An Endless Stream of Consciousness

"Career Goals": It's a Numbers Game

I was just having a chat with a long time soccer buddy of mine just now and telling him about my latest misfortune. As the conversation got on, we started talking about some recent soccer events, notably Romario the Brazilian great who simply refused to retire until he has scored the 1,000th goal in his career. The most interesting aspect of this is that the tally isn't actually official and is more attributed to he keeping count himself. We both found this very amusing. What happened next though, was unexpected, he asked me, "So how many goals have you scored in your 'footballing career' (if you can even call it that)?"

Surprised, and very amused, my instinctive answer was, "I probably lost count. With our standards any goal in the park would count." To which he replied, "Oh, I thought all strikers are greedy and keep count of how many they've actually got."

This got me kind of curious, so after we got off the phone I decided to test myself and see how many goals I could remember myself scoring since I really have the time now sitting at home. Obviously, it is impossible for me to keep count of the ones we scored in our weekly kickabouts or friendly matches, so I kept it strictly to competitive goals scored. True enough, I was amazed that till today I can recall the number of calls I have scored in every competition I've played, even if I have forgotten how most of them were scored. This is how it worked out:

- Holy Cross U-15 (1995-1996): 8 goals
- Holy Cross U-19 (1997-1998): 10 goals
- Catholic High 'C' Div (1997) : 5 goals
- Catholic High 'B' Div (1998): 3 goals
- ASCIS (1999-2000): 51 goals
- Windsor Wheels U-17: 7 goals
- Windsor wheels U-19: 8 goals
- FATS Men's Intramurals Div IV (2000): 7 goals
- St. Michaels' College Men's Intramurals Div I (2000-2004): 8 goals
- 'Questra Athletic' FAS Youth Invitational (2001): 1 goal
- 'Fake Madrid' Charity Soccer Tournament (2004): 4 goals

So there you have it, 112 scored in 9 years of competition! My own century of goals! Lol...

Whatever He has given us, it is within his power to take away. Even if it is just for awhile. Like the ability to walk for example. But I've come to realize that sometimes when the basic things in life are taken for granted, having this temporary withdrawal could be a good thing. Just as a reminder of how we should always remember to thank Him for what we do have.

So here's a list of things I can't do without using my right leg off the top of my head, starting with the most obvious one:

1. Walk (or jog, run etc...)
2. Play soccer
3. Drive
4. Cycle
5. Dance
6. Any activity that involves walking from one place to another (i.e. moving things, shopping etc.)
7. Squat
8. Tip-toe
9. Jump

Bros-in-Legs...

Me & my cousin (right). He is showing me sympathy a la Zheng Yu during his visit today.

Oh, and it didn't occur to me that it has been over 10 years since his last visit to my house whilst I have been making frequent visits to his (including a few stay overs). Quite amazing isn't it?

I heard from a good friend of mine yesterday that he too, has suffered a foot injury whilst playing soccer. However, his came in a somewhat comical fashion--whilst playing in the park with some friends, he ended up kicking a tree root full on whilst attempting to clear the ball.

I am very sorry, I really am. As I myself am suffering from a football-related injury, I can feel your pain. However, what I don't get is why kick a tree? So fine is the line between bravery and stupidity.

One Leg Shaking...

Cathy noticed one thing. That even now, with my right leg in a cast, my habit of shaking my leg hasn't stopped. Only now it has spread to my left leg. Call it a chao kuan or whatnot, but I certainly didn't realize it until she brought it up. Now I know why God gave us 2 legs. When one is out of action, the other one can take over :P

On a separate note, United lost to Chelsea in yesterday's FA Cup Final and in the process lost out on their chance to win a domestic double this year. Really couldn't believe it. Fair enough Drogba's goal was a beauty. But any honest neutral watching the game would have seen how United were the better side for most of the game. I just don't seem to understand their luck in FA Cup Finals, 2 years ago they absolutely outplayed Arsenal in the final and in the end the Gunners won on penalties. *sigh*

And yes, just because Moan-rinho's team won it in the end, all the Chelsea players were saying how they deserved to win. Typically fickle and one-sided. And Giggs had a fair shout at claiming a goal too. Can't believe Cech made such an immature comment: "yes, i brought the ball over the line, but he kicked and pushed me over the line, so it would have been a foul". I mean HELLO, did you see why he pushed you over the line in the first place, your own player Michael Essien fouled Giggs, and it was his momentum as a result that forced you in. And that would have been a penalty you cuckoo!

Anyways, I guess I'll just have to look forward to next season. Winning the premiership ain't that bad I guess. It's still the main trophy. And the one Chelsea wanted more too.

Maissoneuve Injury with complete rupture of the deltoid ligament, disruption of the Distal Tibia-Fibular joint and Prixmal Fibular Fracture.

The exact medical terminology used to describe my injury. Quite a mouthful. Think I'll stick with calling it an ankle dislocation with some torn ligaments.

Sis says during this period my arms and left leg will be strengthened no end while using crutches. Well, I don't really know about that yet, but right now my ribs and armpits are bruised and aching like crazy that's for sure.

On a lighter note to help me maintain a positive attitude, here are 5 things you shouldn't do/say to me for the moment:

1) "Hey, wanna go for a run later?"
2) "We got to go now, have a soccer match at 3pm..."
3) "I don't suppose you do the Tango Nuevo?"
4) "Eh, show me how to do that Cristiano Ronaldo trick again leh..."
5) Strut up to me and start doing the can-can...

The Virtue of Patience...

" Patience is exercised when we resign our will to the will of God and accept our crosses as coming from the hand of God for our welfare. Our individual burdens, whatever they may be, are God’s gift and have divine blessings for us, if we bear them in faith and love. When we call upon God for help, He will likely not take the load from our shoulders, but rather strengthen us to carry the burden. Patience does not necessarily exclude wishing for relief from suffering, but it does exclude murmuring about it. We need to pray and to exercise patience and courage in order to bear it." - Fr. Dominic Radecki

Been doing a lot of thinking the past 4-5 days at the hospital. Sometimes I really don't understand. Is it that we have taken the basic blessings in life for granted that such events occur? Even then, why does it have to be so drastic? This statement isn't made simply because I won't be walking for the next 12 weeks. Neither do I refute any accusations coming my way that I have never taken anything for granted. But it's simply the way it has occured that has gotten me thinking.

If only I had not made that run. If only I had let it go. If only I had decided to go for a morning run instead of playing footie with my cousin's team that day. If only... if only. Hindsight can be a real pain at times. To make things worse, sometimes the consequence of our actions doesn't really justify what we have done.

I am really not sure if I will ever play footie again. It is the first real love of my life. A passion I've had for almost 15 years now. And the one thing I've always been able to do everywhere I've went. For sure I've had injuries in the past. But this one's different. I'm not sure if I can go through this ordeal a second time...

Are we really all innately selfish? Does "I love you" really come with a disclaimer that says "but not as much as I love myself of course"?

Is it really honesty that admits to one's own failures when it affects others that one loves? Or is it actually cowardice and selfishness?

Once in a lifetime...

I had the pleasure of being a guest player at a corporate cup match this afternoon at the Singapore National Stadium, Kallang thanks to Aloysius. It is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity to play on a field that has contributed to so many memories to Singapore's sporting history. From Malaysia Cup to SEA Games and Asean Cup, so many memorable matches have been played here. Not to mention a certain Manchester United FC has also played on this pitch before, so that makes it all the more special! So just to be able to play an official match on the same pitch meant so much to me.

I came on for a cameo appearance in the last 20 mins and helped our team (DHL) come back from 3-0 down to a 3-2 final scoreline. Only blot on an otherwise memorable day was a scuffle I was involved in in the final minute... but I won't talk about that now.