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RP’s
floorball division 3 team has brought glory to Team Republic by winning the
Singapore Floorball League (SFL) Division 3 2007 organized by the Singapore
Floorball Association (SFA). With a team comprising mostly year 1 players, the
RP Spartans ended the league on a high note by becoming the only unbeaten team
and earning promotion to the SFL Division 2 in 2008.
With
just 3 months of preparation, guided by coach Mr. Amir Hamzah, RP Spartans
entered the season in July with the determination of securing a spot in the
knockout stages. The team proved to be a dominant force in the group stages by
topping Group A with 5 wins and 1 draw.
RP Spartans 11 - 3
Mrymidons PY
RP Spartans 10 - 2 SGS Bulldogs
RP Spartans 5 - 5 Nighthawks
RP Spartans 15 – 3 EV Eagles
RP Spartans 3 – 1 NTU Blizzards
RP Spartans 6 – 2 Skools Millennia Institute
RP
entered the knockout stages as underdogs. They were drawn against SIM Blacks.
The team won 1-0 on penalties after the fierce encounter ended 3-3. Securing a
place in the semi finals, they were up against the mighty Tyreso Blue Titans (TBT),
a team made up of experienced players who have played Floorball in Division 1,
Singapore’s top league. On paper, TBT were a far superior team but the young
guns were optimistic and eager to prove critics wrong.
In
the semi – finals, the fate of the match looked decided on penalties. Both teams
were leveled at 2-2 but with 8 minutes left, RP’s Yusoff (Yr 2, SHL) sank
the hearts of TBT by scoring the winning goal, putting RP through the finals
against Eldorado.
Leading 4-2, RP were on course to victory in the finals but Eldorado made a
comeback. By the end of regulation time, the score was tied at 6 – 6. The
penalty shootout was a nerve wrecking experience for both teams and their
supporters. After 4 shootouts, both teams were
levelled
at 1-1 and the penalties proceeded to sudden death. Eldorado’s attempt was saved
by goalkeeper Elyas (Yr 3, SAS) and the fate of the shootout lay in the
hands of RP’s Khairul Faiz (Yr1, SAS). With sheer composure, he
approached the goal, rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the
top right corner of the net, earning RP Spartans the champion title!
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