SINGAPORE, 22 NOVEMBER 2008 — Walking past a row of refurbished warehouses at Kallang, one would notice the throbbing bass of techno dance tracks assailing the peace and quiet of the surroundings. No, this was not the newest watering hole in town; after all, it was only 9am in the morning. This was something better: Asia Conference’s 5-a-side Futsal tournament, held at The Cage. A fateful battleground for the morning’s matches.
From 42 preliminary matches, 48 participating teams were whittled down to the final eight, slugging it out for the top three prizes of S$500, S$400 and S$300. Two foreign teams from City Harvest Johor Bahru and Bethany Indonesia Manado were also gunning for the top prize. Teams comprised of church members and friends alike, united by their passion for soccer and an unquenchable thirst for victory.
Cheering supporters at the sideline were not disappointed by the explosive action, incisive passes and near-impossible goals that ruled the 16 matches for the day. By noon, it was down to four teams vying for the top three positions.
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| PHOTOS: Lee Boon Bee & Li Jingwen |
The fierce battle that ensued during the 3rd and 4th placing match concluded with a 2-1 score as players played fast and intense with many goals attempted. The grand finals finished 1-0 as teams fought long and hard to crack the opponent’s defense until a well-footed shot entered through the top left corner of the goalpost.
Victorious captain Peter Luen revealed that his team’s secret lay not in any single person’s effort but the teamwork of every player who gave their 200 percent best for the entire tournament. Despite the ferocity of the competition, smiles and handshakes abounded as prizes were awarded and parting photo shots were taken.
For sure, everyone is looking forward to the next rematch at Asia Conference 2010, which promises to be bigger, bolder and better!
