A Look Back @ Season 7

The end is here.

On the 3rd time of asking, TeamCuzz improved on her position in ESPZEN Saturday League Division 2 by finishing 2nd ahead of Sufi on goal difference. And for that, TeamCuzz will be rewarded with a trophy and some medals to fill their trophy cabinet at Pengerang. Congratulations to all players and supporters who made this possible. We have done it!

TeamCuzz would also like to highlight some personal achievements & memorable moments that has shaped our season.

Manager of the Season: Shahrudin (duh!)
Golden Boot: Syazrin (11 goals)
Most Assists: Khairil (7 assists)
Most Man-of-Match Awards: Syazrin, Haidhar, Faizul, Imran (2 each)
Most Appearances: Imran (16), Haidhar (15 + 1)
Most Valuable Player: Haidhar
Most Improved Player: Syafiq
Quote of the Season: Faisal (Hope TeamCuzz will achieve success not only on PRODUCT but PROCESS & PEOPLE)
Celebration of the Season: Haidhar & Haidhar's Dad (vs Real Ale, 2nd leg, 4th goal)
Moment of the Season: Shahrudin's goal straight from corner (vs Fake Madrid, 1st leg)
Match of the Season: TeamCuzz vs Real Ale @ First Toa Payoh Sec (2nd leg)
Pitch of the Season: Temasek Sec (3 wins out of 3)
Save of the Season: Aril (vs Real Ale, 2nd leg)
Goal of the month (January): Syazrin (vs RedSagaII, 1st leg, 1st goal)
Goal of the month (February): Syukri (vs RedSagaII, 2nd leg, 1st goal)
Goal of the month (March): Syazrin (vs Premier, 2nd leg, only goal)
Goal of the month (April): Haidhar (vs Real Ale, 2nd leg, 4th goal)
Goal of the month (May): Syazrin (vs Supernova, 2nd leg, 1st goal)
Photo of the Season: Syafiq, Fazlon, Shahrudin & TeamCuzz's GK gloves

We would also like to thank all our opponents for making it a truly exciting and challenging season. Though the league table might suggest otherwise, in all honesty, all matches were closely contested. And for that, our season's review will not be complete without a quick review on each one of them.

Fake Madrid - We would like to congratulate Fake Madrid for beating us over the course of 2 legs & emerging as champions of ESPZEN Saturday League Division 2. Despite the fiasco that brewed up midway through the season, they have shown qualities of a top side by rising to meet the challenge(s) and maintaining their consistency throughout.

Sufi - The moment we saw a certain Mahdi Ali on Sufi's roster, we knew we are facing a team of some quality. And rightly so. Both matches were closely contested, with the better team losing both times. On another note, we cannot be happier than to see a group of like-minded friends of different races coming together for a common cause. We wish them the best in keeping the team going for many more years ahead.

Supernova - Narrow 2-1 victories is a testament of how strong Supernova truly is. Let's just say the order of the table might need to be changed had the same players turned up on time every week.

Real Ale Madrid - Though they started the season in poor form, Real Ale certainly showed they were no pushovers. We were once fearful of just facing Olai every time we faced them, but they have shown that their team is more than just that. We hope we can still play competitive football at their age.

Dynamites - We always knew Dynamites was a talented team capable of upsets as they had done to us before previously. While they were that close to drawing with us in the 1st leg, they certainly beefed up their team even further in the return leg and duly got what they deserved.

Arizen - There is no doubt Arizen will pick up the Fair Play award, simply because this team is the most exemplary in their conduct. And they have a team that can pack a punch as well, with their quick strikers and wingers often a menace when we faced them both times. Thank God for that, coz that might have resulted in the 3 crucial goals against Sufi in the last game.

RedSagaII - We entered the new season expecting to face the strong team which had beaten us the last time we met at Marsiling Sec, and to 2nd spot in season 5. So in all honesty, we were quite surprised why the team is not right up there. Even more so considering we had to grind out 3-2 wins twice.

Premier - Resilient team whose matches with us resulted in stalemates in season 5. And they almost did so again in the return leg.

Once again, thanks everyone for a great season.

BTW, TeamCuzz also won 2 events in MOE Family Day yesterday - Beach Soccer & Volleyball. The team of Shahrudin, Shukur, Khairil, Luqman & Imran & WACs Aryanti, Yanie & Sufyan bagged for themselves 95 bucks on a fun-filled day at Sentosa. The money, as unanimously agreed, will be used for TeamCuzz's BBQ next week.

Top: Shukur & Khairil receiving the Soccer & Volleyball prizes respectively. Bottom: WACs and the team.

Signing off, for the last time this season, and probably ever.

Next Game: Supernova (2nd Leg)

So here we are, at the final game of what has been an exciting season. TeamCuzz will be going up against Supernova, a formidable team that has proven to be capable of playing good football. Fortunately, TeamCuzz has a healthy squad of 15. The manager has put some thought into it, and will be deploying his charges in his much-favoured formation.

Note:
1) Pitch is rather big and bumpy, so please prepare the necessary.
2) Order of players' name and position listed is by no means final. Everyone should arrive early and be ready by 1430h for a team warm-up & briefing.

In preparation for the match, TeamCuzz's players are requested to watch the following video to fully appreciate the fighting spirit that is innate in all humans. Nah, just appreciate how cute the baby is. Cya on Saturday.

April's Goal of the Month

April turned out to be TeamCuzz's most fruitful month, emerging unbeaten and reaping 13 points from a possible 15. Enroute to getting those points, here's 5 of the best goals scored this month.

Haidhar vs Real Ale Madrid, 24th Minute, 1-1: "Real's cornerkick has been translated into a quick counter-attack thanks to Razif's thumping header and Khairil's purposeful run forward. Haidhar frees himself to receive the ball and...


Haidhar vs Real Ale Madrid, 70th Minute, 4-2: "Haidhar intercepts a pass, runs forward and forward and forward and...


Shahrudin vs Dynamites, 50th Minute, 2-1: "Good interchange of passes down the left ends up with Haidhar providing a through ball. Shahrudin races clear to get to it first and...


Syafiq vs Supernova, 30th Minute, 2-1: "Shahrudin uses his upper body strenght to hold off the challenge of a defender and cuts in. He sees Syafiq in acres of space and...


Haidhar vs Arizen, 60th Minute, 3-0: "Khairil does it again, with his 3rd needle-like pass finding an attacker in a dangerous position. This time, Haidhar finds himself one-on-one with the onrushing goalie and...

Why did TeamCuzz win?

TeamCuzz won because...

...TeamCuzz was mentally prepared for the game.
...TeamCuzz warmed up together.
...TeamCuzz stretched together.
...TeamCuzz listened to a thorough briefing together.
...TeamCuzz had a common objective & understanding after the briefing.
...TeamCuzz fit the formation to the players available.
...TeamCuzz played as a team.
...TeamCuzz never lost their composure despite the unforgiving, scorching environment.
...TeamCuzz was determined for a result but never rushed for it.
...TeamCuzz played good, patient, passing football.
...TeamCuzz created options when there was seemingly no other options available.
...TeamCuzz's budding goalie Naimm showed a safe pair of hands to notch a clean-sheet.
...TeamCuzz's defence was expertly marshalled.
...TeamCuzz's midfielders were working tirelessly.
...TeamCuzz's wingers were providing intelligent runs down the channels.
...TeamCuzz's birthday boy Riduwan provided a focal point of attack.
...TeamCuzz's Khairil was Fabregas-like with 3 defence-splitting passes & assists.
...TeamCuzz took their chances
....TeamCuzz's Faisal finished with confidence.
...TeamCuzz's Firdaus finished deliciously with his first touch of the game.
...TeamCuzz's Haidhar finished with another cheeky lob over the goalie.
...TeamCuzz played for each other.
...TeamCuzz supported each other.

But above all, TeamCuzz came early and made all of the above possible.

And TeanCuzz even cooled down together.

Now this is the TeamCuzz that should show up every Saturday.

Next Game: Arizen Football Club (2nd Leg)

League standings will mean for nothing as TeamCuzz prepares to take on Arizen FC later today. TeamCuzz will start off as second favourites against a much-improved Arizen team. Yet again, TeamCuzz has to resort to scrambling for players at the tail end of the season. It is hardly avoidable this time around though, considering the injuries that has plagued the team this season, coupled with the May Day weekend. With postponement not an option, TeamCuzz will be turning up for the match with just 11 confirmed players, and 3 others on the pending/bonus/surpise! list.

With the lack of options all around, TeamCuzz's stand-in gaffer will be deploying his charges in a formation made popular by the Special One, with the front-line being led by Riduwan (as part of his 38th birthday present). All 11 players are reminded to arrive early for a team warm-up at 2.30pm. They will also need to mentally prepare to last the whole 80 minutes and play at new positions which they have never played at before.