It's just me, the grass, and you.

I'm proud of you guys. I'm proud of what I made of it. I'm proud of DJ. This team will forever remain in my memory. For the first time, I get to step on the field for my school. It's been horrible warming the sidelines, filling up forms, handing out water bottles for the past two years. Always the onlooker when you guys get to run your lungs out for each other. This time it's different. I get to join in. I get to pull my share of the load. No regrets there I suppose.

It didn't turn out exactly like we planned it, of course not, if it did, we'd be champs. Alas, they way we got on about it was nothing to be ashamed of. We ran out lungs out, we played for each other, despite the lack of touch and quality, we made up for that with determination and back tracking. I know it wasn't easy, but know that I will forever give the benefit of the doubt, to me, you guys gave as much as I could have asked for. I hope I didn't let anyone down. I'm just honored to have captained you guys this year.

Some would say our group was easy, I would have agreed looking at it on paper. With BU3 in the group, no disrespect to them, but we thought that would mean we'd get past to the knockout rounds. Surprisingly they were tougher than expected. During the pre-game line up. I joked with my team, asking them, "Is this really BU3? I thought they were a b-balling school." Their line up looked threatening enough with a couple of big players who looked the part at least. The match throughout was a tight affair. We nicked it with a one - nil win courtesy of a Derrick belter a la Paul Scholes from the edge of the box. The moment the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box it seemed as if time stood still and the BU3 defensive line had unanimously elected on giving him the time and space to measure a half volley. Straight as an arrow it went, right into the top left corner. I was right in line behind him, followed the ball all the way with my eyes and I just let loose when the net rippled. A pure war cry came out from my mouth and I wasn't even aware of who or what inhabited my body for those few seconds before reminding myself we still had a game to play and it's not over yet. Composed myself and made sure everyone still stayed focused. Rode our luck a little bit, but we constantly stayed on top of the game.

There was one point in the match when we were defending a corner from the left. I picked up the tallest player, number 10 if I'm not mistaken. Andrew is it? Can't remember his name really, just picked it up from one of his mates shouting at him. He tried knocking it past me on the edge of the box, nicked it off of him and started the counter. Laid it off to Rizqan in front of me and sprinted to the right, he sucked in the oncoming defender before playing a through ball to the right wing. There I was, in unfamiliar territory bursting down the right flank with the ball at my feet and yards of space. Don't have to ask me if it was a weird sight, everyone on the bench stared on perplexed to see the obese center back gunning up like a winger just to carelessly play a lofted early cross which was over hit straight to the keeper. In all honesty, I intended to pick out Khairul's run but didn't get enough inswing on the ball. So there it is, my recollection of the first match. 1-0 vs BU3.

Second one was much more tiring. Constantly bombarded by the Taman Medan left winger. Thanks to Fawwaz, Hafez and Emir we cleared our lines well. 0-0.
First day over, goals scored : 1 goals conceded : 0 . Not bad. Won 1 Drawn 1. Finished second of the group just because Taman Medan beat BU3 by 2 goals to nil.
On the second day we lost to eventual champions KD10 2-0. I have to say the goals were avoidable. Nevertheless, I congratulate everyone of the players for the shift they put in. The goals were cheap, we were unluckily rattled by nerves. Hearing them go on into the quarters and beat Sri Permata, then onwards to the semis beating BU4, 4-0 and winning the final against Bukit Bintang with either a score of 2-0 or 3-0. Makes me think that we were actually a force to be reckoned with. Still got face lose to champions with the best score.

I'm not really up to writing much more, maybe I shall keep the tale for a better time.
From sideline spectator for 2 years, to Captain in my last. DJ, I'm not done with you yet.
As for now, those minutes on the field, I can safely say, are my proudest 120 minutes of football.


Everyone, DJ on three!