The Support Team!

Only today, was the team told that they have a Support Team from the school of Sports, Health and Leisure! So hooray for that and it was surely good for the team to have such a great support team of 3!

Today the team had physical as per usual every week, having run 1.5km on the outskirts of the school before having a short agility session, assisted by their very own Support Team! They have kindly assisted the team in organizing the agility session, came out with a plan as to how the layout should be with the placing of the cones and agility ladder. All in all, there was 4 stations (with a team mate at the other end of each station) and each station required a different duty.

The first station required hopping from gap to gap on the ladder and at the end of the hop, each have to head the ball that will be thrown by a team mate. The second station required zig-zag running between the cones and at the end of the run, each have to do a one touch pass with the team mate that will be stationed there at the end. The third station required a zig-zag run between the cones (but this time, bigger spaces between the cones) and at the end of the run, each have to knee-trap the ball and then kick the ball with the front laces. The last stationed required a side ways run-in-and-out on the ladder and at the end of the run, each have to do a controlled volley, with a team mate stationed at the end feeding the ball. Each, have to complete 5 sets for each station. Due to human traffic problems, the Support's Team plan did not go as planned but still, everyone managed to complete all stations, so great job!

Rain then started to pour slightly and the team headed back indoors to do some stomach exercises before calling it a wrap for the day. Those series of stomach stretches sure did kill all but surely on the other hand, everyone in the team will surely know that it was indeed worth the effort as they feel their tummies the following morning!

Hopefully today's physical will aid in the team's preparation for tomorrow's back to field work! Last but not least, Team Republic's WST would like to thank their Support Team(whom they can now truly call their own!) of Ain, Daniel and Jia Wen for all their efforts today!

Happy Birthday Ili!

Though it may be 2 days away from Ili's birthday, the team still, made some time out to celebrate Ili's 19th birthday in advance, with 4 Pizzas, topped with 19 candles after a grueling 3 hours of training at the street soccer court. It may not be a cake, but you know what they say, it is the thought that counts!

Also, apparently the girls have been told that they will not be able to use the field due to some screws that have been popping out or jutting out of the field. To further prevent injuries, the girls had training today over at the outdoor street soccer court. Every exercise was to practice and focus on strengthening the leg muscles and one of which tested the team's endurance. In their pairs, they have to carry their partners and walk the suicide run distance or rather, do the suicide run run, with their heavy or light partners on their back. Sure it wasn't easy, as Faridah had a hard time enduring Gough on her back, like Farrah with Joey as well. With much moral support from the rest, both pairs made it and finished the 2 sets, receiving a well-deserved round of applause from the others!

After that, the team was split into 4 teams of 6 and each round, 2 teams took turns to play each other. Every game was timed at 15 minutes, with no 2nd half at all. The teams tried time and again, to score and to no avail. The next match saw a goal-less match again, tying up all matches to a draw. Ah had then switched each team's players and changed to 8 players per team and that didn't help at all. At the end of the day, all matches were drawn at 0-0. Yatie could have gave her team a win for the day but was inches wide of her shot. Good effort, nonetheless. Not to forget the keepers, Farrah and Nas, who were making good saves throughout the matches at each end!

It's 2 more days over the weekend before the team returns back to school again. Surely no one is looking forward to the usual school-routine but with training still on as school begins, isn't it worth the early wake up afterall?

Queensway Friendly

The yet blazing and scorching sun did not deter the team in equalizing against their opponent. 1-1 the score at FT. Iffa, once again, hit the score-sheet, well done. It will be soon enough that her name will be making it's mark in the list of "top scorers", the team believes, with the number of goals she has been placing into the back of the net already.

Irna was made captain today in place of the injured Marjory, who is recently back from her 1 month lay-off, resting her shin splint injury. The absence of both Farrah and Fana gave Nas the chance again, to shine in goal; Ili, Irna, Faraheen and Gough made the string of defence; Shasha, Dilys, Yatie and Mary made up the midfield while Catherine and Atiqah completed the first 11 line up. As per usual, the entire team did their traditional pre-match routine - doing their team cheer before getting onto the pitch, to get the team all ready and highly-motivated for the match.

Iffa came on for Mary in the later first half but did not score yet until 15 minutes into the second half. Took the chance, got the ball, made it past 2 defenders before making that shot past Queensway's keeper. Atiqah wasn't so lucky and felt that she didn't fulfill her role as a striker but, she had 2 shots on goal, so did Yatie, with an addition of 2 shots off target. In short, RP's WST had a total of 10 shots on goal in the full 90 minutes.

The first half's play was alright and with the words from the advisor, Faz, "We need to get a goal in the first 15 minutes", during the interval, spurred the team on and right on, Iffa gave the equalizing goal within the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Not to forget the team's keeper, Nas, who did brilliantly well, saving many important goals. A job well done, immensely. Shasha, Irna and Dilys did well too, in bringing the ball down the right flank and covering areas where ever needed respectively.

Also, Team Republic WST's blog heard rumors that the team will be going to KL in December. While this is only a rumor, the team is sure excited about it but firstly, they will have to impress and do well for the upcoming POL-ITE! With such a great December to look forward to, Team Republic's WST will surely train hard and do well right?

Next up, the team is going to play a 2nd round of soccer with the Team Republic's floorballers next Wednesday. Watching floorballers playing a much bigger ball, hmm...

Fitness Passed!

Things are shaping up and the stamina of the team is looking good! Most of the girls in the team have passed the Beep Test, with most reaching level 6 and 7! Big congratulations to Sham who attained top place, lasting till level 8! Long legs are sure of an advantage, clearly...

Level of fitness

So the second round of the Beep test is going to be held today over at the badminton hall and the team is going to be re-taking their test once again. Most are happy that there is going to be re-run of the test because they didn't fare well in the first one or the results didn't reach their expectations, so to speak. The beep test will see where their fitness level lies, which level they are at.

The following day the team will be having a friendly with Queensway Secondary, kicking off at 1500h over at Republic's very own field and so the beep test will be helpful for the team, in a way. For those who would like to show your support for the Team Republic girls, do come by together with your poms poms (well, if you have, that is!) and any other celebratable stuff!

Team Republic's blog hereby wishes all those who are taking the test later the very best of luck!

Training Camp

3 days and 2 nights of training camp, was sure worth while, as the team sat through the 3 days, getting prepared both mentally and physically for their first ever upcoming event, POL-ITE.

The first day saw the arrival of the team alongside their bags, big and small, heading towards the spacious Agora Hall where they all settled down before heading to the field where the first training of the camp begin. The training was surely tiring as it was furthermore, a Sunday, a day where it was very unlikely of anyone to head back to school despite holiday periods. Additionally, the weather wasn't helping as well as the team trained under the blazing sun in the hottest time of the afternoon, running around the field, doing stretches, kicking of balls and not to mention, in the bad condition of the field which was badly waterlogged from the earlier hours of heavy-light-heavy-light rain. Brown spots was everywhere on attire, socks and boots. It was only at about 6pm did the training end before they headed for shower and then off to dinner out of camp-area.

Banquet was crowded as per usual, packed with many people looking for dinner, like the team was. With half of the team reaching the place earlier, they managed to book place for all to sit, with the tables inches away from one another. Ili, Fana, Iffa, Faridah, Yi Wen, few of the half. Before it's too late, the team went off in their mission to buy their dinner, filling their already hungry and empty stomachs. After the sumptuous dinner, the team headed back to their camp area where they had a team talk that ranges from improvement to discipline of the team. It sure was a good sharing session that lasted till past midnight with everyone struggling to keep their eyes wide open, like Faz has mentioned.

The 2nd day was less-physical as the team had to endure going through 3 workshops after the light physical in the morning before breakfast, one of which was more hands on, learning how to tape ankles while the other was more mentally based. Mostly cried in that one and again, it was another great short team sharing session but in tears, to put it in that manner. After which, the team had their 2nd field training again which ended at around 9pm in the night before having a shower and dinner and calling it a day. Tired as they were, everyone was sound asleep back in their "bunks", earlier as compared to the first night.

The last day called for celebration as it was break-camp day, the day everyone was looking forward to. Due to the fact that training ended late the previous day, the day begin at 9am for the girls. First they had breakfast, followed by light field physical on the field which lasted a rough 2 hours and a half. That saw the girls very much relaxed as they just had their usual sandwich meal before physical. End of the first session's training and the team headed down for a good last meal from camp and then resting for a good 2 hours where some of them played touch rugby in their spacious bunk area. Faridah, Faraheen, Atiqah, Shasha and Faz, were the few who played. Much less to say, there were loads of screaming and screaming, nothing but screaming from the girls! Carpet-burns injury was not avoided at all.

After a much 2 hours relax and sleep(for some), the girls headed back again for the 2nd and last training session of the camp. They had a 4 v 4 , the defenders going against the midfielders and attackers, switching of positions, shooting, etc. The field was less water-logged this time but it didn't help that much either anyway. It was break-camp and everyone was looking forward to going home sleeping on their sweet and comfy beds and didn't want to head home late and training only ended at around 730pm. The girls had a good stretch for cool-down, debrief and headed for a not-so-comfy-place to shower before calling it the end of the tiring camp.

Definitely everyone is exhausted, with their legs all wobbly like jelly but to be able to endure and be able to be awake for 2 training sessions in a day for the first camp like this is good enough for the team. As the fixtures of the POL-ITE is released, the Team Republic soccer girls have only exactly 1 month and 5 days from today.

It is only that much time left and surely, Team Republic will do their best and do their school proud for their first ever POL-ITE!