OPSAGE: 11 September 2009
Other projects, sports, activities, games and events to participate in, watch or attend.
From now on, the OPSAGE post will appear on Fridays instead of Sundays.
As stated above, “OPSAGE” covers everything other than routine sessions. Any sport or activity can be offered or proposed as a comment to the weekly OPSAGE post.
Going to watch local football is raised regularly. To this end, S. League fixtures and results are covered under the weekly OPSAGE post. The Friday night game is always at Jalan Besar and is the one shown live on TV each week. Admission at the stadium is usually free, and early arrivals get other freebies.
In the circumstances, it makes sense to have the OPSAGE post on Friday. On the other hand, as many of us live in the east, we could try to catch Geylang United at Bedok Stadium. I’ve only managed to do so once so far this season. Geylang United have had an inconsistent season. In the past week:
Having becoming the only Singapore team to reach the Singapore Cup semi-finals, Geylang United promptly lose their next two league matches.
SAFFC are now 14 points clear of Home United and Tampines Rovers at the top of the S. League, with 6 games left to play.
Earlier this week, Hairuddin offered the following under the mid-week schedule:
I got a session tommorrow (Wed) at Sports Planet from 10pm to 12am. It will be open if any from your side is insterested.
Any such offers or proposals can be made under the weekly OPSAGE post as well.
At least Neil M bears in mind the use of OPSAGE. As he said last week:
I also played on Tuesday night, but initially turned up at the wrong venue, finding myself at Sports Planet at 9pm when I should have been at The Cage! I was on my mountain bike, so raced as fast as I could to get to The Cage, and turned up at 9.13pm, which I think was pretty good going since it’s about 5km from one to the other! It got me thinking that I should start a new OPSGAGE – time trial mountain biking from Sports Planet to The Cage! If anyone thinks they can beat my time of 13 minutes, go for it!!!
Ferment: Indefatigable Fun For Adults 
S. League fixtures from today until next Thursday:
• Tonight at Jalan Besar Stadium: Tampines Rovers v Sengkang Punggol
• Monday night at Jurong East Stadium: Albirex Niigata v Woodlands Wellington
• Monday night at Hougang Stadium: Sengkang Punggol v Super Reds
• Tuesday night at Jalan Besar Stadium: Young Lions v DPMM
• Wednedsay night at Toa Payoh Stadium: Balestier Khalsa v Geylang United
• Thursday night at Yishun Stadium: Super Reds v Tampines Rovers
Results:
• Last Friday night at Jalan Besar Stadium: Tampines Rovers 3 Sengkang Punggol 1
• Monday night at Jurong East Stadium: Albirex Niigata 2 Woodlands Wellington 0
• Monday night at Hougang Stadium: Sengkang Punggol 0 Super Reds 2
• Tuesday night at Jalan Besar Stadium: Young Lions 0 DPMM 1
• Wednedsay night at Toa Payoh Stadium: Balestier Khalsa 0 Geylang United 1
• Thursday night at Yishun Stadium: Super Reds 1 Tampines Rovers 3
With two wins, Tampines Rovers entrench their position in second place, 8 points behind SAFFC, having played a game more. DPMM are third, 4 points behind Tampines Rovers, having played a game less.
I received the following SMS from Ian on Wednesday:
We’ve had morning sessions twice before:
• Wednesday, 1 October 2008 (Hari Raya Puasa), 9 to 10 am, at The Cage.
• Monday, 10 August 2009 (public holiday for National Day falling on Sunday), 10 to 11 am, at Turf City.
We can accommodate more players at Turf City, but Ian prefers playing off the side walls at The Cage rather than the side nets at Turf City or Sports Planet.
As it’s his suggestion, we’ll stick with The Cage.
10 to 11 am may be a more reasonable hour than 9 to 10 am over a long weekend.
I received the following SMS from Hairuddin today:
I suppose Kevin would be interested, but can we get 5 let alone 8 to play at that hour?
If we get 5, we could always play without substitutes. After all, that’s the way we usually play, and I doubt any of us would want to play with substitutes.
If it’s 10-11pm I’m in. And yes, 5 without subs would be ok.
I received another e-mail from Mark T yesterday:
He called me around the same time to discuss the matter.
I’ll get back to this later today or tomorrow.
Hi Rajiv
I suspect Hairuddin and Mark T belong to the same group.
A guy named Mark managed last Wednesday’s 10pm – 12am session that I played.
You might want to ask and check.
I know Kevin. Hairuddin is also Mark T’s “introducer” in the Participant List.
What Mark T is suggesting is broader than what Hairuddin first proposed, and affects one of our routine schedule. That’s why I have continued the discussion under the mid-week schedule.
Ganesh has asked whether we can have a mixed session as his girlfriend is keen to play.
Our previous attempt at a mixed session (on 14 January 2009) didn’t work out too well, not least because of a lack of female players. 🙂
There was no discussion of a mixed session for a while until I raised it again in the OPSAGE post of 2 August 2009. A few people had expressed renewed interest, but when I followed up, there was little response at the time.
As views about a mixed session vary, I would prefer to designate a particular session as a mixed session, rather than having it arise ad hoc by having female players in a regular session.
For it to work, we need the right balance of male and female players.
What is more sustainable longer term may be to use the pooling effect of the blog to develop a regular women’s session.
I’ll come back to this after I speak to Ganesh at today’s session.
Ganesh’s girlfriend, Kimberly, came along to watch the session.
I have a second pitch at The Cage for Tuesday, 15 September 2009.
I discussed having a second mixed session on Tuesday at The Cage. I believe Ganesh “volunteered” Wei Wen and Melvin C for the mixed session. 🙂
I’ll come back to this later today or tomorrow.
I’ve moved the details of the adapted/extra sessions/games this week to the “OPSAGE” page. These are as follows:
• Mixed session on Tuesday, 15 September 2009, 8.50 to 10.00 pm at The Cage. Currently full.
• Representative game on Wednesday, 15 September 2009, 8.50 to 10.00 pm at Sports Planet. 2 places left.
• Representative game on Wednesday, 15 September 2009, 9.50 to 11.00 pm at Sports Planet. 2 places left.
Poh Keng SMSed me yesterday evening to say they only had 2 girls for the mixed session, and they needed 2 more. I SMSed a few people and Gwen replied later to say two friends, Hur Yuin and Andrea, are keen to play.
Sagnik SMSed me this morning to say he’s coming down with the flu, so 1 place left.
The 9 so far are: Wei Wen, Ganesh, Poh Keng, Sajith, Kimberly, Priyanka, Kenneth L, Hur Yuin and Andrea.
Everyone bring both black and white tops, and we’ll sort out the line ups before the session.
Melvin L is ok with the mixed session, so he’ll take Sagnik’s place.
Unfortunately, Andrea can’t make it, so still one more place.
Gwen provided me with 3 other numbers, but unfortunately, one is injured and the the other two can’t make it at short notice.
My brother-in-law says he knows a woman who’s interested to play in the future, but she’ll just come along to watch tonight. She can’t be persuaded to play. 🙂
Shan of The Cage SMSed last night to say that a group of girls are having their regular training session from 8 to 10 pm tonight, so perhaps they might be interested to take turns to play in the mixed session.
We should be able to get by tonight.
I’ll be around, and I might fill in for a while too.
Magdalene called to say she can play, so we’re back to 10.
1 place left for each of the two representative games tomorrow night at Sports Planet.
Mark T SMSed to say they will wear white. Although white is our first colour and black is our second colour, as Wednesday’s colours are usually white and red, we’ll wear red, our third colour.
Ron SMSed to say he’s out, and to ask whether Desmond can play the 9 to 10 pm game. I can switch back to the 10 to 11 pm game.
Still 1 more place for the 10 to 11 game. If no one else comes in, I guess Steve can play. 🙂
I’ve asked Mark L to play the 10-11pm game. He is considering.
Kevin, as per your SMSes, Mark L is still injured, and the other friend who was interested can’t make it, so Steve F is in for both.
Look Liew SMSed yesterday afternoon to ask if I’d like to play with his regular Thursday night group, from 8 to 9 pm, at Sports Planet.
At my age, I can’t play two days in a row anymore, so I replied to say I’d ask around for him. Ron replied to say he’d play.
Look Liew later SMSed me to say there were 2 more places for a 5-a-side. I asked around again, but I didn’t get any responses this time. It was after 5 pm, so probably too late in the day.