Lunar New Year Greetings

On behalf of ARFC, I would like to wish all ARFC warriors:

A health that is as stealth as a horse;
A career (wealth) that can gallop as far and fast ahead as a horse;
A cock that is as long as a horse....

Huat ah!!!

ARFC scores first victory in 2014

Playing a morning match since years ago, ARFC did not allow the morning heat to affect its dominating 3-0 victory over Marine Devils FC. The win was also ARFC’s first in 2014 after 3 matches.

ARFC welcomed back Guoxiong who made his return after many months of refereeing. Ex-ARFC warrior Eng Lai, the oldest player to play for ARFC, also responded to ARFC’s SOS call and made his appearance.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Impeccable How Meng

Right-back - Marauding Guoxiong  

Sweeper - Towering Toh (captain)

Stopper - Dependable Jinzhong

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon   

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian  

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick  

Striker - Powerful Alvin (captain)

Striker - Nippy Kenny

Subs:

Wonder Wayne (late)

Skillful Weilit

Unpredictable Blackburn (only came about 10 mins after second half due to family)

Eng Lai

Absent:

Combative Ron

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Steely Tze Ern  

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Precocious Chun Haw

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Jiawei

ARFC started strongly with Alvin and Kenny particularly menacing.  Guoxiong also showed what ARFC has been missing in right-back position with his marauding runs and tenacity defending.

ARFC took the lead in the 7^th min. A long punt upfield was flicked on by Derrick and then Kenny. The loose ball looked to be picked up by their keeper but he hesitated after seeing Alvin charging in, probably intimidated by Alvin’s bulging muscles. Alvin needed no second invitation and he simply prodded the ball home for his 222^nd ARFC goal. 1-0

How Meng then preserved ARFC’s lead when he produced a superb save.

Derrick then earned a penalty after he was clumsily brought down. Hee stepped up but could only produced a weak low ball down the centre which was easily saved by their keeper. With the miss, Hee will “Miss A Turn” in penalty-duty.

Suddenly, Alvin remembered his “super kt BJ session” that caused his heart to palpate at 7777 heartbeats per min. As such, he was taken off as precautionary measure.

In the 2^nd half, Toh was twice denied by Alvin in the space of seconds.

First, from Sebastian’s corner on the right, Toh looked to be in a better position to meet the ball but Alvin leaped in front of him to send the header wide.

77 seconds later, from a Sebastian’s cross from the right, Toh looked poised to head home until Alvin intervened and repeated the same move by jumping in front of Toh and headed wide.

How Meng again came to ARFC’s rescue when he reacted brilliantly to palm a stinging long-range powerful shot over the bar. World-class.

Eng Lai then turned back the clock when he released Weilit down the right flank with a dinking ball. Weilit powered down the right channel and sensing that their keeper would expect a cross, Weilit let fly a stiff grounder from an almost acute angle to beat their keeper, much to the surprise of all and sundry . 2-0 and this was Weilit’s 5^th ARFC goal.

However, ARFC’s joy turned to agony when Eng Lai twisted his knee in the assist.

How Meng then kept the 2-goal margin when he kept out a certain goal by making a flying low save. Simply fantastic!

From a free-kick in the middle, Kenny stood over the ball and curled in a left-foot beauty that bent round the wall but was just 0.77 mm off the stanchion! Super unlucky but what a technique.

Kenny was not to be denied moments later. Alvin and Derrick combined to set Kenny up. Kenny fooled their defender with a fake left-foot shot, and with the ball on his right foot, Kenny simply whacked the ball inside the near post of the goal for his 31^st ARFC goal. 3-0

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to How Meng and Jinzhong.

RED Hot Chilli Peppers demolished BLACK Eyed Peas 5-1 in Reunion Match

On 19 Jan 2014 at 7 pm at Tampines SAFRA, ARFC played its 2^nd Reunion match where a total of 34 former and current warriors turned out. The match was also attended by so many WAGs and children.

Prior to the match, a draw was conducted between Sebastian and Haron (standing in for Blackburn who was unusually late). The teams are:

RED Hot Chilli Peppers:

Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)

Impeccable How Meng

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Towering Toh

Dependable Jinzhong

Nippy Kenny

Dynamic Soon 

Steely Tze Ern  

Speedy Hee

Precocious Chun Haw

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Hard-man Tjioe

Robin

Norman

Guigui

Hock

BLACK Eyed Peas

Influential Sebastian (captain)

Unbeatable Darren

Combative Ron  

Powerful Alvin

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Wonder Wayne   

Skillful Weilit

Talisman Derrick

Marauding Guoxiong  

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Huiming

David

Eng Lai

Kiat

Hwee

Qingxing

The match started with at a frantic pace as both teams were really eager to show who’s the boss.

BLACK Eyed Peas fired the first salvo when Alvin robbed hesitant Toh just outside the box. Alvin sped inwards but just drilled his low shot slightly wide.

RED Hot Chilli Peppers then returned fire when Guigui threatened down the left but could not find the target.

RED Hot Chilli Peppers then took the lead through rather fortuitous manner. Blackburn’s free-kick from the right was hit right into the heart of BLACK Eyed Peas defence. Goalkeeper Derrick charged out but missed the ball. The ball then hit the shin of Guoxiong, who was tracking back, and rolled nicely into the empty net. 1-0 to RED Hot Chilli Peppers.

Despite the own-goal, Guoxiong’s 2 beaus, Tracie and Clara, still showed their undying support by shouting “We Still Love You, Dear!!”

Disaster then hit BLACK Eyed Peas 7 mins later. A long punt down the field seemed harmless and innocuous enough. Ron heard a shout from Derrick for the ball and let the ball bounced to him. Within a flash, Kenny came from nowhere to just slightly nick the ball away from Derrick and virtually walked the ball into the empty net. 2-0 to RED Hot Chilli Peppers.

After scoring the goal, Kenny ran towards his girlfriend Joy and expressed his joy to her.  

First-half 2-0 to RED Hot Chilli Peppers.

During the interval break, balloons were given out to all children. ARFC Annual Award prizes were also given to the following:

ARFC’s Player of the Year (Manager’s Choice)                         -           Darren

ARFC’s Most Improved Player (Manager’s Choice)                  -           Derrick

ARFC’s Best Supporter of the Year (Manager’s Choice)          -           Melissa

ARFC’s Player of the Year 1^st (Players’ Choice)                                    -           Soon

ARFC’s Player of the Year joint-2^nd (Players’ Choice)             -           Darren

ARFC’s Player of the Year joint-2^nd (Players’ Choice)             -           Alvin

ARFC’s Player of the Year 4^th (Players’ Choice)                        -           Ron

ARFC’s Player of the Year 5^th (Players’ Choice)                        -           Chun Haw

200 goals                                                                                           -           Haron

200 goals                                                                                           -           Alvin

50 goals                                                                                             -           Soon

BLACK Eyed Peas was determined to set things right in the 2^nd half. Within 7 minas from the re-start, BLACK Eyed Peas earned a reprieve when Derrick tricked Tze Ern into committing a tackle in the box. With a sharp turn inwards, Tze Ern missed his tackle and touched Derrick who immediately went down like he was shot with a shot-gun. The eagle-eyed referee blew for a penalty without hesitation.

Haron stepped up and his rising spot-kick was touched by How Meng but he could not prevent the ball from hitting the net. 2-1 now.

Su, Afiqa and Ariq were so happy that they performed their own Mexican Wave 77 times.

As time goes by, it was clear that RED Hot Chilli Peppers’ superior fitness would prevail.

Indeed, Hock showed all why he was so well-regarded when, standing on the left side, he chipped an audacious diagonal to the far corner of Boon’s goal. The ball sailed over everyone, hit the stanchion, and landed nicely into goal. The ball was so precise that not even Peter Schmeichel, Pepe Reina, David Lee or How Meng could have saved it. 3-1 to RED Hot Chilli Peppers now.

Weilit then came close for BLACK Eyed Peas but his shot was saved by the impressive How Meng.

How Meng then topped his Weilit save mins later. Derrick and Alvin combined to set Sebastian free inside the box. Spotting a gape, Sebastian tried to squeeze the ball in but How Meng showed cat-like reflexes to go down quickly and parried the shot for a corner. World Class save but Sebastian should have done better.

RED Hot Chilli Peppers then put the result to bed from a quick counter-attack. Blackburn released the ball down the centre and Robin ran in from deep. With just Boon to beat, Robin sliced a grounder which saw the ball happily rolling into the empty net. 4-1 to RED Hot Chilli Peppers.

Toh then put the icing on the cake 7 mins later. From Blackburn’s corner on the left, Toh charged in like a Russian tank and completely bullied Huiming who was powerless to prevent Toh from thumping in a bullet header. 5-1 to RED Hot Chilli Peppers.

Toh then ran to the sidelines and hoisted his whole family, Linda, Gerrard, Jerald and Nicole, on his shoulders and head.  

  

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Blackburn and How Meng from RED Hot Chilli Peppers.  

Very Important - 2nd ARFC Reunion Match Details

 Dear all past and current ARFC warriors,

The 2nd ARFC Reunion Match will take place as follows:

19 January 2014 (SUN)
7 pm = 1900 hrs
Tampines SAFRA (artificial pitch)

Please be there latest by 6 pm (1800 hrs)...

The total expected cost for the event is about $1,000.  Any kind soul(s) can sponsor in full or partially?  ;)


The programme:

1800 hrs - Arrival of all ARFC players and their love ones
1805 hrs - Giving out of 'ang bao' and cartoon character balloon
1810 hrs - Award presentation to all winners (you already know who you are!)
1820 hrs - Picking of players for 2 teams by Sebastian and Blackburn, respective team captain
1830 hrs - Warm-up and tac-tics
1900 hrs - Match commences

Please bring along:

1. One Red top
2. One Black top
3. Shorts/socks colour up to you
4. Your family and love ones

Please quickly let me know by Monday (13 Jan):

1. If you are playing
2. If you are bringing your love one
3. Your choice of preferred cartoon character balloon (need time to place order to the balloon sculpturist)

See you!

ARFC in miraculous 5-5 fight-back draw

Playing its 2^nd match in 2014, ARFC showed remarkable fighting spirit to snatch a 5-5 draw with Brazilian Boyz after trailing 0-4 in the opening 20 mins. ARFC had defeated the same team 2-1 on 15 Sep 2013.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Talisman Derrick

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon   

Centre-mid - Combative Ron

Right-mid - Nippy Kenny

Striker - Powerful Alvin (captain)

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Subs:

Unpredictable Blackburn (late)

Ismail

Absent:

Wonder Wayne

Influential Sebastian

Impeccable How Meng

Steely Tze Ern  

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Marauding Guoxiong  

Skillful Weilit

Precocious Chun Haw

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Jiawei

ARFC fans were left trembling in fear after ARFC had gone behind 0-4 within 20 mins. A disastrous outing looked to be unfolding….

To its credit, ARFC did not lose heart at all and everybody suddenly decided to wake up their ideas.

ARFC began its recovery in the 27^th min. From Alvin’s corner, Derrick charged in and nodded home his 73^rd ARFC goal. 1-4

Within 77 seconds, ARFC pulled another goal back from yet another corner from Alvin.  Derrick again connected but his header was blocked on the line. Toh continued his discovery of goal-scoring touch by sweeping the ball home for his 69^th ARFC goal. 2-4

In the 37^th min, Kenny pulled ARFC closer with a sumptuous left-foot free-kick for his 29^th ARFC goal. 3-4

The opponents then scored another goal to lead 5-3 at half-time.

In the 57^th min, Darren justified the faith shown by all ARFC warriors in voting him as the 2^nd best Player of the Year with yet another of his scud-missile like throw-in. The ball was flicked on by Hee and Soon nipped in to head home his 53^rd ARFC goal. 4-5.

In the 67^th min, ARFC finally equalized. In a scarily resemblance of his earlier goal, Kenny propelled another free-kick to almost burst the net for his 30^th ARFC goal. 5-5

In fact, ARFC could have completed a epic and miraculous victory in the dying minutes.  Kenny was put clean through by Alvin for an one-on-one situation but their keeper denied Kenny’ hat-trick with an amazing save. Unlucky Kenny.

Masters Toh grabs masterly brace in 2-2 draw

Kicking off 2014, ARFC was hit by the unavailability of almost the full team and had to settle to a 2-2 draw with MPR, a team that ARFC defeated 5-2 just on 17 Nov 2013.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Dependable Jinzhong

Right-back - Unpredictable Blackburn

Sweeper - Combative Ron

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Wonder Wayne   

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon   

Centre-mid - Edwin (guest player)

Right-mid - Speedy Hee

Striker - Powerful Alvin (captain)

Striker - Nippy Kenny

Subs:

Alan (guest player)

Absent:

Influential Sebastian

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Impeccable How Meng

Steely Tze Ern  

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Talisman Derrick

Marauding Guoxiong  

Skillful Weilit

Precocious Chun Haw

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Jiawei

In the first 17 mins, ARFC’s midfielders and strikers pressed and charged at the opponents so intensely that they could not even get out of their own half.

7 mins later, ARFC was finally rewarded for its hardwork. From a corner on the left, Wayne floated in high hanging ball that was primed for the taking. Toh leaped and was subjected to a strong challenge from their tough defender. However, Toh did not acquire his moniker ‘Towering Toh’ for nothing and he once again demonstrated why he was ARFC’s top scoring defender when he powered the ball home with his iron-forehead to the top left-hand corner. 1-0 and this was Toh’s 67^th ARFC goal.

7 mins later, Kenny played a quick one-two with Hee on the right. Both speed was so fast that the opponents did not see their legs at all, similar to “no-shadow leg”. Kenny received Hee’s return ball, fooled their covering defender with a cut-back and fired in a ferocious left-foot shot. Their keeper was totally glued to the ground but the ball struck the post. Unlucky!

Despite not playing goal-keeper in recent matches, Jinzhong also showed that he is not rusty at all when he produced several world-class save, in particular a full-body diving save to keep out their shot.

In the 37^th min, the opponents equalized with a Ronald Koeman-like long-range shot that not even the great Bruce Grobblearr, Ray Clemence or Peter Shilton could save. 1-1

In the 57^th min, Alan punted a diagonal high ball up-field and Alvin flicked the ball goal-wards. Kenny timed his run to perfection but could not score after strong pressure by their defenders.

7 mins later came potentially the goal of the season. From yet another Wayne’s floating corner, Toh betrayed his defender status when he came in from deep and thundered in a left-foot volley ala Robbie Fowler which saw the ball flew into the top left-hand corner. The goal was also supreme that everybody, including the opponents, all stood up and performed 7 rounds of Mexican waves together. 2-1 and this was Toh’s 68^th ARFC goal.

Toh’s brace also equaled his total goals for the entire 2013, surely a sign of good things to come from him.

7 mins later, Alan floated in a diagonal high ball over their defender and Alvin instinctively lifted the ball over their keeper but the ball was just wide.

7 mins later came potentially the miss of the season. After intercepting a half-cleared ball, Blackburn brought the ball all the way into the penalty box near the penalty spot area. With their keeper and all defenders out of position, Blackburn chose to whip the ball in with all his available muscles and power and to everybody’s amazement, the ball missed the gaping goal altogether!!

All ARFC warriors were so shocked at the miss that no one could utter a word and merely mutter “ccb” under their breath.

In fact, all ARFC warriors were still in the state of shock and conceded a goal soon.  2-2

In fact, ARFC could have even lost the match if not for a stupendous save from Jinzhong. With 77 seconds to go, the opponent spotted Jinzhong a bit off-position and lobbed him from almost the half-way line. The ball looked to loop over Jinzhong but he had other ideas when he back-pedalled, stretched and punched the ball out. World-class save which is similar to Gordon Bank’s save from Pele’s header in World Cup 1970.

New Year Greetings

On behalf of ARFC, I would like to wish all past and current ARFC warrior and their love ones a:

Healthy & Wealthy 2014 !!


Sebastian

ARFC's stats and scorers for 2013

ARFC's stats in 2013:

Played - 42
Win - 29
Draw - 5
Loss - 8
GF - 152
GA - 84

These are the scorers for 2013:

Alvin - 34
Haron - 17
Kenny - 17
Derrick - 14
Blackburn - 13
Chun Haw - 13
Hee - 8
Soon - 7
Sebastian - 6
Ron - 3
Own goals - 3
Guoxiong - 2
Toh - 2
Wayne - 2
Weilit - 2
How Meng - 2
Earl - 2
Khim - 1
Tjioe - 1
Tze Ern - 1
Jiawei - 1
Di - 1

ARFC rounds off 2013 with comprehensive victory

Playing its last match in 2013, ARFC demolished its opponents 5-2 at Tampines SAFRA pitch.

The match was witnessed by:

Boon

Guoxiong and his lovely girls - Tracie and Clara

Jasper and his lovely girl - YY

Jackson

Melissa – Hee’s lovely girl

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Impeccable How Meng

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Combative Ron  

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian

Right-mid - Dick (guest player)

Striker - Powerful Alvin (captain)

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Subs:

Wonder Wayne   

Skillful Weilit

Unpredictable Blackburn (late)

Precocious Chun Haw (late)

Absent:

Nippy Kenny

Steely Tze Ern  

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Talisman Derrick

Dynamic Soon 

Marauding Guoxiong  

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim

Booming Boon

Jiawei

ARFC wasted no time in getting a strong foothold in the match by pressing the opponents early on.

It is from such closing down that ARFC grabbed the opening goal. Dick chased down a back-pass to their keeper and in his panic, their keeper tried to clear but only succeeded in kicking the ball straight into Dick. With a gaping goal Dick duly scored. 1-0

ARFC doubled its lead 7 mins later. Sebastian spotted Haron opening up by making a side-way run. However, Sebastian’s slide-rule pass was diverted by their defender away from Haron’s trajectory. Thankfully, the ball found another beneficiary in the form of Alvin who duly pushed the ball goalwards.

Alvin looked to have over-hit the ball and their keeper could have simply picked up the ball. To our amazement, their keeper stayed rooted as he was frightened by Alvin’s bulging muscles which were akin to rugby legend Lomu running at you at 777 km/hr. The grateful Alvin needed no second invitation to place the ball past him for his 219^th ARFC goal. 2-0

ARFC’s incessant pressing soon reaped dividends again. Their keeper received a back-pass from their defender and stopped the ball. From the midfield position, Sebastian embarked on a direct run to close their keeper down. In his panic again, their keeper hoofed the ball away but only managed to clear to Alvin who was just outside the penalty box. With a wide open net, Alvin chipped the ball home for his 220^th ARFC goal. 3-0

The opponents then pulled a goal back. 3-1

Wayne, Chun Haw, Weilit then replaced Alvin, Haron and Dick respectively. 77 seconds later, Blackburn took over Sebastian.

Blackburn then turned creator when his supreme pass found Chun Haw down the right. Chun Haw took a great first touch to set himself up for the kill, and then nonchalantly dinked the ball over their keeper for his 28^th ARFC goal. 4-1 and this goal pulled him on level position with Kenny.

In the 2^nd half, the opponents pinned ARFC in its half for about 10 mins. The opponents then scored a goal while ARFC was making some substitutions. 4-2

ARFC woke up from its brief slumber and Alvin immediately restored ARFC’s 3-goal cushion. From Wayne’s deep cross, the opponents failed to conjure a clean clearance. From a loose ball, Alvin expertly dispatched the ball home with his outside right foot for his 221^st ARFC goal. 5-2

With this hat-trick, Alvin has now scored 20 hat-tricks for ARFC, chalking up 167 goals in the process.

There is no voting for this match but my personal Man-of-the-Match jointly goes to Jinzhong, Chun Haw and Alvin.