Having been crowned Champions of ESPZEN Div 11, it is worthy to mention that the 2010/11 campaign was, if nothing else, an emotional roller coaster ride for all involved. Fears of slipping up to our opponents and losing our players to many reasons, have now been supplanted by a strong sense of optimism for the next campaign - that we can still do it if everyone is in it together. Before we look ahead at the season to come, though, it’s necessary to reflect on the season that was.
Pre-season friendlies do not normally show much as everyone returns lack-lusted but seven months of total no-football for the team meant that any game was as important as ever for the team to gel again. A heavy loss against rivals Y Homeless FC showed ESFC the need to get back to our usual level fast. And ESFC recovered to smash 8 goals past the next opponents, albeit they were considerably weaker than the previous ones but nevertheless, it was still a morale boasting victory. The next four games would see the groove slowly returning to the team as ESFC won them all with class and quality.
However, pre-season and competitive games are a different matter all together as the team experienced a narrow loss against eventual runner-up Kebun Baru United. The loss startled the team but ESFC recovered from the defeat and saw their challenge for the title going from strength to strength in quite magnificent fashion.
Many have voted Adib's goal against Team Saintsensational as the goal of the season when he unleashed a sublime half volley which went over the keeper's flailing hands and into the top centre of the net. While the most important goal of the season had been Wx's goal against Kebun Baru United as he executed an impressive half volley into the top corner that took the wind out of KBU.
Ah Liang had a magnificent season. He has kept his motivation and been ultra-consistent all through the campaign and his contribution to winning the title has been gigantic with several saves that kept the team in the game.
Although quiet on the pitch, Captain Boon was a major contributing factor to ESFC's success in the league as he embarked on a double-double figures in both the assist and scoring charts. He is the unanimous choice for MVP.
Nathan, Yenhao and Sebas were equally impressive as they scored the many crucial goals to prove to the opponents that when ’no-way back’ really meant no-way back. However, it is important to note that for the first time, goals were aplenty across all departments and that was part of the reason why ESFC managed to secure 48 goals in the league - one of the highest in ESPZEN. In fact, the number of goals could have been higher if the two games against Team EVO were not walkovers.
Jason Ang had been a terrific ‘metronome with an engine’ in front of the back four as he performed admirably for the team in pinging those neat passes through tight angles and picking out players aerially and from range. He is, indeed, the person that makes the team tick.
The personification of the old managerial adage that strikers win you matches, defenders win you titles. All the defenders of ESFC were fantastic and only 9 goals managed to leak through. However, Ethan's performance against Rowdees FC was the finest by a centre-back we’ve ever seen as he led the entire back line with vigor, intelligence and an uncanny intuition.
That’s the story of the season in changes. And, depending on your perspective, the beauty or the horror of the thing is that it’s all starting over again. Hopefully more focused, less dramatic, and, in the end, that it’ll lead to us having something to celebrate.
Pre-season friendlies do not normally show much as everyone returns lack-lusted but seven months of total no-football for the team meant that any game was as important as ever for the team to gel again. A heavy loss against rivals Y Homeless FC showed ESFC the need to get back to our usual level fast. And ESFC recovered to smash 8 goals past the next opponents, albeit they were considerably weaker than the previous ones but nevertheless, it was still a morale boasting victory. The next four games would see the groove slowly returning to the team as ESFC won them all with class and quality.
However, pre-season and competitive games are a different matter all together as the team experienced a narrow loss against eventual runner-up Kebun Baru United. The loss startled the team but ESFC recovered from the defeat and saw their challenge for the title going from strength to strength in quite magnificent fashion.
Many have voted Adib's goal against Team Saintsensational as the goal of the season when he unleashed a sublime half volley which went over the keeper's flailing hands and into the top centre of the net. While the most important goal of the season had been Wx's goal against Kebun Baru United as he executed an impressive half volley into the top corner that took the wind out of KBU.
Ah Liang had a magnificent season. He has kept his motivation and been ultra-consistent all through the campaign and his contribution to winning the title has been gigantic with several saves that kept the team in the game.
Although quiet on the pitch, Captain Boon was a major contributing factor to ESFC's success in the league as he embarked on a double-double figures in both the assist and scoring charts. He is the unanimous choice for MVP.
Nathan, Yenhao and Sebas were equally impressive as they scored the many crucial goals to prove to the opponents that when ’no-way back’ really meant no-way back. However, it is important to note that for the first time, goals were aplenty across all departments and that was part of the reason why ESFC managed to secure 48 goals in the league - one of the highest in ESPZEN. In fact, the number of goals could have been higher if the two games against Team EVO were not walkovers.
Jason Ang had been a terrific ‘metronome with an engine’ in front of the back four as he performed admirably for the team in pinging those neat passes through tight angles and picking out players aerially and from range. He is, indeed, the person that makes the team tick.
The personification of the old managerial adage that strikers win you matches, defenders win you titles. All the defenders of ESFC were fantastic and only 9 goals managed to leak through. However, Ethan's performance against Rowdees FC was the finest by a centre-back we’ve ever seen as he led the entire back line with vigor, intelligence and an uncanny intuition.
That’s the story of the season in changes. And, depending on your perspective, the beauty or the horror of the thing is that it’s all starting over again. Hopefully more focused, less dramatic, and, in the end, that it’ll lead to us having something to celebrate.
