Match Review: FireAnts bitten (beaten) by the Inne-credibles!

INNEBANDY! CO. v CONTACT FIREANTS
25th June 2009, Thursday
6-3(2-2, 4-1)

0651 1-0 Ephraim Teh
0701 1-1 Edward Lim (Bryan Looi)
1520 2-1 Deswyn Wan (Sam Teoh)
1928 2-2 Edward Lim (Bryan Looi)

0007 2-3 Bryan Looi (Edward Lim)
0219 3-3 Valerie Yentl Tan
0449 Incorrect Distance - Andrew Yeap (INC)
0588 4-3 Deswyn Wan - Penalty for Incorrect Hit - Kenny Khoo (CFA)
0612 Obstruction - Edward Lim (CFA)
0750 Repeated Offences - Henry Cheang (CFA)
0910 Incorrect Hit - Sam Teoh (INC)
1827 5-3 Sam Teoh
1940 6-3 Valerie Yentl Tan

SOT 16-21

Intense.
Controversial.
Anger.
Frustration.
Goals.

That basically sums up Innebandy versus FireAnts match.
BBF decided to have a chat with Innebandy's coach, Sam Teoh, and FireAnts captain, Penny Khoo, for more insights on the game.

Sam Teoh (ST) of Innebandy give his thoughts on the game:

BBF: It was a really tight match, especially in the first half. Did you expect the game to be that tough?

ST: Honestly, I do. Playing Contact is never easy. As described by BBF they are the team with a great mind behind the sticks. But I was quite confident of my team as we are prepared for a tougher match playing against FireAnts with Nic MIA. It was good 1st period for us though, all the innebandiens gave their best and play their hearts out and FireAnts were left catching up with our goals.


BBF: You were awarded a penalty shot in the second hal when the score was tied at 3-3. Frankly, do you think it was a penalty? Do you think it turned the game to your favour or you would have won the game regardless of the penalty?

ST: It was a very hard one to judge as I didn't have a clear view of it. Maybe a slash maybe not. It's all up to the referees discretion to make the call. I think we will still win the game regardless of the penalty. We can't even score when they had 3 players on court. But only score all the goals when they had their full squad back.


BBF: The game got a little messy after the many sending offs. What's your take on them?

ST: I feel the referees are doing their job just fine. They tried to be as professional as possible. Sent-offs are normal for a tight game, cuz both team wants to win. I got one myself (laughs).


BBF: 2 wins in a row, Innebandy are in fine form. All the way for gold?

ST: Yeah that's for sure, who doesn't? But playing against Ztec will be a tougher match. That game will decide whether the gold is ours or theirs.


BBF: Lastly who do you think was the Man of the Match for team Contact FireAnts?

ST: Edward Lim.


The following is the interview between Borak Borak Floorball (BBF) and team Contact Captain, Penny Khoo (PK):

BBF: It was a tie by the end of the first period. What was the strategy going up against a team that hit 10 in their previous match?

PK: We just needed to play our game. They have good individual players but I think that on paper we are tighter as a team. So if we play our game, we should win.


BBF: Much were debated regarding the penalty shot which obviously turned the game around and unfortunately for your team, it proved to be the downhill point. After which, the intensity increased and it was translated through the body language of the players. Players played harder, to a certain extent, rougher, which resulted in more sending offs. As a captain, what is your view on the penalty as well as the rest of the sending offs?

PK: From my view, as well as the view of others in the team and spectator’s stand, the penalty shouldn’t have taken place. It was first of all not a slash; secondly Kenny was at Ephraim’s side when the ball was taken away from the latter. Besides that, I feel that it was not a goal situation to warrant a penalty because he was still a long way off from the goal line. If we are a goal down, we obviously have to play harder. But I think that the intensity increased from both sides. It is just unfortunate that our players got sent off more than their players.


BBF: Correct us if we're wrong, but it seemed to us that team Contact did not just loss focus on the game but also between team mates after the many controversial incidents. Understandably so. As the team captain, was it hard to motivate yourself as well as your team as a whole to stay positive? What were some of the things that went through your mind during those moments?

PK: Without shadow of doubt, the penalty call against us, and subsequent calls after that got us loss focus. Understandably it was hard to regain momentum when that happened. There was really not much time left for us then, except to play harder till the very last whistle. The only thing that floods my mind then is who to fill in when we are down with 3 or 4 players. And I must say this as applause to my own team mates for guarding their post well. No goals were concede during that few minutes when we were playing with one less player.


BBF: 2 losses in a row, surely a big blow to FireAnts' Campaign. What now?

PK: 2nd loss was unexpected but we also knew that the championship is harder to retain this year. So we have other objectives for the team. We just have to play every game the FireAnt style!


BBF: Finally, your take on the Man of the Match for Innebandy!Co. and why?

PK: Sam Teoh. He played a good defensive role, controlled the ball well from their end.

Borak Says:
Jose:
Both teams were neck to neck as they entered into the break with the score at 2 a piece. Nothing could separate both these teams until a penalty shot was awarded to Innebandy! Co. for incorrect hit, which Deswyn Wan cooly finished off. It became the foundation for Innebandy! Co. to build on as their confidence of winning the game increased.

Meanwhile, in the Contact camp, players started to lose focus after a few 2 minutes were being showed to their players for various offences in a short span of time. Innebandy! Co. took hold of the game by capitalizing on the mistakes from the frustrated defenders and extended their lead in the dying minutes of the game. In the end, it was Innebandy! Co. who came out victorious in what was being labelled as one of the top matches in this years Division 1 campaign.

Innebandy! Co. will be beaming with confidence marching forward after this game knowing that they are another step closer to the gold medal they have been vying for. It is always tough for any team to play Ztec and Innebandy! Co. back to back. Contact will be desperate to get back to winning ways, which they are accustomed to against Minden UniHawks. Watch out Hawks, the Ants are coming for you! Be prepared to see a backlash when Contact play Minden.

Bendy:
Both teams were determined to get the better of each other in the first half which Inne drew first blood. Inne led twice but FireAnts answered both with equalisers from Edward, supplied by Bryan.

FireAnts then stung Inne with a surprising lead, 7 seconds from the restart only to fine the game tie once again by some sloppy defending. From there on, the tides changed and the sending off start to fly all around.

Andrew, the first casualty was sent off for incorrect distance, but an Inne counter won them a penalty as Kenny was deemed to foul the forward who was goal bound. Des slotted the ball and temper flares as Edward was then send off for obstruction, followed by Henry for repeated offence. Sam followed soon for incorrect hit as he defended desperately.

Inne took advantage of the situation and increase their lead, and sat back defending. A decision they might have regreted if not for FireAnts missfiring. FireAnts with nothing to lose, was on gung-ho mode, testing the Lin Ken but unsuccessfully, with shots flying high or wide.

In the end, Inne came out victorious but not after withstanding an onslaught by the Fireants with waves of shots. To a certain extend it was a good game of floorball where both teams, almost equal in strength trying to out do each other but it was spiced up by decision deemed dubious and controversial, which FireAnts mostly on the receiving end. But that is the nature of the game, uncontrollable situations and luck play a part. The furious Ants will be looking on the next prey to lashed out their rage. Watch out!


MOMs:
From Inne it was an obvious pick. Sam Teoh. Constanly on the move through out the match. You cannot fail to notice him. Hard and uncompromising in defences as he neutralised FireAnts attacks and threatening their goal instead with his pacey runs and array of passes to his forwards.

Inne's defences certainly looked more stable and calm with his presences; offenses on the other hand, looked more lively and deadly as he would constantly supplied them passes which often end up with disappointing finishings. His goal tally would certainly increase if he would take more shots.

FireAnts' MoM was a way harder task, it was a tussle between Edward and Bryan as both of was the heartbeat of the Ants offense, creating and scoring all three of their goals. Both were a joy to watch as they passes and movement were top class, which opened up Inne's defence on numerous occasions, only to see the shots ending up anywhere else other than behind the net.

After much consideration, Borak decided to go with Bryan. Reason being the youngster was more frequently found in threatening positions and had more shots on goal. Maybe some weight training on the wrist will see more SOTs converted into goals in the future. Keep it up!!

(Cheers to Sam and Penny for sharing their thoughts.^^)

Match Review: Spartans spear Eagles down

FRONTLINERS SPARTANS v DALAT EAGLES
23rd June 2009, Tuesday
8-3(5-2, 3-1)

0058 1-0 Khor Kuan Yang
0205 2-0 Chung Wei Jian (Kew Pei Li)
0807 2-1 Jason Mark Selvanayagam - Penalty for Repeated Offences: Steven Tay (FLS)
0838 2-2 Mats Nordberg
0902 3-2 Algin Tan (Khor Kuan Yang)
1600 4-2 Lee Su Rong (Algin Tan Chun Liang)
1853 5-2 Lee Su Rong (Khor Kuan Yang)

0446 Incorrect Hit - Brian Richard Merusi (DLE)
0452 6-2 Lee Su Rong
1126 7-2 Chan Ming Hwee
1447 8-2 Chung Wei Jian (Nicholas Teoh Ping Hooi)
1805 Incorrect Distance - Nicholas Teoh Ping Hooi (FLS)
1913 8-3 Norman Arno Kiehl (Brian Richard Merusi)

SOT 34-23

It was time for the long-awaited unveiling of the Who's Who in Dalat's team. BBF has coined them as "Team Mysterious" due to their team roster that rendered nothing more than mere names of whom we've never heard before. Would they surprise us all? The same went for the Spartans too, in this game that could set the stage for an interesting relegation battle. Looking on with interest also were fellow relegation candidate, Minden UniHawks.

BBF sat down with Frontliners' coach, Khor Kuan Yang, to get his two cents worth on the game. However, we did not manage to get hold of Dalat's coach, Jason Selva. Hopefully, we can get hold of him in Dalat's upcoming matches! All is not lost as we have our very own BBF pundits to share their thoughts on Dalat as well as Frontliners!

The following is the interview between Borak Borak Floorball (BBF) and Khor Kuan Yang (KY) from Frontliners Spartans (FLS):

BBF: Spartans, like Eagles, at a smaller scale, too have replaced numerous old faces with new ones, how come?

KY: I would say that it's mostly due to commitment issues. The inability to merge other commitments, such as studies and work, forced a few players to skip training and eventually Floorball altogether.


BBF: With Eagles literally an unknown team to PFL, how did you prepare for the game? And with rumours of Sasi playing for Dalat, did you guys take that into account as well?

KY: Like you said, they are 'unknown'. Rather than focusing on the opponent, I try and focus on ourselves - Establishing a common goal for the team to achieve in the league. And also drawing out individual objectives which I would like to see the players achieve in a match as part of their personal development and at the same time contribute to the team in a match.

Sasi? We hear he was playing for Dalat, but its out of our control. Although I did take that into account.


BBF: In the end, it seemed like an easy game for Spartans? Your thoughts on the game?

KY: Eagles seemed to struggle with a team full of new players but they are undoubtedly huge and strong physically. Some were pretty fast too. Although we did beat them by exploiting their gaps in positioning, they did stun us a bit at the beginning. A dubious penalty I would say and then an outrageous whack that resulted to a goal.

There were other moments in the game when they pinned the 2nd line in our half and had numerous chances. With a slightly better finishing and we might have seen a different scoreline. So, I wouldn't call it an easy game. It was a hard fought victory. Cheers to the Eagles!


BBF: Your first game and your first win. The road ahead will definitely be an uphill climb from henceforth. What’s your aim as a coach and for the team for this year’s PFL?

The aim for the team was to keep all of us together, united as we face hardships and challenges ahead. Like how the Spartans fend off the Persian. I hope the league will help the players understand that true meaning of a "Team" rather than having their minds occupied with just a "Win".

"Win as a Team" that's my aim as a coach.

The aim for the team would be defining the "Win" above. I would say 4th is achievable but why not look slightly ahead. How about third? (Laughs)


BBF: And lastly, who was your Man of the Match for Dalat Eagles and why?

Wow... This is by far the toughest question, I barely know any of them. I don't know his name but I would go for No. 20 of Dalat. Very energetic on court, ran a lot and forced our defenders into committing a lot of errors. I think he was the one that scored the screamer.

*************************************************

And there you have it, from the man behind the strategy for team Frontliners Spartans.

As for Dalat, we must give them credit for being part of PFL Division 1 even though most of them are still very new to the sport. Indeed a courageous participation on their part knowing that they will be going up against teams like Ztec, Innebandy and Contact. BBF salutes you!

The obvious difference between the Dalat we've seen before and the current Dalat's team is none other than speed. Even Dalat's Division two team portrayed that trademark element. However, it was totally different this time around as they have recruited mostly middle age players instead of their young guns. Therefore, they lack horsepower. Having said that, they manage to rope in a few rookies as well who actually made a huge difference for Dalat.

It wasn't easy for Dalat to go up against a team with speed. However, they played hard and utilize what they have - size. Although they lost in the end, it really wasn't such a bad performance by the very newly assembled Dalat team. What more, it is always an encouragement to see new players, be it young or old, to be part of the floorball mania. BBF will definitely keep a keen eye out on Dalat! Bravo to team Dalat!

Borak Says:
Jose:

Frontliners started the match well and showed great hunger in getting every loose ball and winning most of their 50-50 challenges. Players like Su Rong, Algin and Wei Jian, though new to floorball and lack the basic techniques, compensated their weaknesses by constantly using their speed to run at opposing defenders. The Dalat players found it hard to contain the energetic movements of Frontliners and were constantly open to 1 on 1 situations with the Dalat goalie, who managed to help Dalat reduced the scoreline by producing a few superb saves.

Dalat, on the other hand, field a team of 'new' Floorball players, many of them were playing floorball for the very first time. However, they did well considering that this is their first time playing on a full size court. With more games to come, they should be able to gain a better understanding of the game and hopefully play a better game in the future. As for now, it is merely just playing for fun. It would be interesting to see the partnership of Mats and Sasi playing together on the same team as it will definitely cause problems for the opposing team.

MOMs:
Frontliners

There were many outstanding players for Frontliners in this match. And for us to pick one, is quite a task. After much consideration, the MOM would be the rookie, Su Rong. He ran himself out and rarely gave his opposing defenders a second's rest. Displaying good positional sense and tremendous composure in front of goal, he got his reward in his first ever Penang League game, scoring three from less than 3m out.

And as for Dalat, our pick would be Mats Nordberg. Yes, the man who scored that screamer from three-quarters that Deswyn/Kuan Yang would have been proud of.

(NOTE: A heartfelt thanks to Khor Kuan Yang for his time for this interview. )

Match Review: INNEcredible!

MINDEN UNIHAWKS v INNEBANDY! CO
18th June 2009, Thursday
0-10 (0-2, 0-8)

0922 0-1 Nicholas Ong (Rooban Chand)
1337 Minden UniHawks time out
1851 0-2 Nicholas Ong (Rooban Chand)

1207 0-3 Andrew Yeap
1404 0-4 Deswyn Wan (Sam Teoh)
1406 2 mins for illegal equipment: Darren Loh (INC)
1631 0-5 Rooban Chand (Deswyn Wan)
1944 0-6 Deswyn Wan
1122 0-7 Ephraim Teh
1204 0-8 Sam Teoh (Deswyn Wan)
1430 0-9 Darren Loh (Sam Teoh)
1524 2 mins for incorrect hit: Daniel Chong (MDU)
1603 0-10 Nicholas Ong (Deswyn Wan)

SOT 3-30

If Frontliners weren't known as 'Spartans', UniHawks would have definitely earned that name after last night's daring display with just 8 players on their side against a full squad of Innebandy! Co..

Once again, BBF took initiative to get hold of both coaches - Minden UniHawks' very new head coach, Christopher Koh, along with the very experienced Innebandy! Co.'s head coach, Sam Teoh. What do they have to say about their game? Let's hear it from them!


The following is the interview between Borak Borak Floorball (BBF) and Christopher Koh (CK):

BBF: This is your first outing as a coach in PFL D1, how do you feel? Especially since you played against last years runner-up, Innebandy! Co..

CK: Yes, it is my first outing as a coach. For sure the pressure is more intense for different reasons – for me, the pressure comes from the fact that I’m still new in this field and this naturally builds up from the responsibility I have as a coach, which is to be able to identify the problem and then present a set of ‘solutions’ for the team – to add all that against a team such as Innebandy, it wasn’t an easy task. I know I’m still on a learning curve in coaching and have loads more to pick up as well. Good experience nonetheless!

BBF: The number of players on the bench was much talked about, what happened?

CK: Our core group of players are basically students from USM. Unfortunately for us, the league started amid their semester break, therefore, most of them are either back in their hometown else where or are undergoing their internship. We managed to pull together those who are in Penang.

BBF: With the amount of players that you had, what strategy did you have in mind?

CK: Innebandy’s strength is from their centre right up to their forwards. With the amount and the types of players that I had, I felt that we were more suited to play half-press for two reasons; to conserve energy and to play tight defensively to counter their strength in the centre and forward. The initial strategy was to contain them and try to cut the losses in score line, with the hope of losing out 1 or 2-0, and we did fend them off well in the first period, letting in only 2 goals. With two goals down and nothing to lose, I decided to switch to 3-quarter press early in the second period against Innebandy’s second line, while staying half-press against their first line. Obviously, the change of game plan affected the focus of my players, which resulted in successive goals on their part.

BBF: How do you think such a huge defeat (10-0) would affect your morale and how do you intend to keep the team going as the league progress?

CK: Even before the league started, I already said to myself that for us, Minden UniHawks, it would be a test of character more than anything else. To go on court with 8 players against a team such as Innebandy, it was a learning opportunity to cease. Character precedes winning – the best team is born out of winning medals, but a great team is born out of a unified spirit and positive characters. The first game is always the hardest. I think as a team, the morale will boost tremendously once we get the rest of the players back after the semester break. Until then, my job is just to keep the players motivated.

BBF: Finally, who was your MoM for team Innebandy and why?

CK: I would have to say Nicholas Ong. He was in tip-top form last night and almost single-handedly destroyed us. Nic is known for his knack of ‘mood swings’ in his form but last night, fortunately for him but unfortunately for us, he was in a ‘good mood’ and we could see why – he broke the deadlock for Innebandy and scored the last goal for them. He played well last night. Great job.


The following is the interview between Borak Borak Floorball (BBF) and Sam Teoh (ST) of Innebandy! Co. (IC):

BBF: Your first game of the league and against what many would consider the underdog – was it a good thing to start off against a weaker side? And as a coach, was it a relieve for you?

ST: Yes! It is definitely an advantage for us since most of us are not accustomed to playing on the full size court. Playing against MDU on our first game has helped boost our confidence on court, not solely for winning, but more so of staying tight and playing together as a team. However, MDU is not new to Floorball in Penang, hence, they were never viewed by IC as the underdog in this league. They are still capable of crushing their opponent's dreams. I still remember the closing game of last year's league.

BBF: Obviously, your team has better players and you guys outnumbered UniHawks, with that comes a certain expectation but it seemed that the Hawks manage to go damage control in the first period, and your players seemed to struggle to hit in the goals, taking only a 2-0 lead. What was the strategy in the first period? Do you think it worked?

ST: Like I said, most of us seldom play on a full size court. That is the reason why we could only score 2 goals in the 1st period. Also, MDU played a very tight defensive game in the 1st period. It wasn't easy to penetrate the ball through but we still got a couple of shots on target. The strategy was quite simple or confusing, based on the level of seniority of the individual in Floorball. I don't really expect the game play to work in the 1st period as most of us are still trying to adapt and to register the game play into our heads. A slow start for IC indeed.

BBF: The second period you guys manage to bank in the goals. What do you think contributed to the successive goals and what were your orders in the second period?

ST: IC managed to bounce back in the 2nd period and gave the scoreboard a double digit score line, something which I didn't expect to see for the 1st game. Our movements and passes improved as the game prolonged. The instruction was pretty simple - I asked the team to do ONE thing which they like to do most, that's to score goals. They did exactly that. However, if MDU were to stick to their tight defence game play then the margin would definitely have been lower.

BBF: Defensively, your team seemed a little shaky at times. Was it a concern you had even against a small team such as UniHawks?

ST: Its has always been a struggle and concern for IC on our part as coaches. But they did improved a lot compared to last year's league. Better control and tougher. Our defence needs to play the game without feeling the pressure from the opponents. It is something which ONLY the individual can work on themselves!

BBF: Who do you think was the man of the match for Minden UniHawks and why?

ST: Christopher Koh. He was practically the backbone of the team. A couple of blocks and counter attacks made by him kept us alert and not to take the game easy.

***************************************

A big score line indeed. And this is what BBF have to say.

Borak Says:
Spritzer:
With just 8 outfield players, everyone thought it would be a breeze for IC but boy oh boy, did the Hawks surprised them and all of us in the first period!

The first period saw the Hawks played a tight and compact defensive play. It was an effective strategy that saw them letting in only 2 goals. IC struggled to find their footing in the first 10 minutes of the game but managed to break the deadlock through Nicholas. With 2 goals down, will the Hawks stick to their conservative half-press strategy?

Well, they didn't. They came on the second period strong, pushing higher than before and at times caught IC off guard. Unfortunately for them, it didn't produce the intended result. The shift of game play broke the focus of Hawks' players and IC took advantage of them. Gaps were opened in the centre, giving ample space for Deswyn, Sam and Nic to tear Hawks defense apart. Of course, fatigue kicked in for UniHawks as well.

But with just 8 outfield players, the Hawks deserved a standing ovation for their courage and spirit. Great job guys!

Bendy:
The relegation battler started of surprisingly with only 8 outfield players and caused even greater shock as they shut out 15 strong Inne for a near 10 minutes before conceding their first. Their tactical discipline would have been an achievement if it weren't for the Nick-Roo combination which struck for the second time in the dying minutes of the first half.

Hawks shocked us all again by restarting the half in a totally different fashion. Instead of the ultra defensive strategy, then opted a high press, aiming for the lottery win. The gaps initiated the deadly duo, Sam and Deswyn as they were involved in 6 out of the 8 goals scored in the second half.

Ultimately, as expected, it was a win for Innebandy, but many wouldn't have expected UniHawks to put up a good fight in the first half with a handful of players, then daring enough to press for goals and still ending the game with rather high spirits. Thumbs up!

MOMs:
Like the previous game, MoM from both camps was decided between the one shinning in defence and the one other in offence.

For the Hawks, it was player/coach Christopher Koh who got the nod.
The defender who was tipped by the National Coach as the most impressive player from Korea's APAC outing certainly didn't disappoint his approval. Solid and strong in protecting the ball, making decisive interceptions and clearance, and fearless in giving Inne's attackers crunching bodychecks. UniHawks' defence looked more assured with his presence. It's such a shame his attacking qualities did not attract the same degree of mention, squandering the only few shooting chances the team managed to create.

As for Innebandy, the moody poacher, Nic Ong.
The forward is known to be inconsistently lethal, relying greatly on his form. Unfortunately for UniHawks, his form on Thursday night was sizzling hot. He opened the scoring and then buried another before the half, both assisted by Rooban, lucky charm of the night. Although he only managed to register in the dying moments of the match, his penetrative runs constantly threatened the stubborn defence of UniHawks and his shots, unlike most days, were rarely of the charts, he either hit the post or were denied by the goalkeeper. A rare "on" day for the forward and deservingly recognised as the MoM.

(NOTE: A heartfelt thanks to both Christopher Koh and Sam Teoh for giving their time for this interview. )

Match Review: The Young Guns Mean Business

CONTACT FIREANTS v ZTEC 8CERS
16th June 2009, Tuesday
0-7 (0-4, 0-3)

0049 0-1 Jo-Wyee (Ter Min)
0058 0-2 Ter Min (Jo-Wyee)
0915 2mins for incorrect distance: Sjaiful (Z8C)
1014 0-3 Jo-Wyee (Ter Min)
1404 0-4 Oliver Cedric (Jeremy Yeap)

1226 0-5 Jo-Wyee (Ter Min)
1454 0-6 Jo-Wyee (Ter Min)
1454 Contact FireAnts Time out
1826 2mins for incorrect hit: Henry Cheang (CFA)
1917 0-7 James Looi (OG)

SOT 5-30

THE GAME IS ON!!

The long awaited Division 1 PFL 2009 finally kick started on Tuesday night at the Balik Pulau Indoor Stadium at 8pm that saw an intense game between team Ztec 8cers and team Contact FireAnts.

What a way to officiate the league with a match such as this - last year's champion, Contact FireAnts, facing this year's much talked about title contender, Ztec 8cers.

BBF has decided come up with a new approach for the match review for Division 1. Instead of the usual summary-type match review by our team of pundits/reviewers (refer to Division 2 match review entries), we decided to let the team managers, coaches and even players to speak for themselves and share their thoughts on their game through our list of interview questions. We want to vary our style of approach this time around just to keep things a little interesting. Also, through the questions and answers, we hope to provide new insights to all avid floorballers to widen their perspective on the game.
We hope that this will benefit you guys in one way or another!

For Tuesday match, we managed to get hold of both the team managers. Representing team Ztec 8cers would be Chiam TerMin (TM) and for team Contact FireAnts, Edward Lim (EL).

The following is the interview between Borak Borak Floorball (BBF) and Chiam TerMin (TM):

BBF: How does it feel to kick start the league against Contact FireAnts?

TM: We already knew way before the league that our opponents were going to be last year's champions due to the format set by IFF. For me and the boys, we feel great to kick start our campaign against a tough opponent (Fireants) as we have now clear one tough hurdle out of the way. Beating a good team at the start will give us the much needed confidence. However we knew it was never going to be easy. What more coming head to head with the genius of Coach Edward's tactics.

BBF: Obviously, Ztec is currently the most feared team due to the number of national as well as capable players they have in the team. Is it hard to come out on court with that kind of expectation, especially on your first game?

TM: Yes, yes it's very hard. The expectation is high, the pressure as well. To be honest, I feel more nervous before yesterday's game than any of my other games I played before (even my games for Malaysia). With a strong and young team like this, I'm sure people expect us to deliver in every game. So once again, the pressure is high.

BBF: The score was 7-0, was it what you'd expected?

TM: We knew it was not going to be an easy game. Because their first line has been playing together for very long time so they know each other's game and they are also a team with good passes and movement. We targeted to score 7 goals but expected to concede a couple.(Thank God we didnt concede)

BBF: What was your strategy against a team such as contact?

TM: The strategy was to go in the court and try to score as early as possible to kill the game off. I think we did score 2 goals in the first minute and it was always hard for them to catch back as the mind will be affected. After that it was mostly passes and controlling by the defenders to frustrate the opponent. We expected them to play tight and go for the counter attack so we started playing rather wide. I think the plan worked pretty well.

BBF: Who would you vote as man of the match for team Contact?

TM: I would say their goalie, Joshua. Although conceding 7 goals, he made a couple of great saves. If it was not for him, it could have been more.


At the opposite end, we got hold of team Contact FireAnts's Captain and Coach, Edward Lim (EL):

BBF: How does it feel to kick start the league against the young, vibrant and much talked about Ztec team?

EL: It was not something that we had hoped for, knowing that our team had a habit of starting slow in every tournament. It was also unfortunate that the system that PFA employed placed Ztec, which was a strong team in Division 2 last year. That sort of messes up with the league format that IFF proposes. Anyway, PFA did warn us about this and that it will take 2 years to rectify, so it should get better next year. We would have loved playing them later in the league. I am sure then that there would be greater Floorball displayed and it would be a better game. That does not mean that we will win the game, but it will definitely be better for Floorball.

BBF: The age difference between Contact and Ztec was obvious. What was Contact's strategy to curb the young Ztec team?

EL: It is obvious that we were no match for their speed. We just needed to play our game, play it harder and hope for the best.

BBF: The score was 7-0, was it what you'd expected?

EL: No, defensive errors on our part as a team created a bigger margin in the score line than we expected. A narrower loss would be a more realistic expectation. We just did not play hard enough.

BBF: What's your take on the disallowed goal by Edward Lim? Was it a good call by the referees or a bad one?

EL: It is always sad when a goal is not allowed. But we have to admit that the whistle did go off just before the shot was taken and it is the responsibility of the referees to make a call. And when such a call is made, there is nothing much you can do about it.

BBF: Who would you vote as man of the match for team Ztec?

EL: Jo-Wyee.

*************************************

And there you have it! Both teams with their head man having a say at the game. What are our thoughts on the game? Below are our personal take on the game.

Borak Says:
Spritzer:
In a game such as this, the separation between these two teams falls heavily on speed. Ztec basically ran all over Contact. No doubt they are a skillfull team but I personally feel that it was speed and the quick change of pace that kept Contact shaky. Also, I felt Contact could have played a little harder physically. They weren't as strong as I thought they'd be.
But overall, still a laudable performance by them.

Ztec has definitely proven their point in that game - they simply mean business. Great job! But can they truly withstand the pressure of expectation and continue their seed of excellence in the league?
We shall see!

Bendy:
Total domination.
It was thought to be a win for the "Champions-in-making", but not in such a one-sided manner. The "Champions" were left chasing shadows throughout the match.

The much built up hype about the mind games were rendered ineffective as the quality of 8cers proved to much for FireAnts to handle. Early goals in quick succession, meant that 8cers took initiative leaving FireAnts for the chase.

There were moments FireAnts looked solid as they fought hard, keeping 8cers at bay, but the Ants barely got out of their half, with Choon Hun, saving 5 shots on goal compared to Joshua's 30. The deep defending didn't help much as their defence was constantly caught ball watching, leading to numerous one on one situations leaving only for Joshua to deny them a bigger margin.

As a neutral, it was a joy to watch; but to the opponents its a strong signal of intent: You are next!!

MOMs:
This is a classic attacking vs defending.
Attacker vs Goalkeeper.

Borak's pick for the match - Jo-Wyee(Z8C) and Joshua(CFA).

The lanky forward of 8cers, improved tremendously since his APAC outing, was the deadliest amongst a team of stars. Without the ball, the forward made intelligent runs deep and wide, distracting the defenders and opening gaps for his team mates. With the ball, he expressed wholeheartedly his array of cheeky skills, and breaking angles with his cunning turns. Combining best with Ter Min, whom supplied him with quality passes, which he did not disappoint, sending 4 past Joshua.

The goalie, Joshua Lim, who was on the receiving end, was much to be blamed for early goals. He did however, responded with a string of superb goalkeeping thereafter. Constantly called upon, he replied almost everything Ztec had to offer (other than the goals), denying shots after shots. There were even moments where he had to make consecutive saves from rebounds and difficult angles. A remarkable come back in terms of form for the young goalie.

(NOTE: A heartfelt thanks to both Chiam TerMin and Edward Lim for giving their time for this interview. )

Team Preview: Ztec 8cers

Ztec 8cers(Ztec 8cers Floorball Club)

Last season: 2nd/4 (Div 2)

The D2 runner-ups were in a class of their own, dominating the league with outrageous score lines.

This season, it was a relief for the D2 teams seeing them promoted, leaving the D1 teams sweating and fearing the worst.

Indeed they should.
The D1 team shows no signs of being weakened despite the fact that some of the original team members were included in the new D2 teams, as they were replaced by some “big name” recruits.

Defence has been severely boosted with the likes of Sjaiful, Hadfiz and Jun Wooi (Dalat Eagles), all national defenders; add on a familiar name who is back for holidays, Jeremy Yeap and sharp shooter Danial Cheah (Innebandy), the mere sight of their names on the match record would send shivers down the spine of their opponents.

The only area that pale in comparison, is the goalkeeper. The GK, Choon Hun will mark his debut on the opening match of PFL, but the sheer fact that the newbie shook of challenges from 2 other more experience team mates surely indicates how highly the coach view him. The “new” tag is mere cover up folks.

Ztec is new to D1 but not new to floorball. Fact.
Ztec was strong, now stronger. Fact.
Their emergence has disrupted the title challenge. Fact.
Their existence has force teams to reshuffle objectives and aims for the league. Fact.

Facts. All is just plain talk for now. The big question is: Can they live up to their billing?
Opponents surely hope not.
But for neutrals, nothing beats a game of entertaining Floorball.
This years’ PFL is surely worth looking forward too!!

Star Player:
Picking a star player has never been such a dreadful task.
The team is just full of stars all over!
Die die pick one? BBF will have to go for Ter Min.
Used to be known for his powerful drag shots, the boy has grown and evolved in many ways, and has to a certain extent, progressed to be a more complete player. Already technically superior than most, now seasoned with experience, topping up with improved vision plus the support of capable team mates, makes him deadlier than ever.

Being Team Malaysia’s point leader from the recent APAC campaign, Ter Min would be hoping his sizzling form will continue in PFL. Penang, expect the worst, this boy would be hard to contained even on a bad day. It would be more less a decent achievement if one can limit him to shots on goals in any game.

Rising Rookie:
With a full team of seasoned players, the only one qualified for the rookie tag would be the goalie, Choon Hun. This being his first outing for PFL.
But do not be fooled, he is certainly not your average rookie. Seeing off competition from two of the club's more experience goalie, a regular in state training, and a few call ups to train with the national players. Rookie? Fake one maybe.

With the cover he has upfront, the goalie would most probably have an easy ride through out the campaign. Yet, never let your guard down, you’ll never know when your opponent is up for a surprise or two.

Prediction:
Bendy:
Title contenders. Period.
It would be utterly insane not to rate them with the players they have.
Although the commitment of the KL fellas are unsure, rendering their full strength unknown, their current crop of players would be more than capable to handle any challenges ahead.

The million dollar question: How do you stop the Ztec Juggernaut?
Some say break their mental, break them.
True. To a certain extend. They do lose ground and lose focus when they lose their mind. Yet mental toughness hardly applies to any team.

My say: if they don't lose their heads, they will have the crown on their heads.

Jose:

Ztec 8cers or otherwise known also as "the Galacticos" of Penang fFoorball should find themselves at the top of the table by the end of the league. On paper, no team can stop them, but games are not won on paper. Therefore, there is every chance of an upset especially in their opening match when they face Contact FireAnts. Another possible threat should be against Innebandy!Co, which are looking to upset the odds against them.

However, if things were to go smoothly, there is absolutely no stopping the mighty Ztec marching forward to clich their first ever Division 1 title. UNLESS, they trigger their own self destruct button by losing their heads especially during the big matches.

Team Preview: Minden UniHawks

Minden UniHawks (Minden UniHawks Floorball Club)

Last season: 4th/4

Minden UniHawks, who have been actively involved in the Penang floorball scene for the past 3 years, will be facing their biggest challenge yet in the upcoming Penang Floorball League (PFL).

Minden UniHawks, who were presumably the underdog team in last year's campaign, proved to be tougher than expected, winning their final match against the seemingly stronger and more experience Spartans. But that's in the past. For them, this year's campaign holds a much stiffer competition than before. No use basking in past glory when the future paints a distraught picture.

This year, we see a new leadership in team UniHawks with their player, Christopher Koh, stepping up as the team coach. It seems like a big shoe to fill in since Coach Edward, the Penang State and National coach, had previously led this team. We shall see how this young coach fare in this upcoming league. A team comprised mainly by university students, most of UniHawks players are physically capable. However, their obvious weakness would be their lack in skills and techniques, something other teams in the league are far more superior with.

They face a bigger challenge ahead - numbers. Yes, numbers.
The number of players in their squad has been something of a concern and with most of their key players going back to their hometown for the semester break, the league ahead won't be an easy one for the Hawks. Even securing 1 and a half line would be treat for them. Let's just hope they can do that.

As bumpy as the road may seem for them, the Hawks have proven to be a team with great spirit and high team morale, two vital ingredients to keep a team going despite what the odds may be against them.

Key player:
Sarah Ng, who led the Hawks last year as a captain and coach, will be their key link once against in PFL 2009. With a wide range of experience behind her and her 'always-smile-on-court' attitude, it will surely help UniHawks tremendously.

Rising Rookie:
Justin, less than a year old floorballer, has shown great goal scoring instinct. Though technically inadequate, he definitely has a poacher's instinct with his trademark tap in goals. He will be a an interesting player to watch in the Hawks squad.

Prediction:
Bendy:
Lucky not to be relegated due to influx of new teams down below, but will a miracle happen twice? Or will they be out to create one themselves?

Coach Ed's shoes will be hard to fill, and the new coach will be up for a severe challenge.

Like Spartans, a familiar team name with unfamiliar faces. Survival will be priority, most probably going head on with Spartans for 5th.

Jose:
Team Minden UniHawks will be looking for a better run of form this time around. This team only managed a win in last seasons Division 1 league. However, their 'never say die' attitude in this team is very admirable and hopefully might cause some upsets in the coming league to keep the league interesting. Avoiding relegation will definately be their ultimate goal.

Prediction?

Team UniHawks to finish 5th and avoid relegation.

Spritzer:
Definitely without a doubt the underdog once again in the league. Which ever way one sees it, this team is definitely outnumbered in every sense. With a team comprising of pretty new faces and what more lacking in numbers, the league will truly test their characters more than anything else.

Team Preview: Innebandy!Co

Innebandy!Co (Innebandy!Co Floorball Club)

Last season: 2nd/4

Last season, Innebandy!Co finished the season behind Contact Sports, coming in second. And it was considered a mediocre season for Innebandy!Co based on the club’s previous records.

Relying mostly on their aging trio, Des, Sam and Nick, this year's new format and venue will proved to be a stern test on their fitness. Gone are the days, whereby the spectators get bored seeing the trio in action for the full game.

Hence, the younger players like Ephraim and co. who have been there last season, must now stepped up and contribute more to the team. As for the new faces, hopefully they will suck in and stay tough.

Few friendlies had been held to test out the squad with encouraging results and several pointers had been targeted for improvements, such as the defence. Even with the presences of the Core Trio and National goalie, Lin Ken, their defence had been penetrated rather easily.

If the leaky defences is not sorted by then, even with such a strong core, it would be hard for Innebandy to see off challenges from more experience foes, such as FireAnts and Ztec. The crown might sway pass them once again.

Key Player:
Who else other than Capt Mas Deswyn Wan?
The centre, arguably the best player in Malaysia, is the complete package that you can ever get your hands on for a long time. Skills, fitness, vision, intelligence all in one. What more can you ask for?

Not only can he influence the outcome of a match with a moment of brilliance, his sheer presence emits an aura of confidence into his team mates, which may yield unexpected performance for the team. The only possible downfall foreseeable is the over reliance on him which will make the team too predictable. That is if you can catch up with him for the whole 40 minutes...

Rising Rookie:
Darien – This little 13 year old boy shows some promise as he just started to play Floorball not too long ago. Do not underestimate him just because he is small, this boy can do a spin-off better than many of the senior players.

Of course, that is not his only talent. He also constantly gets himself into good scoring positions, which is something that Innebandy!Co lacks. And with Deswyn mentoring him, he should become a good Floorball player really soon, that is if he puts his heart to the game and continue his progress.

Prediction:
Jose:
Innebandy!Co to finish 3rd out of the 6 teams.

From previous years, Innebandy!Co has relied on their older players to get them to where they are today – one of the top clubs in Penang. This time round, the younger players MUST step up and adapt to the bigger court as quickly as possible. Playing on a bigger court takes more than 5 games to really experienced how to play and move properly. Together with their defensive frailties, they will find it hard to play against teams with good movement off the ball like Ztec and FireAnts.

Bendy:
Innebandy has a proud history backed with medals from tournaments all over.

Last year, it was a surprised to see them struggle a bit before being gifted the sliver by Spartans on the final day. This year, they are back with full strength, welcoming goalie, Lin Ken back to the frame.

However, with their current squad depth, it would be hard to see them go the distances, but they should proved to be adequate party spoilers for the other medal contenders such as FireAnts and Ztec. 3rd should be reasonable, snatching 2nd is also possible but watch your back, cuz your will never know who might stab you from behind...

Team Preview: Frontliners Spartans

Frontliners Spartans(Frontliners Floorball Club)

Last season: 3rd/4

Meet the Spartans. Again.

Frontliners Floorball Club, known as one of the forefathers of Floorball in Penang, has for some reasons, struggled forever to stamp their mark in the scene.

Last year, a breakthrough was in touching distance as a decent run in form saw them closing in for a silver. A victory against the winless Minden UniHawks on the final day was all they needed. Yet in the do-or-die match, Spartans were out of sorts and succumbed to a far more hungrier opponent who had a point to prove.

The "Floorballers" in the end, went home empty handed, but the team had potential and was worth looking forward to in this campaign. However, a glance on the team roster suggested otherwise.

Other than the likes of “Kung Fu” goalie, Sharron; old guard Stevan Tay together with national players, Kuan Yang and Ming Hwee forming the core, the team is once again… A new team.

Almost near nill retention and hence no continuation in the development of the team as a whole. Although there are some decent recruits like Nicholas Toeh and Kenny Ng who made it in for trials with the State Team, it will still be an uphill task for coach/player, Kuan Yang to guide the reformed Spartans against experience old foes (Innebandy and FireAnts.) and newcomers (Ztec and Dalat) with huge appetite, ready to impress.

Having said that, most of us have been there long enough to know that nothing is absolute. Even the underdogs have their day. Plus the freshness of having newbies may just make them even more unpredictable. And let's not forget, the Spartans did give the Persians a whacking before they went down!

Key Player:
The seniors will have huge responsibilities in leading the team, but it will be the goalie who will be the most important piece.

The goalie who earn the tag "Kung Fu" Spartan via her heroic saves in the previous campaign will be call upon once again, shouldering even more burden as the key in providing stability for the Spartans.

Her form will be crucial to the morale of the team. Break her, break the team. Spartans will be going all out in preventing that.

Rising Rookie:
Su Rong. BBF has personally seen the boy’s play. Tough, rough and uncompromising. The forward is well built and doesn’t mind giving the defender a body check or two. On top of that, he has reasonable positioning instinct which is hard to come by.

Adding it up, this makes him an asset to the team, making him an eyesore to the defenders. The only short coming is in technique, so expect the finishing to be lacking.

Prediction:
Bendy:
The deafening cheer has always been impressive; the play… lacking. And once again, a disappointing team roster with a whole lot of new faces.

It would be a tough season ahead, with only 1 or 2 games to look forward to for a win. Should be able to survive relegation if the core players perform. Best bet, 4th. Anything more is bonus.

Jose:
It is by no means an easy task when playing against the fast running Spartans. This team is made up of runners that will push their opponents to their limit. However in Division 1, it takes more than just a bunch of runners to win you the championship. And with so many new faces on the team sheet, it will be hard for them to challenge the top 3 teams.

It will be down to the matches against UniHawks and Eagles respectively that will decide where Spartans will stand this season. Remember UniHawks beat Spartans last season, which ultimately cost them the silver medal. Will it happen again this time? We shall wait and see.

Spartans to finish 4th this season.

Spritzer:
Probably sharing similar fate as UniHawks, it will be a tought competition ahead of them. Then again, they have a pretty decent core team lined up, which will definitely play a crucial role in their play time.

The leadership of the more experience players will determine the fate of each game for them. How they motivate the team and how they play their game will be crucial. Finishing 4th seems to be the best position for now.

Team Preview: Dalat Eagles

Dalat Eagles (Dalat Floorball Club)

Last seasons: 1st/4 (Div 2)

Looking back at last season, Dalat Eagles had a very good Division 2 outing, which saw them beat Ztec 8cers 2 times and eventually becoming the champions of Division 2. However, this time round they have almost 80% of ‘new’ players, which Borak-Borak had not seen nor heard before, playing for them. Therefore, it is a tricky thing for us to post a team preview for Dalat Eagles since we, the pundits, hardly know anything about them. We shall try our best though!

The Eagles have put up a side with the average age of 32 for most players in their team. Just by that fact, it shows their weaknesses - speed and stamina. 32 is not that old really, but to be playing against other younger, speedier, physical and competitive in this league will indeed be a major obstacle for them. This side will have to be good at moving the ball around, because there is almost no chance for them to match their opponents in terms of speed, other than Sasi of course. And with games being held on weekdays, the thought of Sasi coming down to Penang for league matches are slim, unless he plans to stay here for the time being. Chances are we will get to see him in one or two of the matches.

However, the advantage they have from that is experience, providing that all their 'new' players aren't too 'new' to floorball. If our assumption is right and that their players are experienced, then it would definitely help compensate their lack of speed and stamina. It would help smoothen out their movements and play-ups without the need of executing too many unneccessary and wasteful runs. And with the games being played in a court as big as Balik Pulau indoor stadium, you cannot afford to run like headless chicken.
You won't last.

Key Player:
Sasitheran. Or better known as Sasi is one of the earliest to pick up Floorball in Mas but has since then been tied up by other commitments.

Famed for his lighting pace, some of the seniors in PFL had first hand experience to tell you that his is the fastest player then ever known. Even more famous for his outrageous air hooks. Together with his speed, a humiliation package is always ready for dispatch, 24/7. In a blink of an eye, you'll be picking up the ball from your net.

Rising Rookie:
Unable to comment due to insufficient information.

Predictions
Bendy:
Other than a few, the whole team is an unknown to all.
How will they fare?
With Edwin and Jason Selva providing cover behind and with Sasi runnng the solo show up front, it would be more than enough to keep them alive in D1. Maybe even spring some surprises along the way.

4th looks achievable but others are eying for that spot as well. How often can Sasi appear will determine their final placing.

Jose:
All eyes will be on their star player on whether he will be able to make it for the league matches. If Sasi misses most of their matches, there is every chance for Dalat Eagles to get relegated this time round, unless their unknown players are ex-ice hockey players or are players that previously play in Sweden or Finland.

Otherwise, Edwin - Dalat Eagles' goalie will be a busy man in goal to help keep Dalat Eagles in the game as much as possible. This goalie is known for his acrobatic save selections and should be quite interesting to watch.

Spritzer:
Very hard to predict simply because it's a mysterious team, for now at least.
We don't know many of their players and haven't seen them played as a team.
But if they are half as good as their Division 2 team last year, they'd probably be chasing 4th to 5th placing.

Team Preview: Contact FireAnts

Contact FireAnts

Last season: 1st/4

Presumably, the team with a great mind behind the sticks.

They are back again this year with the intention to defend the title. Consisting a good mix of youths and oldies, most of them are all quite seasoned and decent players who have played in last year's league as well. Trained and coached under “The One”, this is the team to watch for its movement and plays.

Contact, as everyone would know by now, possess one thing that almost every other team lacks - team work and good team play. Their strength is how they move as a unit and how they stick as a unit to whatever plan the coach has laid out for them. Speaking of coach, that's their other strength. They have a coach with the knack of using whatever he has in his team and push it to its full potential on court, be it a new team or not. Strategically speaking, Contact FireAnts is probably the only team who can come up with a solid plan.

However, the downside to this team is probably their lack of speed. The need for speed in floorball is as essential as getting your technique right. With the likes of younger and faster team in the league this year, it will definitely be a tough competition for the reigning champs to fight for their spot again. To add a little salt, this year every game will be played at Balik Pulau indoor stadium, at least twice the size of last year's venue. In order for Contact to go far, they have to play their cards right.

The big question everyone is asking by now is, "Can team Contact do it again this year?". Can they win it the second time round?
With the likes of Ztec and other teams rising up, it will be hard for Contact to keep their winning streak. However, BBF wouldn't rub them off as title contenders. With the FireAnts, you better keep an eye out of them.
If not, they'll be stinging you just when you're not looking.

Key player:
The wits and grits of FireAnts - None other than Edward Lim, the man himself.
The player/coach of the team, although lack the pace and fitness he once had, certainly make up with his cheekiness up front and from the sidelines.

The boss surely knows majority if not all of the players in PFL, strengths and weaknesses, and definitely showing no mercy against his disciples in using what he knows for a victory for his team.

Will the Master triumph over his Disciples effortlessly and flawlessly?
Or will the Disciples over power the Master in rebellious fashion?
PFL has never been so entertaining.
How dull it would be without his mind games!

Rising Rookie:
Joerel Marcus.
Never heard of him?
You will soon enough.

The FireAnts import from Sabah, has been training secretly with the boss, and is now ready to be unleashed upon in PFL.

Rather pacey and adequate in skills, the boy will provide an extra man for the thin line up of the FireAnts. Maybe some beginner's jitters in the games, but the boy certainly has what it takes to survive at the (current) highest level.

Prediction:
Bendy:
Last season, they were the most entertaining FLOORBALLING team, deserving the crown.
This season? Tough! Especially with Innebandy around, ready for vengeance. Ztec too, having an eye on the crown themselves, not to mention coming in strong with a solid squad.

With their current weakened squad, defending the title seems hard, but not impossible. This is still a team with a handful of state/ national players and coach by the national coach. They are still one of the most experience team in the league.

All points considered, 2nd looks promising.
They might disagree though.
Especially last year's point leader, Nick Jr. who flew back from Aus just to bagi the goalies in Penang.
You guys better watch out!

Spritzer:

Personally, I still think Contact FireAnts is the team to lookout in this competition. Sure we have other faster and more tenacious looking teams, but somehow my gut feeling is telling me Contact will be pulling another stunt this year.

A team with probably an engine that runs like a team and not out of impulsion. Having said that, it will be really hard for them to defend their title this year.
My bet is for them to finish first or second though.

Jose:

One of the more tactical teams around Penang, which has the best chance of upseting the odds by beat Ztec 8cers. However, their squad depth is not as good as compared to Ztec 8cers, which will surely prove to be the difference when both these teams meet in the opening fixture.

Unless they break the minds of the Ztec players, there is little chance for them to retain their Division 1 title this time round. However, they should finished 2nd above Innebandy!Co and beat the rest of the teams in Division 1 without much effort.

Watch The Zebra Crossing

Early this week, the Penang girls made the long journey down to Singapore for a short floorball tour, playing NJC, VJC, NUS and TJC.

Penang team:
Charmaine Cheang (Contact)
Dawn Tan (Minden UniHawks)
Kao Cui Lin (Innebandy! Co)
Kew Pei Li (Frontliners)
Lavinia Lam (Nomad)
Lee Wai Wai (Minden UniHawks)
Penny Khoo (Contact)
Sarah Ng (Minden UniHawks)
Serene Tan (Contact)
Sharron Tan (Frontliners)
Sheryn Ng (Contact)
Suleen Lew (Minden UniHawks)
Tan Eeleen (Nomad)
Valerie Tan (Contact)

Coach Edward’s strategy, revealed after the trip, was to pack the defence (meaning playing the four best defenders) and hope for the best up top. Fourteen players made the trip, two goalkeepers and twelve outfield players. These twelve were loosely divided into two defensive lines and three forward lines that were chopped and changed as the games progressed.

In the Penang girls’ first game, against National Junior College, the ladies recorded a seemingly effortless 7-0 win, with Valerie grabbing four goals. What set the tone for the entire game was during the opening minutes, when Cui Lin, running free with the ball up front in the center, scored her trademark one-hand goal that left the goalkeeper just looking at the ball rolling past.

And the defenders had not yet touched the ball.

More goals followed, all in one direction, while Penang’s defence was quite comfortable dealing with the long balls throughout the game. However, the scoreline reflected unjustly on NJC, as the game was not as one-sided as it seemed. Both sides exchanged possession every few minutes; NJC just lacked the cutting edge needed to score.

The lapses by the ladies in the first game should have already set off alarm bells, and in the next game against Victoria Junior College, poor cover and communication led to a nail-biting 4-3 win for the Penangites. Superb saves by Sharron and Suleen, the two goalies, and desperate defending by the defenders were all that separated the sides.

In a see-saw match, it was mainly a question of who made more mistakes.

It was against National University of Singapore’s team that the Penang girls were really left exposed. Right from the first whistle, it was a backs-to-the-wall job for the defenders. Tactically and technically superior, NUS made full use of the court with lovely cross-court passes and excellent displays of teamplay; while Penang often needlessly gave the ball away in center court, after working hard to regain the ball in their defensive third.

Again, superb goalkeeping and desperate defending kept NUS in touching distance, but in the end, it was NUS who triumphed with a 5-4 scoreline.

For the final (and worst) game, Penang was up against Temasek Junior College. It should have been an easy win for the Penangites, but fatigue, late nights and poor discipline meant more sloppy passes, mistakes, and half-hearted play.

Penang won 3-1, an undeserved win—TJC had many more shots on goal than Penang—and Coach Edward was left fuming. The players were left alone to reflect on a below-par and unsatisfactory performance.

Overall, it was a good experience and an eye-opener for the players, most of them having never played floorball outside of Penang. For most of them, it was a fun trip down, a good time of bonding, yet underneath it all, the players were asked to think:




How far, and much, they were willing to sacrifice to go further in floorball.




...something all floorballers need to ponder.

PFL'09 Div 1: The Game Is Back!!

It has been months now since the closure of PFL Div2. Although there was Youthwave and Dalat's Labour Day Carnival to fill the void, but the intensity and excitement does not match of PFL's.

The calmness and quietness is rather hard to bear for all the hardcores out there. Right guys?
Fret not!
The storm is in the making.
And real soon, it will rage through Penang!!

Introducing...
PENANG FLOORBALL LEAGUE 2009 DIVISION 1!!

This year's league has expanded from last year's 4 teams to 6:

Team Names	Abbreviations	Club/ Organisations
Contact FireAnts	CFA	Contact Sports
Dalat Eagles	DLE	Dalat Floorball Club
Frontliners Spartans	FLS	Frontliners Floorball Club
Innebandy!Co	INC	Innebandy!Co Floorball Club
Minden Unihawks	MDU	Minden Unihawks Floorball Club
Ztec 8cers	Z8C	Ztec 8cers Floorball Club

Fireants was last year's champ with Innebandy in second after Spartans gifted them that spot on the final day, while Unihawks was spared from relegation as there were more than enough new teams rising up in Div 2.

Coming up form below and ready to prove a point, 8cers and Eagles will be a force to reckon with, making the medal fight and relegation battles interesting from the start!

6 teams; 5 games per team; a totoal of 15 games from 16th Jun to 4th Aug 2009.

Game Format:
- One-legged
- 2 periods
- 20 minutes effective time
- FULL International size court(40m x 20m)

Everything else is pretty much the same as Div 2. The only diffence is playing with full effective time and on proper international size court. Unable to imagine it? Picture some thing like twice the size of Dalat. And because of that, all matches will be held in Balik Pulau Sports Complex, where the place is big enough to lay out all the boards.

Matches will be held on every Tuesdays and Thursday nights. Games starts at 8pm. So, people, be there. To support your team kah? To support your idol kah? Or just to support Floorball in Malaysia kah? Be there! This is the closest you can get to proper actual Floorball!! Well, in case you really have to be picky, here is the match schedule:

	Match Date		Match Time	Home	vs	Away
1	16 Jun	Tue	8.00pm	CFA	vs	Z8C
2	18 Jun	Thur	8.00pm	MDU	vs	INC
3	23 Jun	Tue	8.00pm	FLS	vs	DLE
4	25 Jun	Thur	8.00pm	INC	vs	CFA
5	30 Jun	Tue	8.00pm	Z8C	vs	FLS
6	02 Jul	Thur	8.00pm	DLE	vs	MDU
7	07 Jul	Tue	8.00pm	FLS	vs	INC
8	09 Jul	Thur	8.00pm	Z8C	vs	DLE
9	14 Jul	Tue	8.00pm	CFA	vs	MDU
10	16 Jul	Thur	8.00pm	DLE	vs	CFA
11	21 Jul	Tue	8.00pm	MDU	vs	FLS
12	23 Jul	Thur	8.00pm	INC	vs	Z8C
13	28 Jul	Tue	8.00pm	CFA	vs	FLS
14	30 Jul	Thur	8.00pm	INC	vs	DLE
15	04 Aug	Tue	8.00pm	Z8C	vs	MDU

Coming up next: team previews; and of course during match days, the regulars: match reviews and others. Although we are not as free as we use to be, we'll still try as hard as possible to give you the lastest updates. =)