Chun Haw almost back to his best in 2-5 loss

 Playing its 3^rd match of 2026, ARFC lost 2-5 against HSBC on 28 Jan 2026 at 9 pm at Our Tampines Hub pitch.

 

Prior to the match, the attendance was not ideal and hence 2 guest players were activated.  A few hours before the match, some ARFC warriors announced their availability.

 

Haron and Chong Ghee (both injured) also turned up to support and collect their new jerseys.

 

The match also saw the unveiling of ARFC’s new jerseys, courtesy of the sponsorship from Mr Derrick Teh Boon Ngee, big boss of Cosy Living Pte Ltd.

 

 

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ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-5-1 line-up:

 

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
88	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right back
5	Energetic Kerwin	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh	Stopper
11	Steely Tze Ern	Left back
19	Skillful Wei Lit	Right mid
2	Remarkable Rashid	Centre Mid
23	Talented Chun Haw	Centre Mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left Mid
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Substitutes:
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
6	Unbeatable Darren
8	Versatile Allan
18	Wonder Wayne
20	Composed Eng Lai
30	Divine Delon
xx	Arumi
xx	Minghui
Missing In Action:
4	Dynamic Soon
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
14	Combative Ron
17	Nippy Kenny
21	Devastating Dominic
24	Fearless Chong Ghee
26	Rampaging Raymond
28	Hard-man Tjioe
66	Vintage Chua
77	Robust Hong Lee
79	Enigma Enoch
98	Impeccable How Meng

 

 

ARFC conceded a goal in the 13^th min after their striker broke our offside trap, though replay seemed to suggest that the opponent was offside, to steer the ball past Derrick.  0-1.

 

ARFC then equalised 13 mins later thanks to a great piece of work from Chun Haw.

 

Despite being surrounded by several players who were closing in on him, Chun Haw showed that he is close to back to his best when he eluded them, looked up and whipped in a delicious cross field ball down the right flank ala Xabi Alonso.  Delon who had came on for Wei Lit, then made a great run down the right, held off the challenge of their left-back before despatching a shot with aplomb from angle to beat their GK. 

 

1-1    and this was Delon’s 2^nd goal for ARFC.

 

The opponents then scored from a free-kick. 1-2.

 

Derrick was then cruelly hacked down by the opponent when he charged in at Derrick from a corner when Derrick had already gotten hold of the ball.

 

ARFC then equalised for the 2^nd time when Chun Haw pounced on a loose ball in their box but was upended by the opponents, giving the referee the easiest of decisions to award a penalty.   

 

Rashid stepped up to send their GK the wrong way for his 6^th ARFC goal.

 

2-2 which remained the score at half-time.

 

Somehow, ARFC lost its shape and way by allowing the opponents too much space and also did not challenge them enough.

 

The opponents then scored 3 more goals to win 5-2.

 

ARFC will regroup and go again.

 

Dominic scored on his ARFC debut in 1-4 loss

 Playing for the very first time at the United World College (Tampines) pitch on 15 Jan 2026 at 8 pm, ARFC led first but eventually fell 1-4 to CAPS FC.

 

Prior to the match, Sebastian was struck down by stomach flu but turned up to support support.

 

This match also saw the debut of Dominic who joined ARFC in a $7 million transfer from SHHK.

 

ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:

 

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
88	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
xx	Nova	Right back
98	Impeccable How Meng	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh (captain)	Stopper
8	Versatile Allan	Left back
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right mid
23	Talented Chun Haw	Centre Mid
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Centre Mid
11	Steely Tze Ern	Left Mid
5	Energetic Kerwin	Striker
21	Devastating Dominic	Striker
Substitutes:
2	Remarkable Rashid
4	Dynamic Soon
19	Skillful Wei Lit
30	Divine Delon
77	Robust Hong Lee
99	Powerful Alvin
Missing In Action:
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
6	Unbeatable Darren
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
10	Sublime Khim
14	Combative Ron
17	Nippy Kenny
18	Wonder Wayne
20	Composed Eng Lai
24	Fearless Chong Ghee
26	Rampaging Raymond
66	Vintage Chua
79	Enigma Enoch

 

 

ARFC made a bright start when Kerwin’s shot caused mayhem in the opponents’ box which saw the loose ball fell to Dominic in the box.  However, Dominic’s dream debut goal was thwarted by the GK who palmed out his shot. 

 

Kerwin then hit a venomous long shot which was spilled by their GK.  Tze Ern dashed in but could not get a clean connection and the chance was wasted.

 

ARFC was not to be denied in the 15^th min.

 

From a long free kick form his own half ball ala Virgil Van Dirk from How Meng, the ball bounced over and into their penalty box.  With their GK charging out, Dominic showed incredible awareness and speed by reaching the ball to head the ball over their GK.  1-0 and this was Dominic’s debut goal in his ARFC debut!

 

The opponents then equalised. 1-1

 

ARFC then conceded a penalty but ARFC’s serial and perennial penalty-saver Derrick once again dived low to keep out their penalty.

 

In the second half, the clear superiority of the opponents’ fitness level (majority of them are under 23) resulted in ARFC conceding 3 more goals to lose 1-4.

 

But perhaps the biggest bad news is that Dominic suffered a serious ankle injury after colliding with their GK after he was put through on goal but their GK turned his shot away.

 

Good efforts from ARFC warriors

Wayne’s 60th ARFC goal in ARFC’s 670th match

 Kicking off its playing calendar in 2026, ARFC succumbed 1-4 to a very good team Sunday FC on 9 Jan 2026 at 9 pm at Our Tampines Hub.

 

ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-5-1 line-up:

 

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
xx	Nash (guest)	Goalkeeper
66	Vintage Chua	Right back
98	Impeccable How Meng	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh	Stopper
11	Steely Tze Ern	Left back
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Centre Mid
2	Remarkable Rashid	Centre Mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left Mid
18	Wonder Wayne	Striker
Substitutes:
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
8	Versatile Allan
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
23	Talented Chun Haw
77	Robust Hong Lee
xx	John (guest)
Missing In Action:
4	Dynamic Soon
5	Energetic Kerwin
6	Unbeatable Darren
14	Combative Ron
17	Nippy Kenny
19	Skillful Wei Lit
20	Composed Eng Lai
21	Devastating Dominic
24	Fearless Chong Ghee
26	Rampaging Raymond
30	Divine Delon
79	Enigma Enoch
88	Talisman Derrick
99	Powerful Alvin

 

 

Both teams were evens-stevens for the first 15 mins though ARFC received a sucker punch when the opponents scored from a counter attack though it had a suspicious look of an offside.  0-1.

 

John then came on and almost created an impact when he found himself free on the left and squared across to Tjioe who was unmarked in the box and with just their GK to beat.  Alas, Tjioe could only produce a meekly shot straight at their GK.

 

How Meng then came up with an outrageous block to deny a certain goal from the opponents after Nash had dashed, pun not intended, out to try to block their counter-attack.

 

In the second half, ARFC made a string of substitutions and had a strong start. 

 

From a pressing by both Hong Lee and Khim inside their half, Khim sprayed a pass across goal for Haron who expertly trapped the ball.  With their GK wrong-footed, Haron could not capitalise and just placed the ball slightly wide of goal. 

 

Rashid then exchanged a quick wall-passes with Haron before clipping the ball just about 0.77 mm over the crossbar!

 

Chun Haw then hit a long-range which was just over and minutes later, How Meng’s shot from distance was also just slightly over the bar.

 

Wayne then found himself free in the box after some neat passes from ARFC but his hesitation let him down and the ball was thumped clear by the opponents.

 

ARFC defenders then blocked a few shots but Nash topped it all when he came up with 2 world-class saves in quick succession by getting up fast to block a follow-up shot.

 

ARFC was made to pay for its profligacy when it conceded 3 more goals due to tiring legs to trail 0-4.

 

However, ARFC did not let its heads dropped and clawed a goal back with 3 mins to go.  From the left, John whipped a cross-field ball to Chun Haw who had dashed in from the right wing. Bringing the ball down with an elegant touch, Chun Haw lifted the ball over their on-rushing GK but it struck the left post.  Thankfully, Wayne was on hand to tuck home the rebound.

 

1-4 and this was Wayne’s 60^th ARFC goal.

 

Despite the scoreline, ARFC played well and it was no shame to lose to a strong Sunday FC team.  Good efforts from all ARFC warriors.