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.