Let me touch on my hobby, interest, passion..

I was wondering how much a footballer could run in a match and had this debate with my team mates weeks ago.. We argued it ranges but I kept repeating that Wayne Rooney clocked more than 8 kilometres within the 90mins but my mates wont believe me.. Seems like a point gone bad till yesterday the commentator comment that Park Ji Sung clocked slightly more than 7 miles, which is effectively 11.3km..

Mind you, average timing 2.4km of almost non-stop running is about 13mins, you do your math.

Anyway, saw a programme on cable tv that intrigue my mind on the recent selection of the squad number. May I stated my slight history here.

Clubs, schools and teams played or is playing in in order of timeline..

Damai Primary - No.4 - Defender / 1994-1995 / School Team
Milo/Spec 2000 - Nil - Defender / 1994-1996 / National Age Group U-12s; U-14s
Band United - No.4 - Defender; Striker / 1996-1999 / Leisure Team
Chinese United - No.4 - Striker / 1996-1998 / Leisure Team
Geylang United - Nil - Defender; Striker / 1999 / SL Club Age Group U-16s
Highlanders - No.25 - Midfielder; Striker / 1998-2000 / NFL Div.3 Club Age Group
Boca Hotspur - No.10/No.25 - Striker / 1998-Current / Leisure Team
Bedok Rangers - No.15 - Midfielder; Striker / 1998-Current /Neighbourhood Team
Devils' Bar FC - No.25 - Defender; Striker / 2004-2005 / Inter-Pub Soccer Team


I used to adore the former Singapore steward in Jang Jung, hence the number 4. I even attended a soccer clinic held by the Lions back in 1994 when I was playing for the National under 12s conducted by Puma. Was in the USA Team during the soccer camp, Coach was Dolla Kassim.

Argh.. Fond memories.. Ramli, a childhood friend converted my from a defender to a striker when I was playing for Band United, a team consisting members from the symphonic band itself.. Alot of highs and low when playing for the team that I'm still playing for, highlighted in blue, changed name; jerseys; much of the players too..

I settled for number 25 after I fell in love with the "Little Italian", who is Gianfranco Zola.. Hence automatically I started to use his number.. I have been lucky in the sense that I'm often the starting eleven of almost all the team, but with a number that don't impress. I don't know will you guys even feel how i feel....... Donning a team jersey and having a number to you, some even have your name, the pride and the feel of the team is sure overwhelming..

Considering I'm the better players doesnt mean I have the same treatment.. The frank was closer bootlicker to the decision maker in the team get priority to alot of things, and that include jersey number selection.. Yes I love Zola and he wears 25, but the decision to choose it was because i'm actually one of the last people to choose the number.. So the team sheet goes like all the star numbers taken.. Also, i reckon donning a No.4, which is usually reserved for defenders, will have some jinx effect - I dont want to be considered and play as a defender.. FYI, the numbers are usually 9 or 10 for strikers..

I'm like that, you dont give me the best, I'll settle for the last to spite you and prove you otherwise. Coincidently someone took 24, hence, me being me took the 25 with alit' pride to Zola, rather much to being the "largest" number in the squad..

Years on and we decided to get a new set of jerseys and I was first to choose the number.. I was torn between 9 and 10.. Took me weeks to decide.. When I finally settled for 10, which seems nicer and "fuller", i found out that having the star number it's all that good afterall..

I found it hard to live up to the "star number".. Maybe it's just me, my expectation and the fear of under performing.. Averaging a goal a match is pretty difficult, but that's my aim, always.. Once i draw blank, i try to at least score a brace in the next.. Recently, we decided to get yet another one to replace the fading jerseys.. No surprise that after I decided what number I should go for, someone remarked to me, "Pete, No.XX is just so not you.."

I think I must have scored like more than a hundred goals in both competitive and non competitive matches.. I used to play up to 3 matches a day, juggling between teams.. Oh ya, there are some minor stints and teams i didnt mark down due to occasional turn up.. I remembered I played for Marine Castle (now Sengkang Punggol) Prime League Team when the senior was still in NFL Division 1 for about 3 months..

Well, this is a side you might not know of me.. Cheers peeps..

*Prime league is team's reserve team for players up to the age of 23 years old
*NFL denotes National Football League, a sub 4-tier division after the S-League

O.. Some of you might ask, i chose No.25 *grins*..