AyyuB’s journey of LiFe

Just came from from Republic Poly to watch a IVP soccer match between my former school (Ngee Ann Poly) and Republic Poly. RP won the match 5-2, which was suprising to me. I expected NP soccer team to be of better quality. Well, at least i can say i was a former NP striker and the team that i was in was definitely a level above the current one. Sole purpose was to catch my cousin, Faiz even if he gets 5 minutes, i wanted to be there to witness his debut. So, Faiz got ‘false hope’ after half-time, being instructed to warm up for the rest of the match.

Ming called me earlier before the match to inform me that he is going for trials with Young Lions. Faiz just told me last week about him going for Super Reds Prime league trial once his school coach gets the job there.

Every sunday, we don the colours of Redbacks FC to play our game. A social team, an extended family network for us to enjoy our football every weekend. In order to enjoy our football, we need  to play good football and hopefully improve ourselves regardless of the result. For me, play soccer is my passion. Coaching youths like Ming and Faiz are also part of my passion. I curse, i scold, i yell when they play badly. Whenever they play well, i feel extremely proud of them. Credit must first goes to them if they make it in football. While i observe their learning curbs in football, i wonder if one day, i would get an opportunity to professional coach a youth soccer team of my own. It’s a very quiet dream of mine, to help Singapore develop youth soccer talents.

What makes me think that i might be a good coach?

-I am passionate about football

-I am patriotic and hopes to contribute to the future of Singapore Football

-I am a decent player myself, watches almost any football match there is for me to watch. I can share my knowledge and experience.

-I love dealing with people, especially youths. Communication is one of my strongest point as a person, an employee and a student.

- I like to read people, players, soccer matches, strategies. People who knows me always claim i love to ‘psycho’ people. The truth is i like to read out reality in people’s face at the right moment. I love to motivate people.

Next question for myself is what i lack, right? The obvious one will be the qualification certificates. FAS coaching licenses- Preliminary, Class C, Class B and Class A. I will be taking these courses, hopefully sometime this year.

Hence, what has cause me to blog now?

Of course, i will love to see Ming and Faiz get in S League teams, gaining professional exposure and getting opportunity to learn from established footballers and coaches. Whatever the outcome, they have my blessings.

While i was in Prime league, playing for a club is like a dream come true. I felt that i had made it. How wrong i was when i was 17 years old. Ten years later, i realised that there are good players everywhere. Be it a social league or professional leagues, there are so many talented footballing people. In Singapore, most people probably will not consider playing football for a living unless you are definitely S-League material. I give up playing soccer professionally simply because i know that i will be better off studying to get my certs and working as a professional. I never regret my decision to give up playing soccer professionally. But to coaching football, it’s an entire different matter. I just dont know if i am up for it.

Fandi Ahmad

My philosophy of improving in football is simple: If you are not sound fundamentally, dont bother trying club football. Football intelligence, football psychology and being passionate about playing. These 3 qualities are crucial ingredients for players before they learn the advanced stages as a player. The obvious difference between social teams and clubs is the level of fitness. Techniques and fitness can be trained, but talent is something that you are born with. With talent, you need to work hard in training and be passionate about your football. I always remember Fandi Ahmad saying that he trained very very hard to be the player he was.

great local soccer movie

The movie ‘Kallang Roar’ moved me and the late Uncle Choo has my utmost respect for inspiring players to be so passionate. Here was a local great who made Singapore proud at the expense of his own life at stake. To put your heart and soul into the game, without disrupting your normal life necessities of course.

I believe strongly that football has to be a part of you if you want to be part of it… so i like to ask some youth one day: LIVING FOR FOOTBALL or FOOTBALL FOR LIVING?