SUKPEN Floorball Tournament 2009

On the 3rd and 4th of December 2009, Innebandy! Co. took part in the first ever Sukan Penang (SUKPEN) floorball competition held in Shang Wu Primary School. There were a total of 9 teams participating in the competition which included school teams from St. Xavier’s Institution and Bukit Jambul Secondary School.

Team Innebandy!Co
# 6 Rooban Chand
# 7 Valerie Yentl Tan
# 8 Lee Chester
# 9 Ephraim Teh (C)
# 10 Joshua Yam
# 11 Previn
# 18 Jason Chew (G)
# 20 Deswyn Wan
# 22 David Kok
# 23 Darien Loh
# 44 TK
# 86 Nicholes Ong

On the first day, Innebandy! Co was all pumped up and ready to face their opponents. Innebandy! Co. was in Group A together with Contact FireAnts, Frontliners, SXI Lunatics and Firebrands Influence.

Group Matches Day 1

Firebrands Influence VS Innebandy! Co. (0-2)
Innebandy!Co ’s first opponents were against the senior Firebrands lineup known for their speed. The team didn’t start the match well as they were finding it hard to take control of possession. Things got even worse when David was sent off for incorrect distance after a free hit was being awarded to Firebrands. Within a minute, Innebandy! Co got another bench penalty called against them as Teck Keat was also send off for 2 minutes, because Innebandy!Co were playing with one extra player on court.

However, Innebandy! Co. still managed to hang in the game while playing with 3 players. After numerous attacks, Valerie soon found the net after a nice pass from Joshua. Innebandy! Co. started to find their game as Ephraim scored the 2nd goal, which was assisted by Deswyn. Innebandy!Co created various opportunities, but couldn’t find the back on the net as the Firebrands goalie was on top form. The game ended with Innebandy!Co winning by 2 goals to nothing.

Innebandy!Co VS Contact FireAnts (1-0)
It is always tough playing against Contact FireAnts as they are a very well organized team. The match started with Innebandy! Co. fielding their attacking line to try to get an early lead. The strategy worked as Innebandy! Co. took an early lead as early as the first minute. Nicholes took a sweet wrist shot putting the ball in the lower right corner, which left the goalie no chance in making a save.

The match was pretty stalemate after the goal as both sides were pretty even in terms of ball possession. Both sides defended well as no goals were scored after that. Special kudos goes out to Jason Chew as he guarded his goal well.

Innebandy! Co. were supposed to play 3 games on the first day of the tournament. However only the aforementioned 2 games were played as TNB decided to “save” some electricity for the Air Itam district as the power went out and the games were postponed to the following day.


Group Matches Day 2

Frontliners VS Innebandy! Co (2-2)
With two victories in hand from the first day, Innebandy went into this match with a rejuvenating pump up talk from Deswyn to start Day 2 off with a bang. With a slightly improved game play compared to the previous day, the team took the lead in the first half of the match through goals from Nicholes and Previn. However, mild defensive errors proved costly when aggressive runs from Frontliners forward Su Rong eventually leveled the scoreline from 2-0 to a final scoreline of 2-2.

Innebandy! Co VS Lunatics (SXI) (1-0)
Drawing the previous match was certainly a disappointment but definitely not a setback for the team. To prepare us for our next match, Deswyn huddled the team up for our customary team talk where he told us a story about his most ‘favorite floorball drill’. Reflecting on how Innebandy always used to “kick a**” in times past while applying the FUN from the aforementioned “drill”, he provided the team with the game plan for the next match. - Incorporate the FUN of the “drill” into the game play. That was the strategy for the next match against a team which consisted of very fast runners who have improved by leaps and bounds given their relatively new induction into the floorballing scene. Winning the match would not only mean that we would finish top of the group. It also meant that Deswyn would treat us to a sugar cane drink after the game as he had promised earlier!

Inspired by his words as well as the thought of the tantalizing feel of sweet ice cold sugar cane drink running down our parched throats, the confidence of the team sky-rocketed as the team play improved tremendously. The winning goal was eventually scored by the inspirer himself, which resulted in the team having a sugar cane drink treat from him=)
What “drill” was Deswyn talking about? Only the Inner Circle knows ;)


Semi-Finals

Innebandy!Co vs Bukit Jambul (4-0)
Playing in competitive floorball for the first time ever, Bukit Jambul going into the semi-finals was definitely an amazing feat and definitely not a team to be underestimated. Innebandy! Co. always giving 100% in every match pressed on with fine form in team play to win the game in convincing fashion. Numerous passes resulted in numerous shots on goal for the Innebandy! side. However, the Bukit Jambul goalie defended her position well as she blocked out most of the shots. The final scoreline of 4-0 was contributed by goals from Previn, David and a brace from Capt E.


Finals

Innebandy!Co vs Contact (1-0)
Already assured a medal In hand, Innebandy went into the finals with high determination and vigor to win another title for the beloved club. Deswyn and Sam gave us the talk and tactical approach we needed to face a rival of high caliber and determination. Before stepping on court, a short word of prayer followed by the singing of the Innebandy Cheer significantly raised the spirits of the players as well as the supporters around the hall. With renewed strength and hunger in the hearts of the Innebandy players, the attacking line of Innebandy started and successfully gave Innebandy the lead by a magnificent goal from Deswyn. More shots on goal were attempted after that but the ball somehow failed to find the back of the net. But that did not mean that the Innebandy line did not give up in attacking. On the other side of the court, counter attacks orchestrated by the opposing team were solidly disarrayed by Innebandy’s defence also not forgetting great goal keeping feats by first time goalie Jason Chew. Giving our best to the last minute, Innebandy eventually went on to win the match and made history as champions of the first ever SUKPEN Floorball Tournament.


Final Results

Champions- Innebandy! Co.
1st Runner Up- Contact Armies
2nd Runner Up – Ztec 8cers


The honour of winning the first ever SUKPEN floorball tournament could not have been more sweeter than our very own Deswyn being awarded the “All-Star” Center for the tournament. A rightfully awarded title, Deswyn’s efforts and all-rounded ability to assist the defender line in times of caution while providing the lethal attack when the forwards were charging were very much valuable to the Innebandy team and definitely did not go unnoticed.

Reflecting back on the night, the best moments that will be deeply lodged in the hearts of the players for many years to come was not the moment where the gold medals were hung around the players necks nor was it the moments where goals were scored. The best moments of the night were the moments where all Innebandiens formed an “Inner Circle” and started singing the Innebandy Anthem with their hearts and might. From the time the song was sung before each match to the time the song was sung after emerging champions, nothing could beat the feeling of being a part of the One Team with One Way.

[FLASHBACK IN MEMORY]:
Jason (Emcee):
Do you know who are the champions???
Crowd:
Innebandy!!!!
Jason (Emcee):
How do they cheer????
Crowd:
Innebandy!! Innebandy!! oooOOOOOOOOOo
Innebandy!! Innebandy!! oooOOOOOOOOOo HUU! HAA!

Standing amidst the Innebandy line hearing the crowd singing our team cheer certainly invoked touching emotions and feelings knowing that all efforts and sacrifices we have made as a team has definitely paid off. A broken toe nail, aching legs and even “excretion” problems did not stand in the way in our giving our best for the club.

Innebandy!Co Floorball Club would like to express our sincerest appreciation to Majlis Sukan Negeri Pulau Pinang for the induction of floorball into SUKPEN. May this be the start of many more milestones in the development of floorball in Malaysia.Successfully ending our 2009 campaign with a blast, let us continue striving on to improve ourselves both in training as an Inner Circle and also individually in our Independent Culture.

Innebandy! Co would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the amazing coaches for always believing in the team through many trials and tribulations. Most importantly, all praise and glory to God for his neverending blessings upon us. Things do not happen by luck but always by the blessings of God. Hence, the post shall be ended with the following word.


POT BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=D

-Innebandy! Co. SUKPEN 2009 CHAMPIONS-