
Einar
Kee Siang
Weihao
Aaron
Jin
WeiZhi
Nadeem
Mats
Shahril
Alvin
Leslie
Jufri
Peng
Fuhang
Zul
Khai
Boon
Winston
Harold
Yusof
KT
Gary
Kester
Diyar

Bad news...

Both mon 25th and wed 27th matches are off so it'll be training as usual, 7pm SRC.

Friendly match against SIM

The following players have been called up:
Kelvin
Tianci
Jespal
Aaron
Weihao
Feroz
Jin
Alvin
Shahril
Leslie
Weizhi
Ki Siang
Fu Hang
Juffri
Zul
Harold
Boon
Peng
Khai
Kok Siong
Kester
Diyar
Winston
Kian Tiong
Raj

Venue: NTU SRC
Time: Meet at 630, kickoff 715
Attire: Wear RED shirt

Upcoming matches

Some stuff to really look forward to:

20th August - vs SIM @ NTU, 1915 kickoff

27th August - vs National U17 @ ITE Simei

All the more reason for us to train hard!

Well done fellas!

NTU 3 - 2 NUS, goals from Kester, Khai and Diyar

Though it wasn't quite a proper match, with 3 thirds, new players and what not, it was still a very good result. We've had a poor record against NUS recently but this hopefully is the turning point for us. We're 3 weeks from SUNIG so keep up the good work fellas!

Match against NUS on 15th August

Squad list as follows:
Tian Ci
Kelvin
Weihao
Aaron
Feroz
Shahril
Alvin
Leslie
Nadeem
Jin
Weizhi
Einar
Fuhang
Juffri
Zul
Ian
Boon
Peng
Harold
Khai
Winston
Kian Tiong
Gary
Diyar
Kester

The match will be after the trials. If possible, some can come early to help out with the trials as well at 6pm.

Match details as follows:
Meeting time: 645, SRC
Kickoff: 730
Attire: Red shirt

Programme for next week(11th August onwards), trial dates and other stuff

1. Trainings on monday 11th August (wear blue), wednesday 13th August (wear red). 7pm SRC. BRING SHOES.

2. Tentatively: Match on friday 15th August, after trials. More details to be confirmed.

3. TRIAL DATES: Friday 15th August and Monday 18th August 6pm. Spread the word.

4. We'll have a booth for NTU Men's football. We'll need people to man the booth between 12th to 14th/8. Please help out, let us know at the tagboard.

5. We need people to put up posters at the hall. We'll need posters at halls 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. If you stay in the vicinity please help out. Get the posters from me on monday.

Be prepared to die on the pitch!!!

Match is off...

Unfortunately the match against NUS is off. But please keep NEXT FRIDAY 15th August free, there might be a match.

Programme for the rest of this week 5th August

1. Training on wednesday, 7pm SRC, wear red.

2. Match on friday 8th August has been cancelled. There will NOT be training in place of it.

3. There might be a match against NUS on thursday 7th August.

News 03/08/08, including SUNIG dates

1. Please keep friday 8th August free for friendly

2. Shoes are now a must for all trainings

3. Here it is, mark these dates:

Singapore Uni Games 08:
Date Fixture Venue

8/9 (Mon)	NTU	vs	SIM	NTU
9/9 (Tues)	NUS	vs	SMU	NUS

17/9 (Wed)	NTU	vs	SMU	NTU
18/9 (Thurs)	SIM	vs	NUS	NUS
24/9 (Wed)	SMU	vs	SIM	NTU
25/9 (Thurs)	NUS	vs	NTU	NTU

Its fast approaching so keep up the hard work fellas. Whatever it takes to defend our title...

first friendly game

Score: SMU 1 NTU 4

A new beginning, a new start for a fresh and enthusiastic squad of players ready to take up the challenge of achieving honours for NTU. 1 Aug 2008 is a milestone as it is our first official friendly game after that horrendous 2-2 preseason friendly match with the combined university team where highly rated young goalkeeper Hu Tianci made 2 grave howlers which allowed the combined university team to draw against NTU.

Nonetheless, the NTU players limbered up on a slightly hard but generally playable surface at the Kallang practice track, which is where SMU hold its training sessions. The 2 months of hardwork put in by the NTU players under the watchful eyes of coach Wee Kiat and fitness and conditioning coach Dr 'Fitnesspus' Swarup, whose regimes have shown tremendous improvements in the fitness levels of players who were previously fat and slow like Winston, were evident right from the word go as SMU was pressed mainly in its own half and NTU stroking the ball around confidently.

The goal was to come sooner or later. Our specialist long thrower Aaron threw 1 of his accurate laser throws straight into the penalty box and Kester, showing off all his predatory instincts, flicked the ball up and volleyed it into the far corner of the net which gave the SMU keeper absolutely no chance at all. 1-0 NTU!

NTU continued to piled on the pressure while SMU was reduced to moves which barely resulted in any penetrative move. The NTU defence look assured all night long, with centre back Aaron and the ever-strong Weihao repeling everything thrown at them, be it on ground or aerial. Left back and captain Jin also gave a capable performance as he more or less snuffed out the threat form the right. Goalkeeper Tianci also seems relaxed right at this point, feeling confident that nothing can beat him on this night. End of first period, NTU 1 SMU 0

The 2nd period began with SMU making more purposeful attacks. And in this 1 instance, NTU was beaten. A laser-glided through ball released SMU's Indian right winger, Raj(the guy with the turban unsure of his name), down the right and he sent in a wonderfully flighted ball with speed right onto the head of Pramod , who headed the ball in and wheeled away in celebration of scoring against this highly rated defence. On hindsight, perhaps keeper and defender Weihao could have done more to prevent this goal, but nonetheless, kudos to the SMU lads for putting up such a good move. And so, it was tied at 1-1.

However, SMU's happiness was not to last for long. Al Jufri, who was putting in a mesmerising display in midfield, delivered a killer cross right into the SMU penalty area which caused panic among the defence and 1 of the defenders inevitably headed the ball past his own goalkeeper, who got a slight touch to it. And with this, NTU regained the lead.

NTU pulled further away from SMU when an absolutely wonderful team move involving Diyar, who later earned praises from coach Wee Kiat, the bulky, unfit but still effective Gary and Alvin 'who goes past me i will chop you down' Yeo combined to put in a wonderful through ball to Khai, and without disappointing his many fans, fired in a stupendous shot which the keeper can only parry into the path of Harold, who shows that while he may be old and slower, experience counts as he is in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball in. GOAL!
At the end of the 2nd period, it was NTU 3 SMU 1.

In the 3rd period, NTU continued its good work and the 4th goal was to come in no time. Harold, again showing flashes of play that defies his age, produced good work down the left flank and sent in a dangerous cross which the SMU keeper did not deal with properly and can only deflect the ball into the path of NTU's big dick striker Winston which improvised with an audacious backheel to seal the final nail on SMU's coffin. And that it is,

Final score: NTU 4 SMU 1

NTU team: Tianci, Aaron, Weihao, Jin, Nadeem, Alvin, Jufri, Weixiang, Feroz, Kheng Tiong, Yussof, Gary, Jerrard, Harold, Khai, Winston, Diyar, Kester.

p.S there was a moment in the 3rd period when young shot stopper Hu Tianci prevented Alvin's wayward back header from going out. He showed great speed, awareness and not forgetting effort in trying to keep the ball from going out for a goal kick. However, knowing that the bench is fast falling asleep, he decided to dive for the ball before rolling on his back out for a corner, producing some much needed entertainment for the spectators and substitutes.