Monday, April 28, 2014

Kamikaze Snap Losing Streak

MOF SEASON 5 DIVISION 1
ROUND 5
LE SEBEN FC vs KAMIKAZE
28 April 2014
3pm Pasir Ris Secondary

Kamikaze entered this match on the back of one of the worst run of matches in their 10-year history. But if they were to play the role of a club in serious crisis, their players absolutely forgot their lines, as Kamikaze romped to a convincing 6-1 victory over Le Seben FC.

Le Seben were no pushovers themselves. They were last season's Division 2 runners-up and a seasoned campaigner in the MOF leagues. However, Kamikaze approached this game with focus, determination and an attacking fervour that they have long been associated with. In all honesty, the going was not always easy - The team was still struggling to shrug off the psychological scars of the 3 defeats and confidence had clearly taken a hit. This was visible in the failure of taking clear chances and the continued presence of mispasses all over the park.

However, just when the nerves were looking to tip over, Gerard stepped up to exert control and authority over the proceedings. With his midfield lieutenant Doctor running box-to-box with energy, Gerard had time and space to pick his passes and when the team earned a free-kick at the edge of the box, thanks to a mazy run from Pratheep, the team knew that something special was on the cards. Gerard did not disappoint too, as he curled the free-kick over the wall and it rebounded on to the far post before rolling to the other and crossing the line. If the first set-piece was class, the second was just outrageous. This time it was Pira, who put the opponent left-back to the sword as he shimmied past him and drew the foul inside the penalty box. Gerard stepped up to take the penalty, and he virtually strolled towards the ball, before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the corner with absolutely no backlift. The keeper was not the only stunned face on the pitch.

The second-half started where the first-half left out. This time it was Safar who got in on the act, dancing down the right-wing before laying off to Gerard who completed his hat-trick with a sweet strike to the far post. There was still time for more excitement as Fazail played himself to form after a dreadful run of games, to play Sasi through with a defence-splitting pass. Sasi made no mistake too as he showed everyone what he is capable of. Muse then capped off an excellent game for himself as he scored after excellent work from Havey to find him inside the box. Vijay then managed to get in on the act, after being put through with a brilliant through-ball from Prem that caught the defence off guard. There was still some work to do, which Vijay duly obliged with an excellent left-footed finish from a tight angle. Le Seben did manage to grab one consolation goal, but that was not going to dampen the moods of the Kamikaze faithful who managed to heave a collective sigh of relief.

Vice-Captain Prem summed up the mood,

"There have been many theories about our lack of form, but the truth is the level of competition here is high and we need time to adapt. 1 win is not going to change anything, but what we are most happy about is that our style of play has returned. The boys played with so much zest and energy and kudos to the management for having kept the spirits and confidence up even during testing times. We will now forget about this game and start preparing for the next."

KAMIKAZE!!!

Squad: Victor (GK), Suresh Uspo, Eng, Anand Spaceship, Dinesh Manjan, Gerard, Karthik Doctor, Fazail, Pratheep Muse, Vijay, Havey, Prem, Barathi, Sasi, Safar, Pira

Goals: Gerard (3), Sasi, Pratheep Muse, Vijay
Assists: Pratheep Muse, Pira, Safar, Fazail, Havey, Prem

Final Score: Le Seben 1 - 6 Kamikaze 

Monday, April 21, 2014

Kamikaze Promise to Bounce Back

MOF SEASON 5 DIVISION 1
ROUND 4
YOUNGSTERVILLE vs KAMIKAZE
20 April 2014
11am Bedok South Secondary

Kamikaze looks to be a squad in crisis at the moment as losing 3 times on the trot is something that has been unthinkable for a long time, yet that is precisely what has happened as the Samurais plunged to their 3rd defeat, this time at the hands of Youngsterville.

To their credit, the team started brightly and could have easily been up by 2 goals within the first 10 minutes, save for some woeful finishing once again. And it would come back to hurt them as Youngsterville scored 2 quickly taken goals off the counter to condemn KKZ to yet another first-half deficit.

However, KKZ showed their famed resilience as they battled back to even terms off some dazzling magic from first Pratheep who won a penalty, which Safar missed but managed to score on the second attempt and then through Safar himself, who showed glimpses of his yesteryear magic as he danced down the by-line before finishing exquisitely.

Just when the team looked to have found its groove and seemed to have enough to even steal a late winner, they received yet another horrendous refereeing decision as a penalty was awarded against them.

However, for a team which has not had a taste of defeats for a very long time, Kamikaze does not look fairly threatened. They admit that they are a team in transition which is still finding it difficult to adapt to this level of football.

Captain Haravin rubbished all talks of a possible relegation battle,

"We lost three games and suddenly we are a squad in crisis? Please let's be realistic here. This team has too much quality to even worry about going down. We just need to get one result and the rest will follow. We have to keep believing in ourselves. I need my players to stand up and be counted. But of course, MOF has to help us as well. The referees have to be of some standard and matches have to be played for the full duration. The previous match was played at 35 minutes per half and this one at 30 mins per half. These things are not going to help any team and at the current moment it is hurting us. We expect better organisation from an established organiser such as MOF."

Squad: Victor (GK), Prem, Eng, Hara, Anand Spaceship, Dinesh Manjan, Gerard, Pira, Sasi,Safar, Vijay, Kishen, Barathi, Viki, PratheepMuse, Fazail

Goals: Safar (2)
Assists: Pratheep, Gerard

Final Score: Youngsterville 3 - 2 Kamikaze 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Second Defeat For Kamikaze

MOF SEASON 5 DIVISION 1
ROUND 3
KAMIKAZE vs GABRIELITE REMIX
13 April 2014
3pm Pierce Secondary

One has to go a very long time to remember when Kamikaze lost two consecutive matches. But the fact that it has happened now reflects the competitiveness of this league and the complacency that has infiltrated the team. To their credit, the boys from Kamikaze controlled possession in the first-half, kept asking all the right questions and their defence stayed solid. However, a lack of goals to account for their superiority meant that they were always vulnerable on the break and the worse happened as within minutes of the restart the team conceded the opener off another set-piece, this time a throw-in.

Although, the team did very well to bounce back and equalise through a well-taken striker's goal from Siva, they quickly found themselves down 3-1 again via shambolic defending. Just when it looked like they were back in the game when Nesh scored a vital second after good work from the flank by Siva, a misplaced pass found them vulnerable on the counter and they were down by 2 goals yet again. Vijay gave them a glimmer of hope as he halved the deficit, but it was not to be one of those valiant KKZ comebacks as they slumped to their second defeat of the season.

Acting Manager Victor who is definitely feeling the pressure remained defiant,

"Well football is a funny game. We definitely didn't play to standard today, but neither did the opponents. In the end however, it's only the goals that matter and we conceded 4 today. The most worrying thing for me, would be that we have still yet to come up with a definitive style of play this season and it's strange as this team has been playing together for quite a while. I have to take full responsibility for that and have to get my team to start playing to their abilities once again. Am I feeling the pressure? Yes, maybe. But the most important thing to do now is to get prepared for the next game. If we have to go back to the basics, we will."

Vice-Captain Prem summed it up,

"This is why we are in a division that is so tough. We have come to learn and to improve. Thrashing teams is not going to develop the team. It is only when you play against tough teams week in and week out and you learn to grab results as a team where you truly improve. We will get better."

KAMIKAZE!!!


Squad: Karim (GK), Prem, Uspo Suresh, Hara, Dinesh Manjan, Viki, Faizal, Oswind, Sasi, Anand Spaceship, Siva, Vijay, Pira, Neshsta, Doctor, Aravin Yeli

Goals: Siva, Neshsta, Vijay
Assists: Yeli, Siva, Faizal

Final Score: Kamikaze 3 - 4 Gabrielite Remix 4

Monday, April 07, 2014

Reality Sinks In For Kamikaze

MOF SEASON 5 DIVISION 1
ROUND 2
HAPPY FEET vs KAMIKAZE
11am Marsiling Secondary

This was a game at its cruel best. Kamikaze came into this game looking well-prepared on the outset, but the nerves clearly showed as they made schoolboy errors to succumb to a 5-1 defeat. The scoreline was made even bitter to take, knowing that they had indeed taken the lead after an outrageous free-kick by Oswind from the half-way line. From then on it was downhill as Kamikaze conceded goals from 3 corners and a penalty to effectively lose the match at half-time itself. The fact that they actually held their superior opponents to a goalless second half mattered little, as this game will be remembered for how the game was lost by the team's inability to defend their set-pieces and work as a team.

Acting Manager Victor was defiant in the post-match conference,

"Full credits to the Defending Champions Happy Feet, they played like champions and took their chances. But we were definitely not outplayed. We took the game to them, without defending equally well and we paid the price for it. This is what this league is about and it is exactly for this level of competition, that we made the decision to come onboard to MOF. We will get better. I will let the results speak for itself. I have full confidence in my team, and they will give the perfect response to this result."

KAMIKAZE!!!

Squad: Karim (GK), Eng, Ashraf, Sasi, Hara (c), Doctor, Mohaan, Oswind, Fazail, Safar, Siva, Hevy, Kishen, Premnathan

Goals: Oswind 

Final Score: Happy Feet 5 - 1 Kamikaze

Thursday, April 03, 2014

Kamikaze Play the Biggest Match of their History

Kamikaze take on their biggest opposition to date in their 10-year history when they play Defending Division 1 Champions Happy Feet in the second league match on Sunday. This definitely would rank up there as the biggest match in the team's history and it is precisely because they wanted days like these that the management made the tough decision of leaving ESPZEN prematurely to join MOF's Division 1.

Happy Feet are easily one of the top-3 teams in amateur football in Singapore and they play a brand of football that is very easily associated with teams like Bayern and Barca. Kamikaze on the other hand have been steadily building up for a day like this and the team is quietly confident.

We are definitely the underdogs and more important than anything is the football that we deliver on the day. However, there is optimism within the team camp that the team will give a good account of itself. For those who have to catch the excitement in person, head on down to Marsiling Secondary on 6th Apr at 11 am to catch Kamikaze taking on Happy Feet. Will the Divine wind soar with Honour or will they be gunned down by their premier opponents? Watch this space!!!

KAMIKAZE!!!