Sometimes, the hardest things to say to people whom you enjoyed conversing with throughout the years.

“Hello All,

I regret to inform you that I will not be playing for SIM next season because I have not been able to come for training thus far and this will result in a foreseeable bad overall performance.

Also, I am helping out a team which supposedly be competing in Div 3. So, our meeting will be inevitable should I decide to continue for another season.

The SIM team actually have given in to my requirement for retaining the core of the team but I do not want to be a stumbling block to a potential season for promotion.

I really enjoyed my stint being the captain trying to always motivate the ever happy-go-lucky-team. You guys are no doubt are included into my ever-growing list of players whom I enjoyed being in a team with.

I hope that this parting is only for a short while and we will still be on friendly terms even when we are playing as opponents (should that happens). I will help out in whatever ways possible and trust that my departure will allow a fresh blood of talent in goal.

May our paths cross in the near future…“

My floorballing future? I will see how because it is undecided…

This season, I have lost statistically. It is my worst season ever in my floorball ‘career’. To chalk up a SV% of .704 reflects a severe dip in form compared to 2008/09 season which I excelled under the management of Yanto.

Not all is lost, I gained something intangible as the team experienced hardships on and off court. Lack of training was clearly evident as our first two games resulted in disaster. The coach clearly forgotten about us after his trip to Sweden for Women’s World Floorball Championships. Even when I am not an SIM student, the coach missing before IVP reflects badly on him.

In his absence, I tried and tested my brand of floorball for some league games. The first one against P9 proved to be a disaster. I realised that the brand of floorball was not suitable for SIM Blitzkrieg. We attempted to play fast and furious floorball but with the scoreline clearly against us, I changed our tactics and we did well in the third period. Apart from organising team tactics, I was forced to talk sense into these players. It was challenging as I had to compose what I have to say during period breaks.

Sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not. Well, I can only do so much as I am human. Having to relive my platoon sergeant days is a headache but it can be rewarding.

The only way I can know how I faired as a leader and tactician is through my team-mates’ feedback.

I think I know what my tactical signature is like if given an average team. The only thing left is to build one and improvise.

Now, I have to prove myself on court to regain my old-self.

But this time, it was a good game. Both teams were even so the scoreline of 5-5 does not surprise me.

We took the lead in first period after a disciplined shape prevented VS from playing their fast-paced and fluid floorball. Hazwan was doing good in the crease and his debut season stats prove to be way better than mine. My stats dwindled dramatically this season due to lack of training.

Second period, we maintained the same pattern and we managed to score another goal before VS pulled one back. Looks like my tactic really works. It was roughly me against Mr. Amir. There were close calls but we stayed strong.

I went in for the third period because Hazwan was tired and I allowed a controversial free-hit. It was questionable but we took it to the chin. We scored two more goals to bring the scoreline 4-2. Then, a clearance kick by Badar in the inner crease allowed a penalty against us.  I have allowed one penalty goal against SIM Titans and now, I would have to face another one. The referee explained to me why he gave the penalty and we proceeded with the game. I broke away from the conventional penalty-stopping stance and instead mirrored the penalty-taker. He lobbed me over, ran and slapped the ball into the net but unfortunately, one foot was already in the inner crease so it was disallowed. The team rushed towards me and Mithren even told me, “You are Buffon!” Well, I kept telling them that it was luck.

Allowed a stupid goal through my legs and their lone forward scored the equaliser after a scramble in the box. I made few more saves and we were awarded a power-play. While slapping the ball away, I landed on my butt and the impact went straight to my cervical area of my spine, aka neck. The moment we scored the power-play goal, I rushed out because it was hurting. VS pushed forward and seven seconds from time, they scored their equalising goal.

With two ties in two weeks, it is not bad. We were expecting a thrashing actually but the exams saved us from the humiliation.

Yesterday, for my mum’s birthday, I bought her a gymball. The doctor advised us to have one so that she could do her Pilate. For me, I bought me a pair of NIKE compression top because I am running out of cotton t-shirts for sweaty activities.

I really do not know what happened to us. I have nothing to say for the 6-6 tie. We threw away a comfortable lead; we were three goals up at the start of the third period. SGS Bulldogs played good but it takes two hands to clap. I, too, am at fault for the sixth goal.

First period, we took the lead after my throw found Chester, who assisted Gab. It is a long time since I was involved in a goal setup. They equalised before we regained composure to score another one. I was making decent saves to keep them at bay. First period: 2-1.

SGS came with guns blazing in the second period and my positioning saved more attempts on goal. My heel, thighs and mask managed to divert their goal-bound efforts leaving the opponents scratching their heads. We scored again to make the scoreline 3-1 and a power-play goal right before the end of the period. Leading 4-1 and it does look nice.

I told the team to stay composed and maintain our form and we did so before the next ten minutes of ordeal. A poor free-hit setup led to a breakaway and my touch with the armpit was not enough to stop the ball from rolling into the net. An open play when a shot came in and my defenceman had to lay his blade into its path when my diving body already had it covered. Got deflected and went under my body. We were getting nervous. Only one goal separates us and I called for time-out. I told them to go all-out to secure two ore more goals but it backfired. My save, not clean, and the forward managed to score when I was on my butt as the ball rolled away from my legs. We were pressing their half when again, on a breakaway, the forward let fly a shot. I was too close to my near post and it whistled past me at the top corner. We are trailing for the first time!

We equalised after their goalie’s inexperience allowed a shot to trickle through his legs. But it was not him alone who suffers moments of lapse. What should have been a comfortable save ended up becoming my nightmare as I underestimated a shot and it came off my fingers to float over me to end up bouncing into the goal at the far post. I was desperately diving backwards trying to claw the ball out but was unsuccessful to my dismay.

Badar’s constant running paid off as he poked the ball past the goalie to tie us the game. I was shaking my head in disbelief the moment the final whistle was blown.

We blew it and I do not want to talk about it.