It's a Celebration that happens every year

I've already submitted my PO report and today, my CO report so it is already a cause for celebration. Raya is in a few days and it's already semester break. Well, a one week holiday. In any case, my KB colleagues went home and maybe some decorating the tutorial room will bring up the festive spirit once they come back.

Yipeee!

Sent the flier to Hjh Halimah and will start posting them today and during Raya. It's time to impress people with the kind of Marketing Campaign I did when I was in PTEB. Surely, everyone was pulled into the Comic Contest, so it's time to grab warriors for next year's PSK and other tournaments.

ITB Rugby

I did promise Gmiee I'd take over the rugby team in ITB. Originally, it was meant for them to play for the UBD Sharks but seeing how the Head Lecturer of the club is hoping ITB would be recognized by the BRFU, much effort is needed. Yesterday, I went to meet Hjh Halimah who, surprisingly was already familiar with the Rugby culture. Even more so when I realized she played Touch Rugby with us a few months back. It is a small world after all.

I'm currently typing up fliers for both the Rugby team and and Women's Touch Rugby Team while inviting anyone interested to join. The women especially, I almost got a few interested. In any case, once I'm done with these fliers (now in the stage of picking out photos from this year's rugby season), I'll present them to Hjh Halimah before putting them up the notice board. You see, this is where the Mac comes in. A perfect advertising tool.

Last night, my Sixers Captain and rugby buddy texted:
"Bro, itb rugby, I'm in. All the pain and joy, I'll take it with you... all the way to the try line"

And just like that Saffuan 'T-Rex' brought back the spirit of Rugby. How he knew my intentions is a mystery but that's what I like about Saffuan. He has the heart of a Rugby player, something I've been trying to reacquire. I sense our Glory Days returning, like a flock of birds signaling the coming of Spring or like old veteran soldiers ready to share the battlefield again.

Winning Days

It's the last game of the season for the Black Yachties. Never thought new jerseys was fitting to end the season. Light weight and sweat absorbent. Perfect. Third place isn't so bad. Some who haven't came to see the game and the finals might feel bad. What's great is it isn't really about winning or losing, it's about surviving. But to quote last year's Bandar Black cheer: "Do we like winnning? YES!"



There's always a valuable lesson in things like these. I'm not going to touch on them here because I've been talking about it every rugby post. But to me, the best part will always be after the game. It's like a movie with a cliffhanger (no pun attended Clifford!) every time. And you will always want to play more.

Thanks Lisa for the shots. I have immortalised your photos in my blog hahaha.










I was really nervous at first, I never thought I'd play. Since ITB and the sprain foot I thought I lost my chance for the final game, but thankfully the front rows got rolling substitutes and I got the first 15 minutes. Real proud boys. Real proud and grinding myself to play much better again.

Stetch Always!

I decided to pop by UBD when I heard they were going to play touch rugby. It's not really nice to just stay home feeling flabbier than you normally feel. So a bit of running might help. And it's cool, I got a couple of tries, my second being awesome (I dived to try and ended up having grass and weeds pocketed inside my socks, yikes!).



Remember, stretching is important to prevent injury (I learned that the hard way. Hint: my foot) so take enough time to warm up then stretch. You wouldn't want to end up having cramps.

And no, looking like a Spartan does not make you any cooler when you stretch.

Amir, being thorough in his stretching (fingers might count?)

We Love You Baby

I haven't got to posting this video. It was recorded after the first Knights game. Everyone just gathered, put there hands in the center and started singing "I love you Baby". That is why I love this team. We are all crazy at heart. (Thank you Lisa for recording it ^^)


I love you Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L5wBf2RexE
Warning! Bare chested men. Ladies, don't faint.

With rugby put on hold with the flu going around, only God knows when we'll finish the finals. Maybe once the puasa month ends or before the end of this year. Worst, maybe we'll move on to the next year without the finals game and never know who wins.

Darn.

I'm at home right now and since there is no training, I have to sit my butt here until I start my semester in ITB. I think it's better this way, it may give my foot some more time to heal and rethink all those rugby skills I had for the next game. But you know what I have? Great memories.

Sprain foot

I thought I'd post this up to relieve boredom. Just two days ago when I thought Rugby training was at Kebajikan (instead it was at JIS) so I stayed around to play with the junior team when unexpectedly while trying to make a big run for it, felt a sudden pang (or pop?) of pain in the left foot. So yeah, it was excruciating and it was the first time I had it (just like that concussion last year, erk).



So most of the afternoon yesterday was spent on walking with a cane in a hand and an elastic bandage around my foot to limit the swelling. Gladly enough, there was no bone injury so all I need was to heal in 1 or 2 weeks then I'm free back to the gym and go for Rugby training. I think today, the junior team will be glad to know that they injured a senior, despite not applying the injury. They deserve it. In the meantime, I should try to find some stretch exercises for my foot just in case it won't happen again. Yikes!

BYOB vs KB Pythons

Apologies for being outdated. My post on the Pythons game.

Will one game decide the season? Never. In one of the long rivalries between the Pythons and the Blacks, will one excruciating loss ruin destroy a team? Never. We wear our hearts proud like a roman cape. It glows and shines, the fire of passion. No, it will not ruin our morale. Do you know why? Because we are never alone. We go together, we ride together, we will win together when the day arrives.















Discussing games over Nasi Katok. Things we like to do after the game. I guess after some real hard matched you do feel like some smoked fish or something with sweet red chili sauce.



Remember the flying squirrel? Here's a couple of photos of the animal that cheered us up ^^ Courtesy to Lisa Omarali for the awesome pics. More of them you can find in Dragonbond.com.

Post-Game Fun

We settled down on a Gerai on-route from KB, eating Nasi Katok and smoked fish as we (my team mates) discuss about the earlier game. All of a sudden, constant croaking turned our curious eyes to an unlikely creature taking refuge in a man's pocket. At first we thought it was a parrot, we saw one in a cage, of which we thought it must be a parrot talented in ventriloquism (That is impressive!). However, there was really an animal hiding in the guys pocket where it is being fed to. As the curiousity intensifies, the most unlikely creature that we ever saw in that gerai was a Flying Squirrel.

Alai with the squirrel on her shoulder.

Can't see it? Here's another image.

The squirrel and its penetrating eyes.
I'm really thankful for the squirrel. Next to the meal it kind of cheered us up after the Pythons game. Don't misunderstand. We did great, the Pythons were great sport during and after the game. Now we can only see if the next game will be amazing. Anyway, it's great to feel at one with the team outside the rugby field.

Squeeze. Knees. Drive.

This season is Rugby Season and the Black Yachties are now in full play. Winning our first game on Saturday, against the Army whose front row is surprisingly heavy, the Bandar Blacks and Royal Brunei Yacht Club collaboration will be blowing up minds, taking hard tackles and cause injuries in 2009, and like what Cliff said, "The rest is history."

I didn't get to play that day, not the right day to take the uniform on. But I was honored enough to cheer them on at the sidelines, even running in to pass water around.

However, my eyes look towards the benches overlooking the field. A team so powerful even thinking their name can cause a shiver of fear in our spines. But it was team that I endlessly pray that I will gain the glory of victory from. I can only hope that I will be in the league long enough to face my rivals again.

Here are some pictures from Carter.
Tladi arm-locking on Carter. "There, this is how we play Rugby. Better than 'Professional Wrestling' if you still call it 'Professional'!"

My Team mates and Myself. ("So uh.. can we eat?")

"You did great Gentlemen! Show off your muscles!"

Dinny in pants pulling action!

Official B.Black Stickers held up by Carter. Thanks to Aaron! Now waiting for shirts!

Training again on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hoping my scrums this year are more effective than last year, especially with my early absence. Thanks to Harris for giving really helpful tips for Scrummaging and I'm really eager now to go at them.

SQUEEZE. KNEES. DRIVE!

Rugby Days Forever

April is the month of blooming glory. Trembling from afar, battle drums march across fields. Cries for war erupted from the lungs of men and the sheer sound of it tore the sky in to glass pieces. There will be no fear except the fear that we put onto others. There will be no respite but the respite of victory. The sun is merciless but the men see far. The rain is a slippery but the men fight in shades. It's Rugby season again, and the warriors are hungry for battle.

Bandar Blacks Rugby Football Union

Versus KB Pythons in Seria Gurkha Field

Belait Rugby Tens Tournament 2009