By Les Tan
Muhd Khairil glances in the winning goal for VJC in second half stoppage time to ensure a 3-2 victory. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Jalan Besar Stadium, Monday, May 25, 2009 – Victoria Junior College scored a stoppage time goal to eke out a 3-2 victory over Meridian Junior College.
The 3pm start time under the scorching sun plus the adrenaline of a national football final meant fitness would come into play in this game. Added to that the heart-pounding and ear-splitting cheering from supporters of both schools – the loudest cheering you’ll hear at a football game on this island – the stage was set for an exciting game.
A blistering start saw VJC take an early 1-0. Alex (#10) found some space on the left flank and his cross was met by Asyraf who placed his header over Edmund Wong in the (#32) in the MJC goal. 1-0 to VJC.
But MJC came right back. Their constant pressure yielded them a free-kick from 30m out. Up stepped their captain Fazli Hisham (#7) who hit it straight at the VJC keeper Ifwat Wafiy. It was not a hard shot and everyone expected the keeper to pluck it safely from the air. To his and the collective horror of the VJC crowd, it squirmed from his outstretched hands and bounced over the line. 1-1 and the MJC crowd roared their approval.
Man for man, MJC had the measure of the VJC team, nullifying any attack, while their constant probing left VJC fans with the gnawing dread of another MJC goal.
Alex (VJC #10) then missed a one-on-one situation to leave the score unchanged and the miss would haunt VJC.
VJC’s Jasper gave away another free-kick to MJC and this time Attah Joseph (#21) stepped up. Of all the people in the VJC wall, Joseph’s blast chose to take a wicked deflection off the head of Jasper and the ball hit the back of the net while VJC keeper Ifwat was left flat footed. VJC, and Jasper, were feeling particularly unlucky by now.
With MJC holding their first lead of the game at 2-1, VJC did not look likely to score. But an individual piece of finishing by Alex changed the scoreline. VJC keeper Ifwat’s kick upfield was met by the head of Anders Aplin (VJC #9). Another teammate met Anders’ header with another flick on and the ball landed nicely in the path of Alex who bore down on the right side of the MJC penalty box.
VJC fans wondered: Was he going to shoot? His answer was instantaneous – a blast with his right leg that arrowed across the diving body of MJC keeper Edmund Wong to nestle in the far corner of the net. A predator’s goal and the score was now 2-2. Game on.
After the excitement of the first half with four goals and lots of action, the second half was an anti-climax. The 3pm start was taking its toll as players from both teams started going down with cramps. The most pained sufferer was Attah Joseph (MJC #21) whose cramp was so severe that his bulging thigh muscles were rigid with cramp and he had to be carried off the pitch.
With the injuries, the game was going nowhere as a spectacle but with the passing minutes, the tension ratcheted up. A goal at this late juncture would surely spell the winner.
MJC had two golden chances to score through Joseph Tai (MJC #23), the second of which was a header that was headed for goal but Ifwat pulled off a stupendous save to make up for his first half error.
The miss of the game though, was by Alex (VJC #10), this year’s top scorer with 16 goals.
A blistering shot by Anders (VJC #9) from outside the box was not held by MJC keeper Edmund. The ball spilled loose and bounced up nicely into the path of the onrushing Alex. However, from less than 2m from the goal line and with the whole goal gaping before him, he somehow contrived to put the ball over the bar.
Even though the ball fell to his weaker left leg, he pounded the ground in extreme frustration while the VJC bench saw coach Tan Yew Hwee sprawl to the ground like he had been shot. The VJC bench must have thought this was going to be a repeat of the 2008 final where Alex also missed chances that cost them the championship title.
By this time, everyone was expecting extra-time but the final act was yet to be played out. In the second minute of extra time, a throw in by Cephas Ong was headed on by Anders Aplin. In the middle was the waiting Muhammad Khairil (VJC #5). Rising with him were two MJ defenders but Khairil got his head to the ball first.
It was not a hard header but the ball’s bounce fooled MJC keeper Edmund and went in to send the VJC crowd into delirium. 3-2 to VJC was how it finished, and VJC put to bed their 1-2 loss to MJC in last year’s final.
In an on-field incident witnessed by many and sure to be discussed for days on end, the MJC taunt to VJC to “go fly kite” got the better of VJC’s Khairil and he made a mocking gesture – putting his thumb on his nose and wiggling his fingers – to the MJC crowd in return after teammate Alex scored the second VJC goal.
After getting scolded by coach Tan Yew Hwee immediately after the incident, Khairil was marched to the MJC principal after the game by his coach and made to apologise.
“That kind of game, heart attack!” said VJC coach Tan Yew Hwee. “The chances they missed!”
The winning goal was unexpected.
“The goal was a soft goal,” he said.
For MJC, this was their fifth A Division final appearance in a row.
“That’s football,” said MJC coach Fabio Fanticelle Da Silva. “It was a loss of concentration in the last two minutes.”
“It was a very good save by the VJC keeper,” said coach Fabio, referring to the save from Joseph Tai (MJC #23) in the dying moments of the second half.
“Last year was our year, this year is their time. Our boys worked very hard and we have very good support from the principal and teachers.”
MJC are also well placed for A Division football honours next year.
“Seven of the players will be back next year,” coach Fabio confirmed.
“It’s really honourable to score in the final on such a big stage,” said Muhd Khairil, the scorer of the winning goal and who also bagged the man-of-the-match award. “Lucky the ball went in. We had many chances to score but we threw it away.”
Khairil finished the season with four goals, but that last one will live long in the memory for him and VJC.
first of all, i am from mjc. i was one of the mjc supporters on the stands during the final…
i had known khairil, vjc #5 for a long time as we were from same secondary school, victoria school. fyi, he is a very nice and humble person. disciplined and respectful. never have any airs, even tho he’s very talented in soccer. i got to know that he’s represented the national team at various levels, from under 12 thru to under 15 (he was formerly from singapore sports school,
before joining vs).
wat i’m trying to point out is, it’s not in his character to do such things. it must have been his emotions letting out. it’s a big occasion being in a national finals i guess…
anyways, i for one is willing to forgive him if he’s sincerely apologised for wat he did to us…we are still good frens, even tho i might still scold him abit for his actions..
And why is the poll there?
whats the point of having it there?
plus the options are ridiculous
what is the point of deciding a “winner” here?
the game is over
we have a champion
so get over it
im sure sportsmanship consists of kicking the keepers head TWICE
sure, vj had a great game’
but act like champions
in professional leagues, jeering is INEVITABLE especially when a player does a disrespectful gesture
that was why mj would have booed no.5
les maybe you could have focused more on the match than the crowd
making that incident so public called for unwanted attention and scrutiny into it.
the mj cheer was never meant as a taunt
it was used for EVERY GAME
its used by fan clubs for s league games
so dont be oversensitive
vj had a good tactic and plan against mj
unexpected, but quite brilliant
playing khairil who always played as centreback, up front.
it worked rather well
well done vj
the way you played was deserving of champs
not so sure of the way you carried yourselves
1. For starters, “Go Fly Kite” is a reference to masturbation. Those of the younger generation can clarify this with older ones, especially those who have been in the army.
2. I think it is totally out of order for readers to demand reports, photos and pictures. Uncle Les and the Red Crew are not obliged to serve individual whims and fancies.
3. Personal attacks and threats against the writers of Red Sports are also out of order. If there are any criticisms, it should be directed at the quality and content of the article itself… well-defined and substantiated.
cmon guys dat being stupid, i tink both sides have gd sportsmanship, the crowd was gd wif all the cheers. But i dun understand dat there r stupid, immature, childish ppl here, commenting, bringing up abt the past. Moronic rxxxx, u all den go fly kite lah, noobkia
Firstly, congrats to victoria junior college for ur victory.it was a great match marred by an incident from one of your players the number 5, whose disgraceful celebrations tarnished the reputations of victorians all around singapore. SO what if he made an apology, it was not sincere from him as he was forced to by his coach.kudos to his coach. And about the big fuss about the go fly kite cheer, i think it is perfectly fine for any school to have that and if u attend any school soccer match, u are bound to hear that cheer..
* threatening words removed
[ed’s note: portion of the text deleted to protect the privacy of individuals]
it speaks volumes about the MJ environment and its officials IF they don’t accept an apology by a 17 year old. A forty-something PRINCIPAL of a school not accepting an apology reeks of pettiness and I’m not surprised the MJ students are creating such an uproar IF that’s the way she’s running the school. Once again, you can see that I’m using a hypothethical situation here, because obviously there is no way to prove it.
And seriously Reg? We don’t need a Victorian like you. Way to go on the defense of your school’s image.
i think that the vj #5 was provoked into doing it as after the equalizer, the mj crowd made rude hand gestures at alex who had to run past them to get to the vj crowd. so it was like an act of protecting his teammate which really is nothing wrong at that moment. and he had the guts and courage to stand up and apologise although it wasnt really wrong but he realised the unhappiness he has caused. kudos to him. and also go fly kite is surely a taunt. how do you change that fact? go fly kite. mj really need to do some reflection in that cheer. and i think uncle les has done a brillant job for the school sports of singapore and deserves more than this. all in all though, a brillant final. great one for the neutrals
I don’t know why people are so worked up about such a matter.
Sure, “go fly kite” is a bit insulting, but come on, this is real soccer, not some relaxing game you play in the park. A cheer should be the last thing you let affect yourself in the game. If you can’t even handle something at little as a provoke, do you deserve to stand on a div field? Be more professional please.
As for VJ number 5, I agree that his manner is not proper, but it’s excusable, during the game, with all the tension and pressure, it’s impossible to keep the head cool all the time, and afterall he is only 17, we cannot expect him to act like a professional sportman all the time. Anyway, he has apologized, so why must we argue on this topic anymore? noone in this situation can say they did not no anything wrong what.
In addition, I think number 5 played really well that day. his defense in the first half was solid, and when he joined the attack, his control and attacking was also quite good. and above all, scoring the winning goal during stoppage time is surely fantastic. of course MJ’s captain or VJ’s number 10 had great performances, I think number 5’s significance in this game was greater.
Generally, i think this is a very exciting game. both team showed their ability and passion to win, but i think VJ is sightly better. First few minutes, VJ put up a better play and got the opening goal, but MJ’s somewhat lucky goal really lowered their morale and let MJ dominate. however, in the second half, i think VJ was the better side, and they deserve the title. but i think on MJ side, number 17 really had a great performance. he will be a scary opponent next season.
Lastly, i’m very annoyed that some people actually insulted the reporter. he went through all the trouble to report the match for everyone, spending his own time and effort, and i respect him for that. so people who want to complain, why dont you go and report the match yourself? dont think you can do a better job. those who do nothing and keep complaining can go fly kite. if you want to comment, use a more polite tone please.
i was at the match yesterday and was appalled by vjc no 5 actions. firstly he blatantly kicked the mjc keeper even when the ball was out of his reach. that caused a lengthy delay as the keeper sought treatment. next up was his gesture to the mjc crowd. provoked or not, he should not have done this. being a true sportsman, he should focus on the match. the fact that he had been distracted means he was not focusing on the match. but what happen next was truly uncalled for and missed by many. after scoring and celebrating, he suddenly dropped to the ground in cramps. why didnt it happen during the celebration? or even after the match. only the vjc no 5 has the answers. vjc good display will always be let down by this boy actions. if mr tan didnt forced him to apologise, i believe he would not be sorry for his actions.
Oh well, why r all of you so childish? Arguing about this matter. #5 made his mistake, but he realized it and was marched to apologize after the game, inst that enough???? Dun talk as if you all neva made any mistake before in your life. And dont judge others by a mere action/ incident. Vjc and mjc all demonstrate sportsmanship and uncle les is already trying to be as objective as possible. Only those who are childish and unaccepting about the fact that vjc won or their team lost would react so negatively towards this article. Personally i think it was a good game to watch 🙂
MJC students, do NOT think you have wonderful sportmanship.
I still remember CLEARLY last year when VJC lost to MJC. When the VJC anthem was playing, MJC students were screaming, cheering, moving around with NO respect for VJC students and the anthem that was being played. WHERE IS THE SPORTSMANSHIP?
“Go Fly Kite” may be part of your cheer, but it is nevertheless an unpleasant taunt as Les mentioned. It is meant to “cheer” on your school, but at the expense of the other school? That is not a very good cheer then.
And to those who think this is a biased story, please read through the story CAREFULLY. Do not skim through and do SELECTIVE READING. Les has already made comments on both sides; “taunts” by MJC, and “mocking gesture” by VJC player. Les has done a lot for Singapore School sports, and deserves to be applauded, not criticised unfairly.
Hey… please upload the pictures soon …
MISSING FACT:
No. 5 won man of the match award.
Both teams played good football and it was a great match to watch. VJ worked hard to score the winner and for that they deserve to win. However, MoM to no.5 probably was not a very good decision.
As for the on-field incident, I think it is unfair to blame the player’s behaviour on MJ cheering, MJ has used this cheer for several years. In earlier matches against VJ too. It goes:
” o-ooo…MJ boleh aaa-aa … mj boleh aaa-All the rest can go fly kite ”
This has never prompted unsporting behaviour from any other team’s players even when the other team had no supporters and MJ had supporters.
The incident does not reflect well on VJ. Their motto is to crate gentlemen, sportsmen and professionals, furthermore, they are known as the cheering powerhouse and outcheer other JCs in most games so of all schools their players should have known better.
mj people have sportsmanship please.
when vj players were down and having cramps, its mj players who went to help them with stretches when their own players just walked off until their coach saw it. talk about sportsmanship for mj.
as for the taunting cheer, not only mj uses the fly kite cheer. other schools use the cheer too. does that mean that the other schools are taunting their opponents too? not to mention that vj has that particular cheer too. the reporter is just stating his own opinion when he says that the fly kite cheer is taunting. does that mean that all the schools who do the fly kite cheer are taunting their opponents? i don’t think so. if that is the case, doesn’t vj taunt their opponents too? it is unfair to just criticize mj for using the cheer.
where were the vj players when their team mates were down? they simply ignored their team mates and walked off. is that counted as sportsmanship? i don’t think so.
anyway, that was a good match, and both teams played well.
Hey isn’t this about soccer and not spectators???
Agree with Chris! Besides, MJ wasn’t the only college with that fly kite cheer thing. I dun even think “fly kite” was the point. The contention was “MJ Boleh” instead, so peace pple, PeAcE(((: Talk about sportsmanship, I thought that MJ has a much better sportsmanship. When 1 (or probably 2??) of the VJ player was down, the MJ soccer dude(s) went over to help him stretch while other VJ players were drinking. That’s grace(: Have to admit that the soccer dudes from MJ did an awesome job, and VJ for their teamwork.
hey guys, let’s be fair la..cheers are meant to be entertaining and to distract opponents..when I was still in jc during the soccer final I saw the vj pple taunting mjc players..nobody said anything..besides, a good sportsman not only must have good skills but also good character. Retaliating at mjc’s cheer shows the vjc players have weak mentality..good sportsmanship? I dun think so.. anw, congrats vj!! =)
I’m a vj guy and i feel bad for what Khairil did earlier today. And he was brave enough to apologise to the MJ principal. But i also want to say, just an observation, when MJ was playing their school anthem, most of the VJ spectators and players showed respect as they remained silence and watched MJ spectators singing their school anthem. And we gave a round of applause after that. We even did the ‘three cheers’ cheer for MJ, TWICE. And we received no response, except the boos when Khairil was receiving the MVP for the match. Last year i was also an audience for the match. And when VJ was singing the Victorian Anthem after they lost the match, the MJ players were happily cheering away and celebrating the victory. Only ACJC and some SAJC players showed respect. Maybe that’s how you define sportsmanship? By not showing respect to you opponent?
Hey les , the fly kite cheer is a cheer for God’s sake. it is meant to encourage the players of the school that is doing that cheer. Other schools also have the fly kite cheer , and the MJ supporters nvr said “VJ go fly kite” . pls watch what ur saying cos ur merely provoking both sides.
Both teams played well, but in the end it was not meant for mj to win. The superb save by wafiy in the dying moments of the game simply shows this . But Vj played very well , with Anders and Alex providing great through balls for their forwards.
Mj , despite being 1 goal down in the opening minutes of the game nvr gave up but it was nt meant to be . Fazli(MJ captain) played a great game . The Mj keeper could not have saved the equaliser goal from Alex (even van der sar was beaten in the same manner by torres , nt that im comparing these 2 players to them, but u get my point)
whatever it is , kudos to both teams . It was indeed an exciting finals 🙂
As for the incident involving khairil , i think he has disgraced his school as Victorians are known for sportsmanship,gentlemen and professional . And even in the heat of the game , he should have contained his emotions and not let it get the better of him . Giving him the Man-of-the-Match award was a mistake as i thought either Alex or Fazli deserved it more than khairil.
I am really very unhappy for the way EDITOR LES used its words.
Realy… REALLY… hope he can change it before generating more unhappiness.
VJ normally wont do that cos vjcians had been taught by the sch to have sportsmanship and not jeer at others, including fly kite cheers or whatnots.
#5 probably did that cos he really was provoked.
those of us who didnt play on the field probably would not be able to feel what he had felt, being jeered at and discouraged when he was trying his best to do his sch proud.