Looking for a light

Chapter 2 - Pre Match

It was 755am, and well a bit earlier than expected but I immediately decided to go have a bath. Whiteboard session was the day before so there were no match notes to prepare. Basically I was really free and only needed to wait till 1145 am to leave for school to meet the coaches for "working lunch" at 1pm.

I decided time was passing too slowly so I switched on the comp for some aimless surfing till about 10, when I decided to go and watch episode 22 of desperate housewives season 2. Yes I am addicted to it, so it was a good way to pass bout 1 hr of my time. But it was still about 1 hr before leaving so I just started walking around aimlessly in the house, those of you who have been to my place would know that the house is not the biggest plot of land, so I pretty much oscilated around the house looking at the fish and thinking about the match which was about to change all our lives. I kept thinking and flashing back on past finals and how it felt less stressful even though we were the underdogs. I then realised that being coach put a person in a "no man's land" type of position, where you do put in a lot of effort, sometimes more than the players, but ultimately the effect you have on the game is at a minimal. It was a totally new dynamic to me, but I think something that I like.

Alright back to the story, I decided to take a half hour nap. but again found myself staring at the ceiling, it was bloody impossible to do anything, I almost felt like watching the season finale of DH2, but decided I will save it hopefully as a reward at the end of the season. 1145 pm soon came, I had to pack so many things, camera, battery, handphone, clipboard, notebook, lucky pen, extra clothes, it was really amazing I did not forget anything.

The trip to school was boring, mainly read the Newpaper to keep me updated with all the crap in Singapore, crap news I mean. I arrived in school at 1245pm, just on time. JR was already there, watching a video on the old man u inside, and both of us just sat down and watched the video, though it was evident that he was just as agitated as me. Mini was late, tsk tsk, so we spent a bit longer trying to absorb the tape. The girls were mainly sleeping and lying down at the grandstand, looking steady not nervous or anything. Jolyn was in her windbreaker walking around, perhaps thinking about the match or something else, I was not sure, but I decided it was best to leave her alone. I spoke to Farah for like 20 seconds and she seemed to be in confident mood. Good sign.

Lunch was basically canteen food, very cheap and nice, and the three of us gave a toast to hopefully winning that day. Mini soon left for visualisation session while me and JR were looking through the enormous inventory list and making sure everything was present. In my excitement of seeing the school flag, I decided to wave it around outside the PE Dept only for it to hit the roof outside, so embarassing man. But we got the glucose ready, took out the radio, made sure the markers and magnets were in place and all.

Then the girls loaded their stuff on the bus, and we gathered for our session of prayer. As JR knelt beside me to pray I felt such a kinship with him. Mentor and mentee once more side by side as brothers. The school flag was aloft in that circle we had. That special circle that had carried us on for so far. I prayed so so hard to God, asking Him to help his servant one more time, asking Him to give us everything to watch our backs and smile on us, like He has been all this while.

Then I gave a talk to the girls to psyche them up, the cheer after that was the loudest I had ever heard echo in school, it was magnificent, and as Charmaine led the team in a line out, with the student population cheering them flanking them on as they entered the bus, it was a proud moment. One I will never forget and one I hope will repeat itself in time to come.

We got up the bus, and the taping began, taping of ankles that is. The SCs took up a bit of space but I was fine wif it, I mean they came to support us what more can you ask for? Mini helped with the taping, and the music played in the background. Everything seemed to be falling into place. A bit of a jam near serangoon, but finally the door opened to Jalan Besar Stadium.

We made our way to the North Gate and sat down, looking at the SA vs SRJC match. This was it. All of us had been working our asses off for this day.

Game on.

Chapter 3 - Dressing Room and the Kick Off

Out.

posted by Me @ 11:09 PM