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Into 2015, as SCC Soccer Sixes marked its seventh year |
The past weekend saw a football tournament took place on the lush greens of the Padang amid the famed Singapore skyline that overlook the proceedings.
Into its seventh year since the competition begun back in 2009, the SCC Soccer Sixes had since established itself as a platform to showcase promising Asian football talent with category cater for the youth, while allowing players in the "Open" and "Masters" (over the age of 35) groups to pit their skills against one another with opponents from various countries.
Two pitches were demarcated on the greenery with two matches to play concurrently with a duration of 30 minutes (15 minutes each half) per game.
Making their presence as well on the field were some former S
.League footballers such as Esad Sejdic who was joined by current Balestier Khalsa coach Marko Kraljevic and ex-national skipper Nazri Nasir for the "Weston All Stars" in the "Masters"'s Group C, while the like of another one-time Lions skipper Lim Tong Hai played for Club ITE in Group B in the same category.
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Balestier's coach Kraljevic headed a clearance |
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Sharpe (left) and Duric (center) teamed up |
At the end of the first day of "round-robin" competition saw top two teams emerged out of their respective pool of four to advance to the next stage of their campaign (i.e.: "Cup") with the bottom two sides of each pool being featured in the "Plate" event of the category they took part (with the exception of "Youth" category).
The second day witnessed the knockout phase of the tournament started nine o'clock on the Sunday morning with intensity heighten up when the stakes became higher.
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Shasi Kumar in action for Club ITE |
However, it wasn't all about winning honours in this
tournament, but also to catch up with old acquaintances and making new ones as well over the past weekend, as Club ITE's Shasi Kumar explained.
"It was not only about the tournament, but also to catch up with old teammates, former coaches and meeting new friends as well," said the 39-year-old who is now a lecturer with ITE (Institute of Technical Education) since relinquished his coaching role with Woodlands Wellington in 2010.
Together with other former local professionals such as Ratna Suffian and Farhan Farook, the team from the education sector fought their way to "Masters" Cup final and only to see
them edged out on penalties by defending champions, CLA All-Stars who were filled with the tournament "Guest Star Player" - former Manchester United midfielder Lee Sharpe and local legend Aleksandar Duric.
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SCC Firsts won the "Open" on penalties |
Nonetheless, the ex-Gombak United player, who debuted in this year's edition, was proud of what he and his team achieved in this competition.
Said Shasi:"I thought we did pretty well as underdogs by going all the way to the (Masters' Cup)
final but it was tough to play under the scorching heat, although to be fair the (participating) teams did well under such conditions."
The following sides emerged as victors of their respective groups.
- OPEN CATEGORY - SCC Firsts (Cup Winners), Hong Kong FC (Plate Winners)
- MASTERS CATEGORY - CLA All Stars (Cup Winners), Hong Kong FC (Plate Winners)
- YOUTH CATERGORY - Youth Football Home (Cup Winners)
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