First Futsal Tournemant with MyRAWK - The Aftermath!

3 somersaults and 2 carpet burns later, it was finally over. The rag-tag team from MyRAWK has survived the last minute training and our first ever futsal competition. I was playing for the Team B guys (wearing white) and we lost both our preliminary game - one due to our inexperience and naivety (1-3), while the other was because we couldn't cope up with the stamina of a national league level Afican team (0-2).

The other team sent out by MyRAWK, Team A did a lot better than us as they are our main team with better, fitter and younger players. They won against a local team (2-1), draw (1-1) against a top level African team and finally lost out to the another African team (the same one that beat us earlier) in the last 16 knock-out stage with a score of 2-4. They were so close to qualifying for the quarters and was leading most of the match but just lack the extra steam to hold on till the end to prevent the Africans from scoring.

Considering the fact that we had trained for barely one month+ and hardly with a full team, we did pretty well but ultimately the lack of training & fitness did us in. We were jokingly saying how we will be thrashed by those national level teams and Africans but much to our credit, we held together as a team and fought hard to ensure we walked out with our heads held high and kept the scoreline respectable.

All of us kept cheering each other on through out the match and were easily the most boisterous bunch of guys in the futsal center. When we played the African teams, we could see all the local teams and spectator were cheering us on. We were also the only "muhibbah" team in the tournement, we have Malays, Chinese and Indian playing for MyRAWK. It was great to get feed back from a friend that the organisers were very happy with our participation - we were "fun, noisy, boisterous and friendly."

It was sort of a vindication to the bunch of guys that had worked so hard to make MyRAWK what it is today. We do not need to be egoistic and act like a bully to form a group to represent LFC fans. Being friendly and open to anyone and everyone will win eventually win us more respect and goodwill from all football loving fans. Walk On lads!

Team A (red): Mike (captain), Kelvin, Jaz, Randolph, Tony, Rizal, Ben & Allan

Team B (white): Will (captain), Syam, Steven, Bul, Alvin, Nyana, Ming & Jon

-JonC-

The sacrifice i do for futsal.

Been a pretty crazy 2 weeks or so for me - not much in term of work (logistics industry slowing down due to the lackluster American economy causing the usually busy Christmas season to be quiet) but because of futsal. Been training hard for a competition and trying to loose more weight to gain my stamina and pace back.

I've been finding it hard to keep pace with the 2 hours training session twice a week. Well, my recovery power ain't exactly the same as when i was in my 20's and the fact that i just play futsal casually once a week is not helping my cause one lil bit. Been having pretty bad feeling about the competition as i do not like to join any with out proper training (only trained one month prior to it - no where near ideal preparation) and not knowing your opponents. My worst fears are confirmed when i was told there will be teams with African and Middle Eastern players - they are big, fast, skillful and physical.

I am not looking forward to waking up this coming early Saturday morning and drag my arse out of bed to go to Kajang for the competition. Well, everyone's been saying we need to be positive and take it as a team. Well, if you know futsal and the team enough like me, then its easier said then done. Looks like it's the famous "park ya team bus in front of goal" approach for us and hope to gain something by counter attacking to nick a goal or two.

So much for the church organised friendly competition and this thing is getting serious. Well, i will be praying for devine intervention to see us through to at least the knockout stages inorder to not make an arse out of ourselves and the sponsor on our shirts. If there's ever a footballing god, we'll need all your help!

-JonC-

US Presidental Elections: The world, not only US needs Obama!

After 8 years of "cowboy" politics courtesy of one Texan ego-maniac, it's time for a "Change We Need" - the "we" being the whole world and not only the US. I've personally been a keen follower of the Democrats - home to 2 of my biggest political heroes - John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. Both are absolute brilliant politicians who was way ahead of their times and unfortunately died way too young. They left behind an uncertain world that needed their strong leadership qualities. I personally believe that if they had lead the US in the 60's, we would be seeing a different world that we're seeing today.

I'm hoping and expecting Obama to win this election. With due respect to McCain who is a good politician and servant to the US over the years - including his time as a POW in Vietnam, i have absolutely no confidence in the people surrounding him, especially Sarah Pallin. I think she's your typical Redneck that talk too much and do even less. The world and US needs a new President who will lead US and ultimately the whole world out of this economic turmoil and endless conflicts. I do not see how the Republicans in their current form and state can do that.

Anyways, checkout the 2-mins short film titled Wazzzup.....2008 that i caught through the Kueeen's (el terrorista's wife) blog below. It truly sums up the current situation in US very well.


I'll be tuning in to CNN throughout the day to check on the results. I sincerely hope this US elections will be as monumental as the one we, Malaysians had in 8th March.

On Top Of The World?

LFC is on top with a 3 points cushion and won against 2 of the top 4 teams. Things are certainly looking rosy right? Well, not exactly. I'd personally say it's still way too early to be thinking about being crowed as the champion. The EPL is notoriously famous for its punishing schedules in the X'mas holiday period when all other leagues in Europe are on their winter break. Imagine at mid season, you have 2 games to play in 3 days and in the cold / snow. This will definitely seperate the men from the boys.

I'd say we're in the perfect position (not certain) to push for no.19 this season as there are ample of signs that we have the full package to finally nail it down - ugly wins, lucky wins, come backs and a seemingly good team spirit & belief. There's also a difference to the way the gaffer is approaching the games this season - he is taking more risk by putting in more offensive subs. Results of this shift in mindset - to win rather than sit back for a draw, are there to see as we're are actually winning matches that we will definitely draw in the past few seasons under him. There is also a lot less rotation this season and it only happens to protect injured or jaded players.

After nearly 5 seasons, has he finally got the team right? Has the constant tinkering stopped? Well, i've got no answer to these questions as only the gaffer himself can answer them. What is clear is, we've finally got the kind of squad depth that he's been talking of since a couple of seasons ago. We definitely have a more settled side with players that look a lot more cohesive and have better understanding of their roles in the team. I'm happy to see we're not the bunch of headless chickens running around anymore like last season when we were constantly shooting ourselves in the foot with the crap footie we were playing.

How far can we go this time round? I wouldn't want to know and predict at this time. The road to no. 19 does look a lot less bumpy but knowing how fast things can go awry with trouble just round the corners, i'll be happy as long as we keep winning matches and see where it will take us. I am not looking to much into the league table and will only look at thing one game at a time. Seen my fair share of disappointments over the years to know its suicidal to over hype our good form and be over confident.

It's still too early with just 9 games played out of 38. Till then, i'll just sit back, enjoy the football and hope i don't pull out all my hair with the dramatic last minute wins by end of the season. Hopefully by then, no.19 is safely back in Anfield and locked up in the trophy room.

To all those who had lost someone you loved, cherished and held dear to your heart.

This song / video is dedicated to everyone who has lost someone close to your heart and especially to my mother and my late father.

Fix You, Coldplay:
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
COULD IT BE WORSE?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

Health Ministry Warning: Supporting Liverpool Football Club Is Detrimental To You Health!

For all the excitement from the last minute come back wins that LFC have been pulling out of the rabbit's hat, they certainly aren't good for the faint-hearted supporters. I personally think, i'll bloody stop watching footie by the time i hit 50. I lost count how many times i've nearly pulled all my hair out in frustration of the crap we're dishing out only to be led into a period of gut wrenching and cardio working last few minutes of football.

We're on a roll for come back wins and have duly been tagged as the "Come Back Kings" but i'm convinced that the roll won't go on longer. Lady luck is a fickle minded and hard to understand phenomenon, soon she'll leave us in the lurch if we keep on coming back from the brink of death. We need to be wining games from the start and not do it 1o mins + injury time from the end.

I bet the cardiologist and heart specialist in Liverpool and all over the world for that matter, will have an increasing number of visits from Mighty Reds fans with cardio problems. Well, who can blame 'em? If we keep this up, please don't be surprised i'll soon join the queue.

Anyhow, Walk On and let's hope our school boy defending will stop the PES2009 / Fifa09 like free-scoring Chelsea attack, this coming Sunday nite - 9:30pm! Btw, pls take note that the MyRAWK boy will be organising a special event gathering inconjunction with this top-of-the-table clash. Check out My-RAWK.com for more details on the freebies and prizes that will be given away. See ya there!

-JonC-

15 Things You Might Not Know About Me

I got tagged by one of me blogging mates; Kerp after i had a ball of a time reading to his hilarious list. Was rather intrigued by Ms. Senorita's scandalous and naughty list too ;0) So here's my list that might bore you or scare you. Muahahahahahaha! Just to be different, i'm gonna do it backwards.

15 - Was a pretty succesful sprinter when i was in me early teens until a serious knee injury put paid to my running carrier. That was the start of my "sick-note" and injury laden sporting life.

14 - Have never lit a cigarette or "the good stuff" in my entire life but drank me first beer / stout at around 10 - thanks to me god brothers.

13 - Dislike gambling and pretty much most other vices except sex and footie ;0)

12 - Not the only child in the family as i had a younger sister who passed away in an accident when i was about 5 or 6 years old - about 25 years ago.

11 - I look up to John Fitzgerald Kennedy as my hero in life.

10 - Started being anti-establishment by about 9 or 10 thanks to me DAP supporting dad.

9 - I like like watching chick flicks and believe in happy endings. Yes i am hopelessly emo. :0P

8 - Was naive enough to think i would get married and start a family by 28 years old.

7 - Read me first porn mag at about 11 and watch me first porn by 12. Beat that!

6 - I dig chicks with shorter hair. *Hint to any future chicks i might date.

5 - I've only ever dated about 5 women and went steady with about 2 of 'em. Hehehehe, yes i am THAT choosy.

4 - Lost count of how many sexual fantasies i had, unlike you Kerp!

3 - Hate reading except maybe porn or footie mags and war stories or books about military equipments.

2 - Used to wear hand-me-down SCUM t-shirts from a cousin when i was ignorant and younger.

1 - I like boobies too!

*on request of ms. senorita..... maybe i should change no. 1 to.... i like to be teased by scantily clad woman in her lingerie or maybe in a secretary outfit complete with glasses rather than one who is totally naked. Blame the damn Jap AV porn! :0P