The Frontliner-turned-Firebrand Speaks Again.

I would be studying now, and I should be studying now, if not for this! And now I wonder what sparked that charitable spirit to voluntarily write a post here.

Well, some things just need to be said, I guess.

This is a personal account bytheway, so if you're looking for something a li'l more picture-fied and general go to www.firebrands-irri.blogspot.com, and wait for the write-up by Joyce.

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So it was all down to this moment, after two good months of cajoling and people pulling out and last-minute additions.

Me, at the face-off, with a Salichick. Knowing full well that Firebrands Mah won their first match against G12's J-square. Also knowing that I kinda reek at face-offs? Thinking: Look, ref, I'd appreciate it if you blow that darn whistle already cuz the tension's killing me!

We, Firebrands Lor, wobbled off to an uneasy start, obviously not warmed-up yet, still kinda blur. Salichicks were obviously the stronger half, in experience, in pace (compared to us la), in skills.

That match was frustrating, for me. Seriously.
Strike One: I ask someone to tap the ball to me during a free hit. She taps it to the opponents. And I was like: ...WHAT?!
Strike Two: A Salichick, aggressively determined to hustle for the ball, pressures me. I sidestep past her with the ball, I trip over her stick, I take a nasty fall. My elbow suffered for the rest of the day. Even washing it with water was like setting it on fire.
Strike Three: A teammate of mine kept keeping the ball away from me and didn't pass it over. No hard feelings, I really thank her for playing, but well frankly it was frustrating.

I think we lost 2-0. Something like that. I forgot.

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We had to win this match, or we'd just hafta pack our bags and leave.

But still, Ednamodes. What's the chances of beating G12's second string?

So I took the ball, possibly controlled it for a second or two, and shot. And when it went in I was so friggin' HAPPY.

And I worked extra hard making sure Ednamodes wouldn't get that equalizer. Eulene and Nathania did a great job down in front of the goal.

Whistle blew thrice, and I felt the utmost relief! We actually overcame the odds! And we were actually going through to the next round! (It's the luck of the draw that both Firebrands Mah and Lor got through, I'm telling you.)

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The next match we had against Ztec was good, in a sense that we actually held them to a draw. Yes, I know I wasted so many opportunities to score, but ah well. Even if we did win it wouldn't have made much of a difference (just bragging rights..), cuz we took a beating after that from Contact Sugar and another thrashing from UniHawks.

The odds of beating Contact Sugar were like the odds of an elephant eating a panda bear. With ladies like Sheryn and Serene?

I lost track of the score. The most baffling moment was when there were three Firebrands in front of the goal, and the ball still rolled in. So much for beefing up the defence - Contact was just in another league. I gave up in the middle of the match - darn.. mental tak kuat lagi.

I promised myself to be more mentally kuat against UniHawks. If we won it would be like SpongeBob SquarePants permanently turning fluorescent pink. Not gonna happen, not against the likes of Sarah Ng, Wai Wai, Dawn, Suleen...

Oh yeah we got thrashed. Real bad. My 4th time getting thrashed by UniHawks. BUT, like last year's Youthwave, I managed to get a goal in. Nothing is impossible with God, that I know. It was a bee-yoo-tiful shot! A very nice consolation.

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One thing I can never catch is Kutu's spirit of Let's Just Have Fun.

Thank you Firebrands Mah: Sarah, Eureka, Cherie, Natalie, Leanne.
Thank you Firebrands Lor: Nathania, Stephanie, Eulene, Me.
Thank you James, for the excellent draw, or we would've packed our bags earlier; and for the li'l coaching.
And lastly, thank You God, for being there. I know You were, when we prayed before every match.

Maybe next year?

Till then, COME FOR TRAINING ALL YOU PEREMPUAN-PEREMPUAN! :)