December 31, 2008 at 3:17 pm (Inner Self)
Feb Pic
Last dinner b4 leaving Mac
Mersing with Redbacks (sept)
Ela's birthday
Baby's 24th
Hari Raya 2008
My 27th @ Lau Par Sat
JE gathering (Dec)
Abang's Big Day
Singapore Flyer!
Closing of JE#53
Raya with McBuddies!
Wan Keeper's Wedding
the 2 women that mean the world to me
December 31, 2008 at 1:11 am (Family, Inner Self, redbacks)
As i reflect back on the year 2008, there are so many aspects of my life that has changed quite dramatically. Thank God, most of the changes i had to adapt to are all positive ones. As i blog now on the last day of 2008, i must say that i realise that i am now pretty much a person in a process of changing.
My family
This year, will always be the year that will be remembered as the moment when God allowed me to realise the LOVE of my family. Especially Mama, whom i have caused plenty of worries for 27 years, i never thought i could be this close to my beloved mother. Since i quit my McDonald’s job in July, somehow, i begun to be able to engage in deep conversations that we never had before. We can talk about almost anything from marriages to food to family affairs… I managed to share this sentimental bond with the woman i love most in my life. Since my kindergarden days, i knew that i love my own mother more than anyone else.. as i got older, i was so naive and insensistive to cause my own mother so much worries and sadness. I was so upset, with myself that once i thought, ”i could never tell Mama everything about me”. Now, i am proud to say that i am able to show my love towards my mother more so now than ever and thank God for everything and for enlightening me. I realise now that Mama actually likes having me around and she knows that she can depend on me to help her out whenever she needs it. She loves all 3 of us equally and she is simply the best mother i can have.
My dad and me have come a long way to strike an unspoken understanding. I was beaten up by him since young whenever i needed to be disciplined. Papa’s the great example of a man who had almost nothing when he was young, an orphan at 12 and no support for education, yet being able to accomplished being a harbour pilot of Singapore’s finest in recent decades. He’s a perfectionist, hard-working as ever, disciplined and always have strong faith. Despite being so stern while i was young, Papa showed that he is able to accept the difference of culture in the new generation. He simply reminds me of Vince McMahon, the WWE boss. ”No chance in hell”
I miss my elder brother a lot now. He used to be just in the next room, every night… falling asleep due to exhaustion and even forgeting to turn off the lights. Abang and me had so many quarrels and i have been so so arrogant towards him whenever we fight. We certainly have our differences, but blood is always ALWAYS thicker than water. Him being an Evertonian and me being a Liverpool fan says it all. The hard truth is, Abang is the person that made me love soccer so so much. To add to that, he actually trained me how to play soccer. The basics of passing, shooting and technique. Today is his birthday and i just texted him before this blog.
Us
Baby and me are currently super excited because we are going to celebrate the new year and our 6th year Anniversary of being an item. Frankly speaking, i never thought i can be this long with another person. She helped me to see myself in different ways. She has always been the girl behind me, supporting me at difficult times, with warmth and pure love. Baby had a rough 2008, but she showed their maturity and inner strength to overcome everything this far. I love you baby and i am so proud of you…
Having to adjust from full-time working to full-time studying certainly wasnt easy for me. I am extremely fortunate to have my Dad to help me out with my daily food allowances. As i found out, getting a degree is no picnic. The countless assignments and exams make me kinda of immune to school now. Me being the lazy me, i procastinate a lot and i need to buck up on that!
My soccer life
One of my another highlights of 2008 is playing for Redbacks: Having found a team to allow me to enjoy my football every sunday. Redbacks have become an extended family network for me and Nureen to enjoy our Sundays together. I have to mention again: Mersing trip is the most unforgetable experience in 2008. Love the kampung, the laid back life and now missing the food there.
On a last note, i believe i have just started my journey to explore the spiritual side of me. I seek to strengthen my faith in God and hope to learn and apply as much religious knowledge as possible. I have plans for 2009, but i am also aware that God has better plans for me.
Happy New Year to all readers of this blog and may 2009 brings more joy to all your lives!
December 22, 2008 at 3:19 pm (redbacks, soccer)
December 22, 2008 at 2:32 pm (redbacks, soccer)
December 21, 2008 at 2:03 pm (Inner Self, soccer)
hoping this will happen later
Woke up pretty early on my normal sunday at 11am. Considering having spent last night with Baby and company, i am suprise i woke up pretty fresh. Today’s personal agenda: 5pm Redbacks game vs. RSM followed by 8pm National Stadium to watch Singapore Vs. Vietnam then lastly 11pm (i think!) watching Arsenal vs. Liverpool.
After 3 games without scoring, i must admit my self confidence is in doubt. However, strikers always go through such patches and the next goal scored is so so crucial. As a team player, i am more concerned with Redbacks getting back to winning ways than my own goal tally. I will settle with a 1-0 win today even if i fail to score.(touch wood!) Regardless of what position i play or who will be my striking partner, i am mentally prepared to enjoy my football later. Keeping possession, shoot on sight and carve out openings for my team mates. I am quite disappointed at my shooting rate lately, as i realise that i rarely take shots at goal.
When i was playing striker regularly before my ankle and knee injuries, i always told myself to get at least 5 shots per half. I set these targets to keep my focus as to be efficient as a striker. Goals make a striker, whether you like it or not. When you play forward, you can be doing nothing for 89 mins and then suddenly when you score the winning goal in the 90th minute, you become the hero!
10-roberto-baggio
What i really love about being a striker is nothing but the feeling of scoring a goal. It’s a feeling that cannot be explained in words, during that moment, i sort of felt time froze that moment and as i turn away to celebrate, everything seems to be in slow motion! I usually celebrate pointing my finger to indicate being ‘number 1′, which i sort of emulate my football hero: Roberto Baggio who wears number 10 and did that celebration during the 1994 World Cup. Somehow after that, i just naturally do that whenever i score. haha.
Paul Ince, once said,” tackling is better than sex.” I will put it as,”Scoring can be as good as sex!”
December 11, 2008 at 7:10 pm (Inner Self)
Inner Self
These few days, i seemed to spent my time going to school and being at home only. I missed hanging out with Baby, Is, my cousins just to talk to life and discuss our peceptions on life. Time spent without my loved ones deprieve me of expressing my inner thoughts.
One of my cousin is having a tough time with his love life. Ming happened to have the same problem on the same day with Haz. The ironic thing is Ming and that cousin of mine are very close to each other since they were young. They even bathed together when they were little. Even when they are 18 years old, they can sleep sharing a single sized bed hugging each other! Luckily for Ming, he managed to settle his problem. As for my cousin, the problem might be beyond repair, for now at least. I suffered the same outcome while i was in N.S. Back then, it was tough accepting the consequences. However, every setback has its own hidden gain. My hidden gain i guess was being able to know the love of my life, Nureen. If i had chose not to get on with my life, i probably missed out on knowing her existence!
The thing is, life has so many aspects to it. God simply has his own special ways of designing our paths and until we experience it, as humans, we feared making the wrong choice. Fear is good as it purely signals to ourselves of any undesired outcome. Making wrong choices is the best way to learn also. So, no matter what decisions we make, i feel that we should take whatever that comes into our paths. Haha… easier said than done right? When you are down and out, being pessimistic about everything, what should you do? Turn to family members or your partner ? Regardless of you having taking them for granted before, as for my life, my partner and my family has always, i mean ALWAYS been there for me. My parents are the most important people in my life, and will always be. My partner has never fail to believe in me despite being almost 6years with me! Like it or not, family is for life and if your family dont shun you away, be grateful that you are blessed to have a family. Many others out there yearned for a family member while some of us simply cant realise how fortunate we are. Treasuring your loved ones while they are still within our touch, sight and existence. Love i believe is the most powerful force in the universe, not money. Ever wish that you can be bloody rich? What if you can be rich but love is taken away from you? Some will have their own preferences on this one. For me, i rather be poor and be loved.
The word ‘faith’ was under-estimated by me for too long. Only the last few months, i seem to keep thinking of it. About a month ago, out of curiousity, i wanted to remind myself clearly about the story of Prophet Ayyub. So, i read about it online. After which, i somehow realised that it is fitting for my parents to give me such a wonderful name. The name of a prophet, who despite being taken away all of his wealth, love and health, begged God to take anything, but not his faith in God away. The story served as a reminder to me, that i should be remembering God more and put more effort to strengthen my faith in Him.
This sunday, will be a very special day for my family, especially for my elder brother. I am so proud of him, which i will tell him soon of what respect i have for him now. I am going to miss him, for he being the reason i learn how to play soccer. Despite all the quarrels and disagreements, blood is thicker than water. I sincerely hope nothing else but the best wishes for him. As Papa said, he believe in her and I believe in her also.
I hope and i pray for Mak (my grandmother) who went for Haj. .. hope she is well taken care of in the middle east.
December 5, 2008 at 5:55 pm (redbacks)
After taking mid-term exams and presentations, i took a break and inserted some faces into my PS3 PES2009 master league team: Redbacks FC!
Haha, it is so fun for me playing as Redbacks fight for the Master League Division 1 title against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea…
Currently we are in season 2 and Aziz reportedly turned down a renewal of his contract and thus left the club!
Enjoy the pictures!
December 2, 2008 at 4:00 am (Family, Uncategorized)
On thursday, 27th November 2008, was Baby’s 24th Birthday.
Bought her an Everlast pink watch, brought her to JB to Karaoke with my JB Mac Crews. She got a giant chocolate cake and we played badminton at night!
Hope Baby enjoyed her 24th Birthday….
Happy 24th
With lots of love,
Ayyub
December 2, 2008 at 12:00 am (Uncategorized)
Although Redbacks lost, i personally feel that we played badly as a whole last sunday. In the 1st half, i was totally lost and was unable to even register a single shot on goal. When i got on in the 2nd half, i felt better as i just told myself to play my game. Althoug K-1-K F.U. has replaced their main players, i was happy to be able to assist Ayat for our consolation goal.
The last 2-3 games, i felt that i was not being myself. Loss of self-confidence? Loss of form? I am simply not playing my normal game. I play best when i dont have a fear of expressing myself. Lately, i kinda told myself to do one too many things. Example, when i chose to run down to cover for a winger, when Redbacks gain possesion of the ball, i was nowhere in position to make a run. Other times, while i was making runs unfortunately, i just didnt get a single through ball. Mok provided me the 2 best passes yet i failed to make the most out of it. Because of Copa Mundial? Maybe… Jaz has been barking at me not to use my Copa Mundial and as Baby described: I was selenga. I will not be taking chances of myself playing badly next match onwards. Haven scored for the last 2 games is the best wake up call i need.
For the team, Redbacks Captain Azhar has a huge and challenging task of keeping 20 players happy every game. From my experience of handling Warriors one period years ago, i understood how difficult it is to have the understanding of all players. Luckily in Redbacks, every player i dare say is passionate not only about football and the result, we are also passionate to enjoy that Sunday match as much as possible regardless of the result.
I fully enjoyed the ESPN corner-kick competition with Redbacks. ”We are Redbacks Singapore. We are BAIK!” I will never forget that… thanks to Raizal from taking the pictures. Baby didnt come watch the match, maybe part of the reason why we lack the luck. Ming wasnt around as well, as we took a Redbacks Squad Picture. Looking forward to getting the new kits soon. Then, Ming must not miss the squad picture.
Redbacks 08/09
Azhar on Camera
Azam Scores!
3 Generations celebrates on Camera!
Jaz celebrates!
Jaz score also kena!
Taufiq misses with a smile!
Faiz face cramped on cam!
i dunno what i saying!
i miss badly!
Ayat said he
Aki
Mok last man
oh i forgot kai!
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