Man Utd in May 2017

Fatigue is setting in...another two injuries during this game, Bailly and Luke Shaw. The Utd's back line is now down to bare bones. They laboured over relegation threatened Swansea at Old Trafford. This is their 10th home draw of the season...a record of sort. The chase for top 4 is getting tougher though Man City also drew and Arsenal lost later. 

On Thursday it is Europa League semi final against Celta in Spain

Man Utd 1  Swansea 1

Europa League Semi-final first leg

Marcus Rashford scored a stunning freekick goal to enable the Red Devils to leave Spain with an important away goal. It is now back to England for Sunday's clash with Arsenal in the PL.

Celta Vigo 0 Man Utd  1

The Red Devils unbeaten run since October last year ended at Emirates when Arsenal won 2-0. Mourinho's priority is on the Europa League semi-final on Thursday against Celta Vigo and his side showed their non-commitment to this game.

Arsenal 2  Man Utd 0

Europa League Semi final 2nd leg 11 May 2017

The Red Devils just edged out Celta Vigo by an aggregate of 2-1 to enter the final against a youthful Ajax Amsterdam. Fellaini gave them an early lead. However as usual, they could not kill off the opposition, allowing Celta to equalise on 85th. The last 5 minutes was highlighted with a double red card, one from each side. Eric Bailly will miss the final.

Man Utd 1  Celta Vigo 1

As Tottenham Hotspurs leaves their White Hart Lane for the last time to move to a new Stadium, the Red Devils' focus was definitely on the Europa League final in 2 weeks time. Jose Mourinho allowed his side to lose two matches in a row to give up the fight for a UCL place through the PL. Spurs meanwhile confirmed their 2nd place as Chelsea has already secured the title with two games to go, with a win over WBA on Friday.

Tottenham Hotspurs  2   Man Utd  1

This meaningless match ended goalless at St Mary. The only thing of note was Romero saving a Gabbiadini penalty. The Red Devils are saving themselves for the Europa League final. Fancy Mourinho playing the 'boys' in the last match against Crystal Palace before the final.

Southampton  0  Man Utd  0

Last week of season

As promised, Mourinho fielded his 'kids' in this inconsequential match against Palace at Old Trafford. and they did not disappoint though Allardyce fielded his full strength squad. He gave debuts to players like Joel Castro, Demetri Mitchell, Axel Tuanzebe, Josh Harrop, Angel Gomes. Scott McTominay also started. It was Harrop who shone with a classy goal from a Progba pass. Progba scored the second before substituted at half time to save him for Europa League final.

Final league standing

1. Chelsea

2. Tottenham Hotspurs

3. Man City

4. Liverpool

5. Arsenal

6. Man Utd

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal missed out an UCL spot for the first time in 20 years.

Man Utd  2  Crystal Palace  0

Europa League Final at Stockholm, Sweden 24 May 2017

So, Jose Mourinho's first season with the Red Devils is considered a success!!! Two Cups and the Community Shield would have shut up most critics.

The Devils did just enough to win 2-0 against a very young Ajax Amsterdam side and thus qualified for a spot in the UCL nest season. Paul Progba paid back a huge sum of his $89M fee with the opening goal. Man Utd thus became the fourth European team to have won all the major UEFA competitions, others being Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Ajax  0    Man Utd  2

The 2016-17 season thus ended with only Chelsea vs Arsenal in the FA Cup final on Sunday

Diaries from the Past - RI Soccer 1982 - 1984 The Lean Years

After the Pre U students left to form RJC, lean years followed the RI soccer in the U14 and U17 tournaments until I left the school at the end of 1985. However I still have some records of the results for that few years.Not much was heard about soccer in RI since then......

1982 - Year of the Dog
 U14
5 Feb      vs Monk's Hill       0-1
10 Feb    vs Whitley            0-1
11 Feb    vs Swiss Cottage  0-0

Out of tournament

U17        
5 Feb        vs SJI                1-2
11 Feb      vs PPVI              1-2

Ortega Cup vs SJI               0-1

1983 - Year of the Pig

U14
31 Jan    Friendly   vs Assumption English   2-1
11 Feb   vs Gan Eng Seng         0-2
18 Feb   vs Henderson Sec        1-0
22 Feb   vs Anderson Sec          1-5
25 Feb   vs SJI                         0-2
Did not qualify for 2nd Rd

U17
28 Jan    Friendly vs ACS                  2-1
31 Jan Friendly vs Assumption          2-0
4 Feb   Return Friendly vs ACS          0-2
8 Feb    vs Anderson                        1-2
11 Feb  vs Kim Seng Tech                0-2
22 Feb  vs Christchurch Sec             0-0
Did not qualify for 2nd Rd

1984 - Year of the Rat

U14
20 Feb     vs Henderson          0-2
5 Mar       vs Kim Seng Tech    9-0
7 Mar       vs Anderson Sec      0-0
19 Mar     vs Rangoon Sec       0-0
Did not qualify for 2nd Rd

U17
2 Mar       vs St Thomas          1-1
5 Mar       vs Henderson Sec    1-2
Did not qualify for 2nd Rd

Really dreadful records for these three years!!!!!!

Diaries from the Past - RI Soccer 1981

1981 Year of the Cockerel
The Post Sec tournament was renamed U18 to reflect the age groups as there were quite a number of 'over-aged' boys in the VIs. Similarly, the B and C tournament were renamed U16 and U14.
Usual centralised training was held from 16th to 19th March. Azlan trained the U14 while Kalidass and Emran the U16

U16 Soccer
23 Jan Friendly vs   SAF Boys            0-1
9 Feb Friendly vs Gan Eng Seng        1-1

18 Feb    vs Tiong Bahru Sec            4-1
27 Feb    vs Catholic High                 3-1 (see report below)

2 March    vs Rangoon Road Sec      9-4 (See report)

4 March    vs Swiss Cottage Sec       0-0
6 March    vs Monk's Hill Sec            0-1
Qualifuied for Q-finals
13 Apr      vs Yusoff Ishak Sec          0-3

29 May  Ortega Cup vs SJI               2-3


U14 Soccer
18 Feb      vs  Gan Eng Seng         10-0 (see Straits Times report)
20 Feb      vs Anderson Sec           1-1
25 Feb      vs Bukit Ho Swee Sec   2-1 (all goals scored by BHS players!!)
4 March    vs Swiss Cottage          3-2 (Lee Siang, Ganesan, Pek Kong Wah)

Qualified for 2nd Round
26 Mar     vs Dunearn Sec             1-1 (Uda Thith)
30 Mar     vs Sec                            2-2 (Mustaffa, Lee Siang)
2 Apr        vs Westlake Sec           2-0 (Izan, Lee Siang)
Qualified for Q-finals
10 Apr     vs Mt Vernon Sec          2-1 (Izan, Mustaffa)
14 Apr     vs Upper Serangoon Sec  0-2
16 Apr     vs Mei Chin Sec             0-4
KO in Q-finals

Standing:  Abdul Malik, Mustaffa Kamal, Fuad, S Ganesan, Andrew, Robert Ong, Pek Kong Wah, Nor Hisham, Sofjan Sukman
Squating : Fazlur, Maritz, Razif, Uda Thith, Nabil, Ibrahim, Izan Sidek, Rafik, Chan Tat Hon
Absent: Lee Siang

Back row:  Fazlur, Rafik, Sofjan, Ganesan, Izan Sidek, Razif, Pek Kong Wah, Nor Hisham, Mustaffa
Front Row: Andrew, Fuad, Abdul Malik, Nabil, Chan Tat Hon, Ibrahim, Maritz, Uda Thith, Robert Ong

U14 Team photo taken at SJI field, Bras Brasah 29 June 1981
Back row: Maritz, Fuad, Sofjan, Andrew, Lee Siang, Fazlur, Peck Kong Wah, Mustaffa, Hisham
Front: Razif, Ibrahim, Izan, Ganesan, Robert Ong, Uda Thith, Chan Tat Hon

j

U18 Tournament Full Results

26 March   vs Umar Palavar Tamil   8-0 {Teo L H (6), Ravi (2)}

2 Apr         vs SAJC                       5-0 {Teo L H (3), Ravi (2)}

6 Apr         vs Rangoon Road Sec   6-0 {Teo L H (4), Pereira, Swarnapala}

9 Apr         vs Balestier Hill            5-0 {Wong C K, Teo L H (2), Ravi (2)}

23 Apr       vs Monk's Hill               3-0 {Teo L H, Ravi, Khanisan}

2nd Round

27 Apr       vs Siglap Sec                2-1 {Teo L H (2)}

29 Apr       vs Boys Town VI           5-1 {Teo L H (3), Wong C K (1), Chan K F (1)}

5 May         vs Serangoon Sec        1-1 {Teo L H}

Q-finals

11 May       vs CJC                        1-1 {Teo L H }

2 July         vs Sang Nila Utama     2-2 {Teo L H, Wong C K }

4 July         vs Tun Seri Lanang      3-0 {Teo L H (2) Wong C K}

Semi-final

8 July         vs Serangoon Sec        2-1 (Chan Kok Fatt, Teo Liang Huat)

(See New Nation report)

17 July 1981 U18 Soccer Final at Jln Besar Stadium

This was the final year which RI fielded a Post Sec team. 1982 would see the separation and then the beginning of RJC.

RI 3 (Wong Chin Koon, Richard Pereira, Teo Liang Huat)   

Catholic Junior College 0

1981 Finals Lineup

Ang Pooh Eng (GK), Saharuruddin (LB), Boey Yin Cheong (RB), Richard Pereira (Sweeper), Woon Hin Keng (Stopper), Kanesan (MF), Ravi Chandran (MF), Swarnapala (MF), Chan Kok Fatt (RWing), Wong Chin Koon (LWing), Teo Liang Huat (Striker)

Sub: Khaider (16) for Kanesan

After the final at Jln Besar Stadium

Before the final at Jln Besar Stadium

 White away strip

Green Home strip

Our dear coach, the late Suhaimi

Diaries from the Past - RI Soccer 1980

1980
A new decade. However it was a wretched year for RI soccer especially the C boys.

U18 Soccer
30 Jan Friendly  vs NJC            3-1
27 Mar     vs SAJC                   3-3
2 April      vs STI                     2-1
8 April      vs Victoria School     0-4
11 April    vs Ponggol VI           1-0
Qualified for next round

15 April   vs Pasir Panjang VI    0-1
18 April   vs CJC                      0-1
21 April   vs Madrasah             0-2


'B' Soccer
4 Feb     vs Catholic High       5-0  (Liang Huat (3), Ravi, Yoke Keong)
7 Feb     vs Christchurch Sec  2-1
10 Feb   vs Swiss Cottage      0-1
14 Feb   vs Bukit Ho Swee     1-1
21 Feb   vs Whitley Sec         8-0 
27 Feb   vs Balestier Hill        1-1
1 Mar     vs Tiong Bahru Sec  2-1
Qualified for 2nd round 
25 Mar   vs Kaki Bukit           0-1
27 Mar                                 3-3 
31 Mar   vs Serangoon Sec    0-0
2 April    vs Dunearn Tech     2-2          
7 April    vs Newtown Sec      2-2
Did not qualify for 3rd round

Ortega Cup vs SJI     1-3

'C' Soccer
7 Feb     vs  Henderson Sec   1-4
11 Feb   vs  SJI                    2-4 
14 Feb   vs  Bukit Merah Sec 1-7             

Diaries from the Past - RI Soccer 1979

All eyes were on RI, the defending champion, this year. Only Emran Yusoff and Tan Eng Teng were left from the 1978 squad, from which the 1979 squad were built upon. As usual, a 3-day centralised training was conducted in mid-March.


Stdg R - L
Azhar Omar, Emran Yusoff, Lim Chin, M Azni, Pang Kim Soon, ____, William See, Billy Ng, Tan Eng Teng, Pavan Kumar
Sitting
Mustafa Sidek, Shah Alam, Lim Eng Lee, Wee Way Kiat, Chiew Shung Hon, Zahari Mohamed, Chew Wai Cheong, Thong Kok Hung, Chew Sin Cheong, Koh Wei Howe

1979

The tournament began in late March after the school holidays.

26 Mar     vs SVI                     1-0

28 Mar     vs Swiss Cottage    1-2

(This match was headlined on the sending off of Swiss striker Schelkis, see Straits Times Report below)
2 April      vs Nanyang J C      4-1

4 April    vs   Outram Sec    2-1      ( Qualified for the Q-finals, See New Nation Report below)

Q-finals

20 April  vs Ponggol V I   2-0 (See New Nation Report below about Billy Ng)

23 April  Q-finals 2nd match    vs Victoria  1-0 (New Nation Report below)

25 April  Q-finals 3rd match vs Ponggol VI   0-0

27 April  Semifinal vs Swiss Cottage (New Nation report below)

2 May 1979  3rd /4th placing  vs Boys' Town VI

1-1 after full time then extra time (Emran scored with a freekick)

Won 3rd place by penalty kicks 3-1

U16 Results

5 Feb   vs Umar Palavar       5-0

9 Feb   vs Gan Eng Seng       0-1

14 Feb  vs Catholic High       4-0

16 Feb  vs Henderson Sec    2-1

20 Feb  vs Anderson Sec      0-0

22 Feb  vs  Monk's Hill         1-7

28 Feb  vs Whitley Sec         0-0

Did not qualify for the next round

1979 RI B Soccer team

U14 Results

5 Feb     vs Whitley Sec        3-2

12 Feb   vs Anderson Sec     1-1

19 Feb   vs Balestier Hill      5-0

26 Feb   vs Gan Eng Seng    0-3

2nd Round

26 Mar   vs Tun Seri Lanang   2-2

30 Mar   vs Montfort               1-4

2 April   vs Tg Katong Tech    0-3

Did not qualify for 3rd Round

Diaries from the Past - RI Soccer 1978

It is nearly 40 years now!!!!! Looking back at my past diaries which documented events happening day to day, I decided to relive the days, as soccer master, when the game was revived, though for a short period in Raffles Institution ie 1978 to 1982. The journeys with the boys were largely fulfilling as their commitment and perseverance while wearing that Gryphon jersey were always evident, win or lose. This Rafflesian Spirit was never lost during training or competition and was strongly imbued into the players through the coaches who were old boys of the school eg Azlan, the late Suhaimi, Au-yeong, Ling Beng Huat, etc
In RI, Rugby was the King of sports. The moment the boys stepped into the school, they have been identified and then drafted into the rugby team. Their coaches would go around the classes choosing the 'right size' boys to be trained for the school team, Other sports would have to make do with those boys who were not chosen. This was one great downer as a RI soccer master (1978 - 1986) as the game could also lose the boys to rugby completely from Sec 2 onwards especially those with kicking and running abilities.

1978 
was considered a red letter year for RI soccer after 6 long barren years. As the competition progresses, the school realised that we have a winnable team, anchored by striker Au-yeong Pak Kuan, who later captained the National team.

In March, the assembled team played a couple of friendlies.

6 March  RI vs SC (National Service)     1-0
10 March  RI vs Bukit Merah V I            1-3

During the March holidays a 3-day (15 to 17 March) soccer camp was organised to select the final team players. Besides the normal soccer drills and tactics, the boys included a bare-foot morning run at East Coast Park.

The official tournament started after the school term 1 holidays.

27 March    vs Temasek J C         2-0
3 April        vs Bukit Merah VI      1-0
5 April        vs Boys Town VI        0-0
7 April        vs St Patrick              1-0
10 April      vs Bartley                  7-0
19 April      vs Singapore VI        1-1
24 April      vs Outram Sec          1-0

Qualified for the semi-finals (see Straits Times report 25 April 1978 below)

26 April     vs Geylang Serai VI  3-0 (Straits Times Report below)

4 May  Semi-final  vs Boys Town VI  2-0 (Au yeong scored two goals)

10 May 1978 (Wednesday) Soccer final at the National Stadium

Straits Times Report 11 May 1978

The U14 and U16 teams did not perform quite as well. The latter qualified for the second round,

U14 results

15 Feb     vs Monk's Hill      3-3

17 Feb     vs Thomson Sec  0-1

20 Feb     vs Rangoon Sec  0-1

U16 Results

13 Feb     vs Catholic High   2-1

15 Feb     vs Beatty Sec       4-0

22 Feb     vs East Payoh      1-1

24 Feb     vs Rangoon Sec   0-1  

Qualified for 2nd Round

23 Mar    vs UST                 2-3

28 Mar    vs Siglap              0-2