About that game

Heartbreaking.

Victory slipped right through the fingers of our grasp.

We had our opponents by their necks. Our players, sticking stubbornly to our game plan, stifled and choked our opponents’ free-flowing attacking game. And in doing so, we prevented an avalanche of points against us. At the same time, we frustrated them, eroded their fluidity, and rattled their team confidence.

It was David versus Goliath: an unequal match between BPGH, the seeded team in our group, and Fajar, and it was a game where BPGH was expected to stroll to a comfortable victory. As it turned out, our team refused to back off in the face of their seeming superiority.

We could have easily thrown in the towel. By the end of the 1st quarter, we were 0-10 down. My fittest player, Colvin, was virtually drained of his energy, so difficult was his task to mark the opponent’s most dangerous player out of the game. To his credit, he managed to nullify that lanky player and reduced his threat.

In the second quarter, Fajar stuck to their guns, and played a deliberate game of possession, passing the ball around, braking the speed of the game. We knew that BPGH’s players, many who tower over our players, are deadly when they attack. It turned out that they struggled to defend against our style of play. It must have exasperated them.

It worked. In the 2nd, 3rd and last quarter, Fajar outscored BPGH. In the last minute, we scored 2 brilliant baskets that propelled us into the lead.

It was nailbiting. My experience tells me that in schools sport, a 2-point lead against a top side in the West Zone can evaporate with one mistake or a lapse of concentration.

And in that one minute, BPGH scored just enough, to pip us by one point.

The final score? 44-43.

The massive sigh of relief from the opponents was palpable. It was clear to all, Fajar was that close to causing a massive upset in this competition.





This week, it’s back to basics – working on our formations, getting it right, sorting out our weaknesses. We have one last game left – against Jurong, the once-mighty kingpins of the region. We will be looking forward to that game. It's time to stand up and be counted, Fajar. Against BPGH, we almost defeated them. Against Jurong, we must raise our game to stratospheric heights. If we do, we can upset the odds.




As a side note, I think this is abundantly clear: no matter what happens to my basketball boys, I will always stand by them, in victory or in defeat. Always.




Fajar Basketball 2006

Front row (L - R) Shuan, Chong Yong, Zhi Cheng (B Div vice-captain), Hung Ju (B Div captain), Mr Ken Ng (teacher in-charge), Ms Ivy Lee (assistant teacher in-charge), Billy (C Div captain), Zi Ting (C Div vice-captain), Wei Cheng, Jie Qi

Second row (L - R) Andy, Norman, Micky, Wenxing, Theng Tat, Xin Yu, Roy, Andy, Kai Ming, Fadhli, Haoming, Wei Hao, Winston, Xiaokai, Vincent, Wen Bin

Last row (L - R) Lian Jie, Yan Sin, Tony, Jun Chang, Colvin, Alvin, Derek, Eugene

About the missing part of the jigsaw

I couldn't believe my eyes, as I flipped through the School Annual 2007.

I could not find a photo of my beloved Peer Leaders anywhere. I saw the Prefects, the Student Council but not the Peer Leaders.

Immediately I sought to speak with the editor, one of my colleagues. I had to know why were they omitted.

My colleague explained to me that the group photo could not be found, and what the editorial team tried to do was to find other photos of the Peer Leaders and put them into the Sec 2 Camp section.

Though I was slightly placated by the answer, I still felt for the Peer Leaders.

I can imagine that some of them would feel perplexed, even upset, that the PLs were left out.

I understood. That was why I had to get answers from the editorial team. I'm certainly not angry with the editorial team. I think they did an outstanding job. This year's School Annual surpasses all previous years' yearbooks.



To the Peer Leaders, I have to apologise to you all that the group photo somehow did not make its way into the Annual.

But be rest assured, you are still very much in the School plans, and with or without the photo, you must continue to perform for the School, to serve with joy and to lead by example.

Do come and speak to me if you have any feedback. In the meantime, you can always come to my blog and check out the great PL group photo taken by Ms Shawna.

Hand-in-hand, serving the School together

Here's a photo of the Peer Leaders, with whom I have worked closely with:

The Peer Leaders 2006





Front row (L - R): Suhaili, Gayeathri, Norman, Noorashikin, Mr Ken Ng, Mr Elamaran, Hung Ju, Swee Hong, Fadzli, Zubaidah.
Middle row (L - R): Faizul, Jasman, Jasmine, Amanda, Farhana, Hui Ying, Melissa, Liyana, Niwasini, Zi Hui, Carlyn, Siti Hawa, Faridah, Shi Jia, Leon, Lian Jie.
Back row (L - R): Farhan, Teck Sheng, Faizal, Alvin, Dong Qiang, Nasrul, Edward, Azzrul, Ren Jin, Nicholas, Vinoth, Aslam, Jia Hao


Quite a good lot, they are.

Already, my eye is on the current Sec 2s. I'm already looking out for potential Peer Leaders. Actually, I have seen some promising ones already.

To the current Peer Leaders, I urge you to always be a good role model, in all your ways. Any act of kindness or service, no matter how small, can inspire the next generation of student leaders.

Believe it.

A great day

Current favourite song: I Still... Backstreet Boys
Now at: Big O Cafe, Wheelock Place




Someone said this on Sunday and it hit me like a hammer. Hard.

And I think it makes complete sense to me.

He said, "CONFESSION IS POSSESSION."


So, the name of the game is - in your daily life, always confess good things over your life. To confess is to believe something in your heart and say it aloud frequently. For example, when someone asks me, "how's life dude," my unfailing answer would be, "Excellent," or "I'm having a great day."

The strange thing is that, sometimes, I might be having a really lousy day, but I'm not going to make it any worse by admitting it. The first step towards changing things around you is to start with the words from your mouth!

Confess goodness over your life, and chances are, goodness will start following you wherever you go. It works for me and gives me that little bit extra to go on.





And for the record, the past couple of days have indeed quite been splendid for me.


Actually, my basketball boys lost a friendly match yesterday afternoon. At the end of the game, I had a talk with the coach and we agreed that the mistakes that my boys made were glaring. Yes, we scolded them and they deserved every bit of criticism dished out to them. The boys must know their weaknesses and their strengths, for the first match of the competition is merely days away. We do not have the luxury of time for any more friendly matches. It's back to the court for training, training & training.



As dusk fell, I had a chat with the opponent's teacher in-charge - a gentleman just starting out in the job. As I walked with him to the school gate, my basketball boys walked past us, on the way out of school. The boys, in their customary manners, bid us goodbye. "Goodbye, Mr Ng. Goodbye teacher."

The teacher was stunned. He turned to me and said, "If only my boys were like yours."



At that moment, I was filled with pride with these group of basketball players. From day one, I have always endeavoured to train these boys with strict discipline, manners and character, for those are some of the essential ingredients needed for Fajar basketball team's evolution into a team of genuine class & quality.

While I was really proud of them yesterday, another thought struck me as well. I realised that I must never take these boys for granted. All these boys come under me only for 4 or 5 years in their lives. Within this short period of time, I know I must do my best to teach them about what really, really matters.

Matches can be won or lost, but what is most important is that these boys grow up to be upright men of real quality, gentlemanly in words and deeds, reliable at all times, and trustworthy in every way.





As I bid my players farewell as they walked off into the sunset, I am quite sure that some of them are clearly transforming, right before my very eyes, into fine young men, and I am glad.

The weekend after the first (mad) week of school

The sky sure looks blue, I thought to myself, as I laid flat on the tennis court, looking up into the heavens.

We were supposed to play tennis.

Actually, we did. Minutes earlier, we stroked a few balls over the net, into the net, into the road outside. The blustery winds didn't help. It was quite hard to judge the flight path of the ball.

It was the Saturday afternoon after the first week of school. Even though formal lessons hadn't started yet, I could sense the fatigue. I think my body was still adjusting to the rigours of work. Maybe my body is just reluctant to move up to a higher gear, after the 2-month break from work.

We gave up hitting the tennis balls. We sat down and had a bit of a chat. Somehow, the surface of the court enticed me to lie down. And so I did, and promptly fell asleep, without much effort, while my missus continued her chat with her good friend.





Nonetheless, I had a good first week of school. It's always good to meet my students and it's always a pleasure to have a chat with them!

Back where I belong

Striding into 4e5, my mind was doing a million processes - what else do I need to tell them? What's the question for the red M&M? Blue M&M? What else will I need to brief the Peer Leaders later? What other school can I contact to arrange a friendly match with my basketball team? There's a million other thoughts zipping around furiously in my mind.

Welcome to the 1st day of school.




Strangely enough, I was really keen on seeing my form class. After a hiatus of 3 years (due to my other responsibilities in the school) the school has asked me to be the class counsellor of 4e5.

I must say, I had a swell time listening to the 4e5 students speak. You know, sometimes they say things that make the class rock with laughter. Sometimes they share fascinating experiences that make me want to probe more.

Walking with them over the next few months, I am optimistic that together, 4e5 will achieve great things. However, the No 1 priority of my class is very simple and straightforward: each and every 4e5 student must punch above their weight and achieve value-added results in their exams and O Levels.

Unfortunately, due to lack of time, it was not possible for everyone to share their holiday experiences with the class and I. I will endeavour to have a word with those who missed out today, and I will be glad to hear their holiday experiences.





Another group of students that I met today was the Peer Leaders. These group of students are raised to make a positive difference to the school and community, and they will have their work cut out tomorrow, when they will lead various groups of Secondary Ones to the different stations in the Sports & Games experience.

While some of the Peer Leaders are a little green, there are some veteran PLs who will be working hand-in-hand with the junior PLs. These are the veterans whom I do expect a high level of guidance, sharing, and role modelling. When it comes to student leadership, there can be absolutely no compromise in standards. The key qualities in student leadership, regardless of whether you're in the Peer Leaders, Student Council or the Prefectorial Board, are leading by example, and serving others selflessly & with humility.

In my movements around the classes and the canteen, my eye is especially sharp on the little details. I do not think it is my height that allows me to particularly observant. I think I am just very sensitive to students, because each student's behaviour, in big and small ways, reveal (or betray) their innermost thoughts and actions.




In the afternoon, I went down to the basketball court for the weekly training, as I have done for the past 4 years, to supervise the boys. I am particularly pleased to have a coach who shares similar views with me and is able to work within the CCA's vision and training schedule.

Looking at the boys, sometimes I ask myself, what is it that makes them keep coming back for more training?

I look at Zhicheng and Colvin. I've seen them since they first stepped into school 4 years ago. I've always wanted to see them grow up to be youths with character, confidence and inspiring.

Today, as I observe the boys training under the coach, I am able to say that Zhicheng and Colvin have served the school well with their God-given talents in basketball, yet on the other hand, I want them to know that there is so much more that they can do for the school, the school that has nurtured them and helped them to grow. I am proud, not just proud of these two youths, but also of the rest of the junior players who are rising up through the ranks. I challenge them to grow up into men with uncompromising character, men who are utterly reliable, men who are completely trustworthy, men who will live their lives for the betterment of their family and community.




When I drove home from school at 7pm, I felt somewhat exhausted. It's been a long long day.

But when I think of the guys and gals of 4e5, the Peer Leaders, the basketball boys, and all the other students whom I have seen today, then I think that today has been quite simply wonderful and well-spent.

A childhood love

Current fav song: Stolen by Dashboard Confessions



My love for History remains unabated.

One memory I always reminisce with unadulterated pride and bitter regret is how I relished taking History exams during my St Joseph's days.

From Secondary One through to my O Level year, I scored a string of distinctions for that particular subject. Topics ranging from Kings Mongkut & Chulalongkorn, monarchs of Siam, to the rise and wane of the colonial powers in Southeast Asia simply whetted my appetite and I was accustomed to scoring As in every major examinations.

Sometimes I wonder, where did my love for History start from?

I can vaguely recall writing a composition when I was in Secondary One, when my intimidating English teacher, Mr Peter Martens, asked us to write on a great person in history.

So I did some research, and found this entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica titled, "Genghis Khan". I read and read and became more and more fascinated with this ancient ruler whose fearsome soldiers decimated grand empires in China and the Middle East.

The flame had been ignited.



It is ironic that while History was my source of pride (in that my love for this subject coupled with hard work really paid off handsome dividends in the exams), History was also the cause of my greatest heartbreak in Secondary 4.

With my streak of good results, I was harbouring thoughts of securing the Best History student prize in the Secondary 4 level. I had a realistic chance. My 'rivals' numbered less than 2 or 3, from the other classes, and there was every chance that I could pip them to this prize. I was confident of my ability and my hopes hinged on the all-important Preliminary Examinations.

It was that simple: score a good A1 in the Prelims (I got the A1 in my mid-year exams), and hope that the others messed their papers up.





Sitting for the exam paper, I looked through the essay questions and hummed to myself as I casually glanced through the pages. Yep, I could do most of the questions. I got down to writing the essays.




Some days later, brimming with confidence, my History teacher handed our scripts back to us.

I was baffled speechless when I saw my grade. Instead of an A1, I scored only a B3. I looked through the essays I had written, desperately trying to find out what went wrong.

Alas, I had failed one essay question. I looked at it thoroughly, and my mistake became apparent to me.

I had answered the question wrongly. My overconfidence and complacency had caused me to mis-read that essay question.




The disappointment was truly immense. It took months to subside. Of course, I lost that Best History student prize. That B3 that I scored didn't have a chance. Later on, I found out that the eventual winner of the prize scored an A1 in his Prelims. At that time, I muttered to myself, "it should have been me."

I managed to retrieve the pieces of my shattered confidence, by working twice as hard for the massive O Level exams. The spectre of missing out on a distinction for my best subject was something I had to avoid at all costs.




Receiving my O Level result slip some months later, it was with a great sense of bittersweet satisfaction, when my eyes searched and found the History grade. What might have been euphoria for me was tempered by the sombre reminder of that one poor performance in that school exam.





Today, I'm reading a book on the Roman Empire. Through the years, even after I've graduated from SJI, I've not lost my passion for history. Over the past few months, I've read books on the Crusades, Middle Eastern history, Chinese history, the Holocaust, the Hundred Years' War between England and France, and now, I'm glued to this book that chronicles the greatest Roman generals that helped to build up the mighty Roman Empire that lasted for over a thousand years.

The 'B3' episode has taught me a lesson in life, and that's never to be complacent. Even in areas that you are good at, good results are never guaranteed unless there's consistent hard work & self-belief. The quickest way to your downfall would be pride and to have that wicked delusion that minimal work will get you maximum results. Unfortunately, I think I was guilty of the former.




On the other side of the coin, I think I discovered a subject that I truly love. Reading history books may be torturous for some, but for me, it's like savouring fine wine - the older, the better!