It's all in the mind.

Mind.

Think straight.

Don't get frustrated.

Mental mesti kuat.

Too little mind and you will bagai rusa masuk ke kampung.

Too much and it starts to feel heavy.

Just right, then settle d.

Your mind lets you see.

Lets you hear.

Lets you react.

Just don't lose your mind.

(okay i'm starting to sound like ky. better stop. but it's relevant.)

...

The first problem started on the day I got the form. The last problem was solved at 12:30a.m. on Saturday. Problems are like silly mistakes - they make your life interesting (well at least that's the optimistic side).

Lack of players. No one wants to be keeper. How to get the parents' signatures on time? Keeper's helmet and gear. Not enough jerseys. Players no transport.

...

Then finally, the day itself. All the efforts put in - it all culminates down to this. We did it all for this.

And, by some weird stroke of memory loss, I FORGOT TO TAKE MY FLOORBALL STICK OUT OF THE CAR.

Oh noooo.

Nevermind, borrow stick, different feel but still ah what to do. It works.

Bak Hu Loti first game. Bak Kua Loti second game. Bak Hu Loti again third game. Settle, spend the whole first hour at the court.

...

Bak Hu Loti's first game - Hybrid: Sugar & UniHawks. Eventual runners-up.

Wah, honestly, it was mensiasuikan (means embarrasing). The ignorance of the players was most definitely NOT bliss, not at that very moment.

You know what, maybe we should've sent one team in only.

Ah, but for the sake of the growth of floorball :).

I can't bear to watch.

...

And that day, for me, when in court, half of the battle was in the mind.

You kinda feel lost on court sometimes. Where do I go? What should I do? What am I doing?

Or frustrated, till your patience is cut when your teammates don't know what "tap" (tap the ball during a free hit) and "clear" (clear the ball) mean.

Or just struck in disbelief when the ball somehow rolls past your keeper into the net.

Or wishing you could play floorball properly.

...

And eventually Bak Hu Loti did pick up their pace - with the synergic combination of sisters Natalie and Stephanie stabbing in some less-than-beautiful-but-still goals; first-time goalkeeper Joyce making some very good saves and catches; and the defense beefing up with Vern Ern clearing the balls.

No, I don't regret sending in two teams. For the sake of the growth of floorball :). It was good exposure.

For Bak Kua Loti, I'd say it was an off-day, including myself. For me la, from my perspective. Opponents seemed to cut through the defense and weave around as if nothing was there to stop them. And the forwards weren't delivering. The goals weren't coming.

Okay, uh, before this gets taken wrongly, I don't mean the players weren't good. They are.

Anyways, even step-in coach / team manager Gary was so kin-cheong at the sidelines.

Let's just say we were the underdogs, the small fish.

...

At the end of the day, once all's said and one, it was good exposure, much fun, experience gained, knowledge earned.

"...just too much pressure on you to perform alone"

Well said, Von.

...

Penghargaan =D

ALL the players (i mean ALL), for being willing to join and wake up early and play to the best of your abilities. I appreciate you, honest.

Beverly and Joyce, for agreeing to be goalkeepers. Thanks.

Gary Lee Kah Yoon, for the big HELP he's been to the teams. Like driving from Tanjung Tokong to PISA to collect parents' signatures, solving the problems I dumped on him after he stepped in for Alex, buying kneeguards, supporting, and being the only guy involved at a team's sidelines throughout the tournament.

The organizers, referees, secretariats, ball-pickers - for making the tournament historic and to remember.

And God, for being there. Means a lot.

*i know this write-up is very messy. it's a personal-experience-report-thingy. proper report and reviews to be up.*