MOE 7-a-side Champions!!!

Woohoo!! It's been a while since I won something for playing soccer. It's either I come in second or knocked out in the semifinals. But not this time. We were the champions today. Yup! My PESS friend, Aidil, called last night asking if I was free to play for the MOE team in the 7-a-side tournament. Game kicked off at about 9am and I was home by 1.30pm. 10 min game...round robin for the group matches. Winner of group proceed to the semis.

First game we drew 1-1. The opponent scored the equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game. Guess who I played against in the second game....Gary Ong and Philip. Yup, it was only yesterday that I said thanks to Gary for the experience at WSS. haha! We again drew 1-1. Again we took the lead and allowed them to equalise. Sometimes it's a bit difficult to be conscious that there's no offside in 7-a-side soccer. After all, I'm used to playing the offside trap when I play for Braddell Boyz in our Sunday Clementeer League games. Furthermore we didn't play a sweeper or last man role so it gets confusing at times but I think we did well.
We won 2-1 in the semifinals, against the Technical Support Officers. It was a comfortable game. In fact, we were in control for all the games.
We played against Nasir's team in the finals (Nasir is the MOE team manager). So it was a 1-2 finish for MOE. I didn't get nothing....no $$$ just a gold medal. Not bad huh? Hopefully I'll see more playing time for MOE.

Now I'm just waiting for my dear to come my house. We decided to just watch VCDs/DVDs today. After all, I'm quite tired. Might as well take a nap now. Laterz...

Cherios,
RuDy

Elvis has left the building.....

Today was the last day in WSS. I had a good experience there. Just a teeny weeny sad....oh well. We all move on. Back to NIE next Monday.....dreadful NIE. I'm so not looking forward to travelling all the way to NIE. Especially when EVERYDAY my lesson ends at 5.30pm. Horrible....I really hate late classes. I don't mind starting class early like 8.30am but ending late...that sucks.

Got a game this weekend. Hopefully the pitch will be good.

Cherios,
RuDy

One more day before back to NIE....

Mr Gobi Nair dropped by today to "observe" my lesson. It went pretty well I think. He even said that if that was a "real" practicum, he would have given me a credit. I'm kinda happy with that. What more can I ask for. Of course, there's always room for improvements.

I just got a haircut as well....it's a once a month thingy. Back to dreadful NIE on Monday. I'm so not looking forward to travelling to NIE...especially since my timetable sucks big time. Just when I'm bonding with my students....

Oh ya, met Ryan earlier on....topped up my investments. Got to plan for my future ya. Hopefully the unit trusts will pick up soon. Need to make $$$$

Time for dinner...

Cherios,
RuDy

My observation is over...3 days to go

Three more days and I'm back to NIE. The travellling's gonna kill me. Just as I am about to know the students better and communicating openly with them, it's time to go. Oh well, that has always been the case. The camp leaders (sec 3) are starting to talk to me and most of 4E are opening up. Too bad I guess.
My 2 lesson observation are done. It went well....to me at least. Positive comments and observations by Sani and Gary....but of course there's always room for improvements. After all, there's no such thing as a perfect lesson. Hopefully everything will go smoothw hen Gobi comes in on Thursday (yup, he said he's coming). I better get my paperwork done....
I guess, to some extend, I'm gonna miss teaching in Woodlands Sec. Even though I've only been there for 5 weeks. The students are....if I may say...just as nice as those in Woodlands Ring Sec. Back to TV for a bit now....laterz...

Cherios,
RuDy

What a camp...

Woah!!! What a camp. Had a 3 days 2 nights Sec 2 NYAA Camp with Woodlands Secondary School on Thurs, Fri and Sat. What a camp!! Pretty much the same as PESS residential camp. Only difference was that it's not 4D3N and there wasn't any water alement activities. theme for the camp was World Cup. I was "Team Captain" for Brazil. The camp was pretty much run by the camp leaders made up of secondary 3 students. They sure did an excellent job. I was impressed I must say. We just had to facilitate and help out in any way that we can...after all the leaders are only a year older.
First activity (for Brazil) was the "Amazing Race". We walked from Jalan Bahtera MOE campsite (Lim Chu Kang) to Kranji Battle Site Park. It sure was a llloooonnnngggg walk. Had to drop by the fishing farms and Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve. Second day was more fun (for me at least). Just helped the students with the high elements....tower and rope activities. It's funny seeing them negotiating the different stations. Good for them. Had camp fire at night and they sure were happy. Final day was just area cleaning.

Oh ya, I had a mahjong session with Agus, Rina and my gf yesterday as well. Guess what, I won about $10.90....in just 3 hours. Not bad huh? haha. Pure luck I guess. I kinda gave them back their money by paying for the food and stuff. Just for fun. Anyway, that's it for now. Some work to do. Laterz...

Cherios,
RuDy

Camp.....

I had my first formal observation yesterday. Everything went well... I think. To me it went well. Of course, there's ALWAYS room for improvement.

Camp tomorrow....the NYAA Sec 2 Adventure camp. Not really looking forward to it. I had my Residential Camp in May, reservist in June and now another camp in July....I guess that sums up why I'm not really looking forward to it.

Oh ya....we had a game last Sunday. We won 1-0....unfortunately it was only a friendly. It just seems that the team will self destruct when we play a league game but during friendlies, we'll dominate the game...no sweat. We just seem to shoot ourselves in the legs at times. Oh well, I shouldn't complain....

Regards,
RuDy

Lower sec or upper sec?

I'm confused.....I'm doing my lesson plan (badminton) for the next couple of weeks. What I'm confused about is whether to cater the lesson to lower or upper sec? I mean, there's a LOT of difference between lower and upper sec. The fact that I'm shadowing my CT, and he's teaching upper sec classes, I should logically be planning for upper sec students. Then again, my HOD feels that he might assign the lower sec classes to me for me to teach badminton. Hmmm....meaning I have to plan for BOTH lower and upper? Extra work....oh well.

Cherios,
RuDy

World Cup to Italy

Italy won the World Cup. Zidane saw RED. I suppose these would be the 2 most popular headlines in soccer news around the world. Italy won the penalty shoot-outs 5-3. And Zidane was red carded in the 110th minute. Seems like everyone's blaming France's lost to Zidane's red card. But I don't think so. After all, in the penalty shoot out Trezeguet was the one who missed. Even if Zidane was one of the penalty takers and Trezeguet had missed, it wouldn't make a difference....France would still be out. It's just sad to see Zidane lose his cool in his swansong game. Afterall, he is the best player of the past decade. He's up there alongside Maradona and Pele. He actually cried upon receiving his marching orders. Real sad....

Had my so called first English lesson with 4E today. I took them for half a class last week. Took them for a full lesson this week. They're an ok bunch....only that they're really poor in their language. The prefer to speak in their mother tongue....especially since majority are malay. I sure hope they find my lesson useful. Anyway, the reflections that I'm supposed to fill up are killing me. I'm running out of ideas.......

My ex-student, Joyce Chua Yi Jin, got into some trouble (according to her) in school last week. She was actually one of my "favorite" students in 2/7. Reason being, she's bubbly and friendly. Well, I do hope she pull up her socks and stay away from trouble. She's a bright kid.

Cherios,
RuDy

Oh ya...got my V3x

Oh ya, one more thing.....I got my V3x on Friday. M1 Sun Plaza messaged me and said they had new stocks. Finally got what I wanted....then again, regretting in slightly now. Why? Firstly, the promotion's been extended. Secondly, the Gold D&G V3i looks much better. Oh well....too late.

Cherios,
RuDy

The better team failed to qualify

Unlucky. Simply unlucky. I competed with my 3D classmates in a 5-a-side FUTSAL tournament yesterday. Our team totally dominated the 2 games we played. We had like at least 80% of ball possession and chances. We simply just could not put the ball into the net. The first game, it was a 1-1 draw. They had ONLY 1 shot on goal and the scored. I suppose it was partially my fault. Swee Yeow got the ball and the threw it to Alvin Tok, so I decided to run up (I was the defender). Next thing I know, Alvin kicked a grounder which was intercepted by their striker. With only 1 minute to go we conceeded a goal. Kit should have buried the game much earlier. We just didn't take our chances. Oh well, it was fun though. I thought Swee Yeow (goalie), Alvin (left), Soon Ann (right), Kit (centre) and me at the back had an excellent team. We worked our a$$ off harassing the opponents and never game them time.
The second game was pretty much the same. We had majority of possession but simply couldn't find the back of the net. In the end, we were eliminated. Like Portugal, we didn't have a quality striker to finish it off. To be honest, NONE of us could play strikers including me. Strikers need to have that killer instinct. Kit is more of a winger but he did extremely well with quick footwork. 2 draws and we were out. Hopefully we'll do better for ICG games. Not sure if I'm playing though. Depends on when and what time.
Oh ya, Wawan was here for a few days. met up with him on....Thursday. He's here with his parents and wife-to-be. Didn't do much....just accompanied them shopping. Actually they went shopping and we (Wawan and myself) had a catch-up session outside Ngee Ann City. We went to Far East Plaza for dinner...my recommendation of course. I'm glad they liked the Tom Yum.
Anyway, I'll be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in the tournament yesterday. After all we dominated both games and yet did not qualify for the semifnals. Oh well, sometimes the better teams just can't win. He he.

Cherios,
RuDy

Out of stock....

I'm so disappointed. Why? Literally EVERY (Parkway Parade, Bugis Junction, Paragon, West Mall, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Sun Plaza, Causeway Point and North Point) M1 Shop that I went to, had only the pink Motorola V3x left. No other colour. You don't expect me to get a pink mobile phone do you? Come on....pink are for girls. Screw with all the "Oh pink are metrosexual for men". Hell no. Looks like I'll have to scrap the idea of getting a V3x. Reason why I want to get it now it's because they're (M1) having a high end promotion. Usual price $298, but till 7th July, it's only $168. Big difference isn't it. Oh well....tough luck. Hopefully the Sun Plaza M1 shop will give me a ring BEFORE 7th July and tell me that stocks comes in somewhere along the week.
Then again, I've got my eyes on the Gold D&G Limited Edition Motorola v3i. The damage's going to be like $498 or something like that. And that's with a 2 years plan. If there's no stock after 7th July then I'll seriously consider the Gold v3i...after payday of course. We'll see how it goes. I'm in no rush of getting a phone anyway. Mine's still in good working condition.

Oh ya....first semi-final game tonight....Germany vs Italy. Not sure if I can keep my eyes open. If not, I'll just have to come home and catch the replay tomorrow.

Cherios,
RuDy

How in the world did we lose!!!!

Oh man.....lost a game yesterday....3-2. It's a game that we SHOULD NEVER have lost. Why? First and foremost,we were playing against a lousy team. I know 3 of them personally....my NIE PE classmates.....(Azuan, Sheikh and Ibrahim).
How can our team lose.....we just had an off day. The ground was hard and bumpy. Damn it. We played at Tanjong Katong School at 3pm. I'm just so disappointed. A bit "malu" also....to lose to them. If Ibrahim can play for the MOE team I don't see a reason why Neelan and myself can't play in the team as well. After all, from what I see....there's nothing that Neelan or myself can't do better than what he did. Tough luck....
It must be because of the 3 "new" players. First goal was because of him. They knew that he could not play and sent the ball over the right back. Then came Ow, flapping and totally missed the ball. Up comes the left winger and easily heads the ball. I could have had a go at clearing but it just bounced over me. Maybe I could have reacted quicker.
Second goal...better still...they had a counter attack....I was the only defender left. I closed him down and he suddenly had a go.....the ball lobbed Neelan (he was the goalie). If I had asked him to do that 10 times....all 10 wouldn't have gone in. It's just something that would happen once in a million try. Rotten luck....
Third goal.....another counter....I told Ow to cover me as I went up for a bit. And he let the striker run as they sent a through ball. Neelan came out his line and kicked the ball. By the time, I was already running back. And instead of Ow covering the other striker who had run forward to support, he followed ME! What in the world was he doing!!! Why follow me? I'm not the opponent....!!! Pissed me off.....but what can I say...oh well. Unlucky.

Just looking forward to this Saturday's MOE futsal tournament. Hopefully can win at least $100. He he....


Hmm....by the way, Wawan said he's in Singapore. He should have contacted me. Waited for him to contact me since yesterday. Still never contact me. He must be busy with business and stuff. Oh well...he'll contact me soon I'm sure.

Cherios,
RuDy