FOOTBALL

National Primary Football Championship 2007 Final
Yio Chu Kang Primary vs Tanjong Katong Primary
30 April 2007 at CCAB

Story and pictures by Yang Yue Heng, a student from Tanjong Katong Primary. Thanks!

Yio Chu Kang Primary beat Tanjong Katong Primary 3-2 to capture the National Primary Football Championship earlier this year.



Tanjong Katong Primary (in orange) and Yio Chu Kang fought it out in the final. © Yang Yue Heng

I can still remember the match clearly. The scorching sun had dried up the pitch and we, the senior soccer boys of Tanjong Katong Primary were warming up for one of the biggest game in our lives. It might also be the last time for me to play with all my teammates.

"On your toes!" I commanded before the referee blew his whistle. "Pee!" Finally, the exhilarating match commenced. As a team, we played well in the first half and led 2-1. We shocked our opponents as it was the first time in the school’s history that a Tanjong Katong Primary team were appearing in the national final. But we were not afraid.

The Tanjong Katong Primary football team. © Yang Yue Heng

Nevertheless, we lost the game due to a penalty in the dying minutes. Some of us sobbed bitterly after the match. We did not win the champions’ title, but what we had achieved as a team was much greater than that. We loved footballbecause it is a beautiful game which can only be played by teams.

Standing on the field, I started to recall what had brought us to this point. The dreams we had brought us here. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. The passion we had in football had brought us here. Passion transfers the ordinary to the extraordinary. Our coach had brought us here. He is great as he makes us feel great. He trained us as a team and changed us from nobody to somebody.  Without my teammates, I would never have become who I am today.

The TKPS coach gives his team a pep talk. © Yang Yue Heng