Initiated... not!

I got this last Friday after playing football in the Institute's sportsfest.

(Background). I injured myself while playing football (scrimmage only!)last March 5th. I sprinted to catch up with a wayward ball when I felt a sharp pain on the underside of my right thigh. I slowed down a bit, then accelerated again but the pain was still there. I decided to allow Olen to get the ball (she was on the other team) while I limped towards the touch line. Right then, I knew I strained my hamstring.

I couldn't walk normally, I couldn't undo/do my shoe laces. So that was the start of a one-week no-sport week. I had to have this injury shaken off quickly- the Institute games were about to start in two weeks and our team was to play first!

The healing time I alloted was actually one day more than a week. Since our team were playing the following week, I called for a practice on March 13th. My right thigh still hurt so I did not strain it too much- I actually used my right foot during the duration of the practice. Another practice was held a day before the game (Thursday), and again I used my left leg more.

Come game day, I relied on my right leg more. Grabe, it hurt but I just let it be. Shaking my leg once in a while when the ball was not in our half. The game ended and I did a lot of running, free kicks, long clears jumping headers and other "normal" moves.

Friday night, Sheila noticed that I had a small bruise at the lower portion on the back of my thigh. I did not hurt.

The following Saturday, we scoured Divisoria for a variety of stuff. When we came home, there... my overly strained hamstring... so, no sports for 2 weeks again... Sigh...

Pre-Year-End Update

With only a few days left in November and the whole of December remaining for 2008, here's a summary of the tournaments that kept my sports life busy.



Cheers to an active 2008!

Another Sad Ending

Defeat is always painful. Losing twice is terrible. Being trashed 6-2? Don't ask.

Ten matches against team Rhulyx and we only won once. 1/10 since 2005... A measly ten per cent.

Football season officially ended yesterday with Peach team (sporting the maroon color) losing to the Pink team in the 2nd game of the best of three series. Pink won the opener, 5-1, I think.

With my contract ending October 2007, this may even be my last game in sportsfest football. Too bad...

Rhulyx was just so good. Too good, with so much class... Nearing forty, you'd think he was 25 when you see him play.

Too bad for us Peach.

Failure

Remember Guns n' Roses' "Civil War?" The first narrative line goes: "what we've got here is failure to communicate." In our case, "what we've got here is failure to make a goal."

11th Alaska Cup 2006. IRRI Men's team had no wins, made no goals and, oh boy, were they generous... Four games and 28 goals. All against us. Bummer. Well, call it sour graping, we were bracketed with teams raring for the championship. They doing half and full volley kicks, mid field attempts (I think one even got it!). They have bodies built for medium weight wrestlers!

First game, beginning of the first half, "IRRI, let's play!" Second half, "IRRI, let's pray!" Imagine that...

But all did not end in total failure. The women's team fared much better than last year, and much, much better than us! Two wins, one draw and one loss, however, was not enough for them to advance to the next stage. Still, being part of the "team management," it was great improvement for the ladies. :) Congratulations!

Hat Trick

Hat Trick: (n.) scoring three goals in a single football match

Yes, I did a hat trick today. I scored 3 goals against the Gold Team, and our team, the Maroon, won 5-2. Geert scored the other two. Well, I could have “easily” made at least four goals but it is not my nature “not to pass to more open teammates.”

It was the last match of the eliminations of the 2006 IRRI Sportsfest Football tournament. The Gold team is consistently lacking players. But some of our teammates were over confident with how the team was doing this year, and did not show up. We men were just 7 (no male substitutes!) and the ladies had one. Even though the Gold team were just 6, they gave us a hard time, and even made 2 goals.

Anyway, it felt so good deep down inside to do a hat trick. Too bad, I don’t have pictures to brag about. It was also comforting that my colleagues were there watching. And they even said they understand the game more. :)

We face Rhulyx’s unbeatable Apple Green team. Just one win of the best-of-three. Or even two. I won’t complain.