BORNEO FOOTBALL CUP 2010

The selection of players for our Team K12 and Team K14 participating in Borneo Football Cup 2010 in Kota Kinabalu has been finalised. The names of these 40 players (20 for each team) will be announced at our session on 03 July 2010. Those not selected will be placed on standby to replace those selected who do not "toe the line" over the next 3 months. Those selected were painstakingly scrutinised over and over again as we want to make sure that we have a balanced team (not necessarily the strongest) to meet the challenge in Kota Kinabalu. We may not win the tournament but if we lose, we want to lose with our dignity and pride intact.

These players will also represent our academy in the forthcoming 2010 Kuching Fest Junior Football League but unfortunately, only 18 players per team can be registered. So 2 players from each team will have to be mere supporters; even so, we will monitor how these players provide morale, mental and psychological support to their playing teammates from the stands.

TERM 02/10 ASSESSMENT

Our last session for Term 02/10 will be held on 04 July 2010 (Sunday) where the Term Assessment will be conducted on our Kickies. However, only those who attended MORE THAN 6 SESSIONS throughout Term 02/10 will be eligible.

2010 KUCHING FEST JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Kickalob Sports Academy and MBKS will be collaborating in organising the 2010 Kuching Fest Junior Football League scheduled to kickoff on 17 July 2010. This will be an U14 tournament and only 10 teams will be accepted to take part on a "first-come-first-serve" basis. So far, 5 teams have already confirmed their participation.

No cash prize will be given for this tournament as we don't want to inculcate the "no-money-no-play" syndrome into our players. Players must play for the love of and commitment towards the game. This tournament will show us who the team managers and coaches are who are fully in it for the love of Sarawak football. Of course money is important but it should be secondary!

We will be sending our Team K12 and Team K14 for this tournament. The selections for both teams bound for Borneo Football Cup in Kota Kinabalu have more or less been finalised. However, we will keep our options open and this tournament will provide these players an avenue to show everyone why they should be on that plane to Kota Kinabalu.

ENGLAND'S CHANCES IN WORLD CUP 2010

Having grown up watching English football, I'm hoping England will have a good World Cup outing but I am not getting my hopes up as they have always disappointed in the past. There are 2 main reasons (or should I say excuses??) why England seldom do well in the World Cup or Euro Championships.

One factor is the weather. The majority of the English season is spent in cool or cold temperatures with wind and rain. Obviously the training sessions are done in the same weather. In order to stay warm in these cool temperatures, players have to practically run at 100mph all the time!! This is also a major factor why the EPL is played at such a quick and frantic pace. As most World Cups and Euro Championships are played in the summer and usually in hot temperatures, it is an unusual situation for England players. They can't run around at 100mph like they do in the EPL and this takes something away from their game. (NOTE: It will be winter in South Africa with temperatures in the 40s to 60s so this should be to England's advantage.)

The other factor is wear and tear. Most of the England players, if not all, play in the EPL. Anyone who has watched an EPL game and then a Serie A or La Liga game will see a big difference. The EPL games are much faster and more physical. This takes its toll over the season. In fact, it was often said that Patrick Viera used to purposely get red carded around Christmas / New Year so that he could take a much needed rest. The bottom line is that England players usually show up at the World Cup and Euro Championships worn out. Franz Beckenbaur used to say, "The English play like lions in the autumn and like lambs in the spring/summer."

So England has the weather on their side for this World Cup but nothing can be done about the players' wear and tear. However, a new factor has arisen that could even be more damaging than these 2 factors, and that is team chemistry. I haven't really followed the John Terry and Wayne Bridge situation but any scandal involving wives, girlfriends, friendship and infidelity can really wreck a team's chemistry. And when other players end up taking sides, cliques form, rifts start and the whole thing becomes messy. Potentially, I think this could be more damaging than anything else.

So how will England do this time? It wouldn't surprised me if they struggled in group play, barely advanced and struggled to win another game. As for me, I will stand by SPAIN. Ole!