Looking for a light

Chapter 3: Dressing Room and Kick-Off

So we then went into our dressign room for the day, the same dressing room which was used for the semis. We put our stuff down,and the girls soon went out for the mandatory warm-up. We only had a small space behind the goal post, so we did not have much space to warm up. Sigh. But we continued doing our snychronised warm-up in a disciplined manner. At the same time I kept glancing at the stands and saw how the TJ crowd had arrived in droves, super impressed with their school spirit. It was heartening to see that they had gotten behind their girls team, RESPECT. At the same time I looked at our side, which was relatively empty, and in fact there were more SRJC supporters compared to us. I walked over to the SRJC bench and walked over to Mr Nordin, the SRJC teacher in charge, who had developed a good friendship with me, as both of us had fought together for the tournament to be brought to an earlier date so the year 2s could play. He wished me luck, and something else, which I believe I should not say. Lets just say it was not a very teacher thing to say, though I understood where he came from. I promised him that I would acceed to his request and went back to the girls.

At this time the crowd was slowly trickling in, still in small number, but I told myself to shut up and focus on the match instead. guess it was not that I was hard-up for a crowd, just that something inside me wished for a crowd so the girls could know that they were being appreciated and supported by the school.

After stretching the girls did a few sprints, and we went back into the dressing room. I gave one last pep talk before the girls sang the school song. It was the loudest I have ever heard them sing, it was brilliant. At the same time, when we were out for warm up, the technical crew had helped to put up encouraging notes for the girls on the dressing room walls, well wishes from the supporters which Sara and I had planned a day after we qualified for the final. SAra had been busy getting people to fill in the post its for the girls.

Then it was time, the non 20 went out to form a guard ofhonour for the first 20, and Charmaine and the girls trooped out, with me and the coaching staff behind. But I was surprised when we went out to see that we were being held back. And all this while TJ were kicking around with the ball. After talkinh and negotiating with Julie we finally got our chance, and the team marched out of the tunnel, with Charmaine leading the team, I told her to raise the flag high as each of the rest touched the flag on the way out, to remind them what they were playing for. The roar of the crowd was brilliant as the team went out. This was what I had been visualising for the past 2 months.

Warm-up was fast, in fact too nfast and to be honest I was slapping myself for taking too long inside the locker room. Freak. but we went about our drills super quick and the first 11 went back into the tunnel for the official walk-out.

Then the music came on and the girls trooped out, given a standing ovation from all. I was proud not only of my players but also the TJ players, whom I knew had also faced a lot of obstacles on the way to the finals. No matter what people say, I still feel that the two teams, for all their efforts did deserve to march out for the final dat day. Of course most would have rather seen a SA-TJ final, that I know.

Back to the story one last shout of encouragement for the girls as they marched out, I made sure I called them all by name and encouraged them. Salome went for the coin toss and the team came in for one last cheer.

I was a nervous wrek by then, taking my place at the technical area, with JR and Miss Tan (team manager) behind me, and Mini in the stands communicating with me through the walkie talkie.The whistle blew, and TJ kicked off, in an instant Jing Jing sprinted to tackle the girl and we intercepted the ball within 2 seconds. Good sign?

At that point all I could do was watch I was helpless.

"Let's go VJ, let's go!"

Out.

posted by Me @ 9:11 PM