New Season Gets Under Way!!!

Emeralds fans, rejoice! Season 08/09 has finally kicked off with 2 games completed. Despite what most would consider a poor previous season, the team did not make any new signings over the summer break, not even as cover for those out on loan or gone AWOL. Such decision baffles supporters, yet the Emeralds manager is confident that the current crop of players under his charge have the talent and desire to make the season a successful one.

Unfortunately, it was an unhappy start for the Emeralds and their fans as an under-strength team succumbed to a disappointing loss to a third party team on opening day at Braddell-Westlake Secondary School. Even a last minute training session at FICO did not improve on the team's apparent lack of match fitness and team dynamics. With a number of regular forwards out on loan to third rate leagues like Canada and Poland, the Emeralds struggled to find their form in attack. The match ended in a 4-0 loss.

With that loss, the fear of a Tottenham-esque start beckons. It was only fate that brought the team's post-Boxing day match back to Braddell-Westlake Sec, providing the team with the perfect opportunity to exorcise the ghosts of opening day. And true to the manager's belief, the team didn't disappoint.

Despite playing majority of the match short-handed, the Emeralds kept their shape and discipline and took the fight to their opponents, Shaiful's SCDF contact. Emeralds full-back Huzer, once only regarded for his imposing presence, came back as a more polished player after his loan spell. The attacking and defensive interchanges with fellow right flanker Khairul could have certainly put Rafael, Bosingwa or even Dani Alves to shame. Arguably, the Emeralds DOMINATED the right flank.

The first half was pretty much an open affair with both teams making good chances but unable to convert them. It was not until midway through the half that BSRI took the lead. Nasir, most often the team's first choice set-piece targetman, turned provider when his freekick from the left was whipped into a pile of bodies only to have Rene heading the killer blow. 1-0 to BSRI.

The second half was pretty much a tight affair with the Emeralds sitting deep to offset the loss of a player after half-time. The occasional counter-attacks troubled the opponents with the impressive lone striker Shaiful provided the important holding position for the midfield to advance forward. Nevertheless, the opponents managed to equalise thanks to a well taken free-kick that curled beyond Sufian16's reach. Soon after, countless barrage of counter-attacks ensued as the Emeralds look for the goal to save their season. And they were soon rewarded. This time with another free-kick from the left. And again, it was Nasir's delivery that accurately pinpointed Shaiful. The 1.8-ish metre striker made no mistake with the header and sent it powerfully into the net. The Emeralds then faced a nervous end to the match to preserve their lead and did so successfully. 2-1 BSRI win.

Line-ups

BSRI vs Third Party Team* (07/12/08)
Sufian16; Adib, Ashrof, Nasir, Hidayat; Shaiful, Khairul, Zarir, Adil, Sufian23; Firdaus, Syarif

BSRI vs Shaiful's Contact
Sufian16; Adib, Aidil, Farhan, Huzer; Zarir, Nasir, Sufian23, Khairul, Rene Iskandar; Shaiful

*I may have forgotten the proper line-up. If I forgot to include anybody;
1. I'm sorry.
2. Inform me. If I feel like it, I'll change ASAP.

Yours Truly,
Benzar'an

P.S. I'm all for Rene's idea for a jersey change. Hopefully one with a bigger opening for the head. The current one is really bugging me. Maybe at the end of the season since money is pretty tight right now. Hmm, I like guavas and they're sort of green. Maybe instead of Emeralds, we can be called BSRI guavas. Or anything green that's named cooler.