Dear Diary

It doesn’t take a lot of coaxing to get me onto a football field! Just show me a field with goalposts and dangle my boots by the shoelaces in front of my face, and I’ll soon be skipping around the field! Although half as fit as I was, I can still run half the field and kick around a fuss against the opponents!

So when I had the chance to play alongside the Social Soccer Section, I was delighted when they welcomed me into the team! The game was between two SRC teams and I was allowed to choose which one I wanted to play for. I glanced at the two sets of jerseys and decided that the white outfit would look great on me. And in respect for the inspiration given to me by Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world,I donned the immortal number 7 livery!

Assuming my familiar left-back position, I was amazed by this bunch of middle-aged men and their passion for the game! It did not matter if 20 players came when they can only field 11 players at one time! All of them will get to play! The simple touch-and-run football was perfect for them, as I did not really foresee men in their 40’s and 50’s still playing ‘World Cup-like’ competitive football.

Reality check! I got breathless, severely, and decided that one half of the game was enough for me! Sitting on the sidelines and observing the second half was the most logical thing for me to do. With my isotonic drink in hand and sweat beading down my forehead, I was soon slouching comfortably on the bench!

It was all in the name of fun! Players who were waiting for their chance on the pitch got themselves in stitches over crazy jokes and one even did a ‘live’ commentary on the game! One even did a Jose Mourinho impersonation as he hovered on the sidelines hollering instructions to the players!

I managed to chat up Social Soccer Section Convenor, Mr Peter Quek, and discovered that the SRC Soccer Section actually comprises of both social and veteran teams. Made up of 70-strong football fanatics, the Section organises games every Wednesdays and Fridays where they compete against other corporate teams. And if the twice-weekly sessions cannot satisfy the members’ insatiable desires for more ‘balls’, the Section organises trips overseas and you can get a taste to play against foreign opponents.

Well, if you still have those kangaroo leather soccer boots stashed somewhere in the dark recesses of your storeroom, it’s time to dust them off! Come kick around with the Social Soccer Section! Yes, they do rolling substitutions when you run out of air!

Kicking some balls,

Sham Latiff

For more information on how to join the Social Soccer Section, simply contact S N Kumar at 6430 7561 or email kumar.sports@src.org.sg.