Just back from the second friendly that we've arranged for training, and I have to say I have officially lost all respect for Owls as a top league club. The last friendly with LMFC was not too good in the same aspect, but at least when they knew they went in too rough/slashy and out of line, they apologised and we made up in good faith. There was always the impression that Owls was better than LMFC in terms of attitude on court though. After today? Obviously not.
I'm sorry if my teammate refereeing did not make many calls - but she's only been playing floorball for less than 2 years. She hardly knows what to do on court, much less how to assert herself and referee the game. So constantly glaring at her really does no help. If one of your teammates would have liked to referee, we would have gladly given up the spot.
I'm sorry if my teammate slashed you in the last period. Similarly, she's been playing floorball at this level for less than half a year; shouting rudely and loudly really makes no difference. She's not such good players like all you national players who can control your sticks so well. She was just trying her best to run back and defend. I'm sorry I spoke up for her, saying it's unintentional and that you needn't have shouted so loudly. I'm sorry if that made you even more irritated and angry, but well I guess as such good national players, you're all so used to being such good players that suddenly playing lower at our level is too difficult for you to understand that there IS such a thing as unintentional slashing. Funny how I don't hear you guys screaming so loudly when you were forcefully swinging your sticks into thin air when my forwards got the ball, instead of using your body or checking the play.
I'm sorry if my attempt at an apology and some form of conciliation at the end of the match did not go well with you, since you were all so derisive about it and had such tongue-in-cheek replies and eye-rolling. Maybe the energy would have been better spent playing better floorball? I'm sorry that I expected that as national players and top club players, you guys would have known better to keep your tempers and slashing down, compared to my rather inexperienced team. I guess I was wrong to assume that national team players would know more about playing in a team and having sportsmanship. I guess the "national" might have been the size of the ego rather than about the skill or attitude.
I suddenly see how rosy my idea of the national team and top floorball level in Singapore has been. I guess I equated it to the more professional attitudes of the friends I made in Japan who played at a national level too. And I suddenly realise why even though Singapore has been playing floorball for not that short a time - almost 15 years? - we cannot seem to break through a certain ceiling: Looking at today's national players, I guess it's more of national individuals put together rather than a national team? Suddenly my shared wish with S-u about trying for the national team just seems like a joke - why would I want to try for something that I have lost respect for?
I don't know if people realise it but playing for a top team or national team is more than just scoring more goals, making nicer passes or dribbling past everybody else. There's also the expectation that such players would be leaders in passion for the sport, respecting the game, and sportsmanship. People look up to top teams and top players, but only for the respect to get shattered upon first contact? How sad.
I just want to get better now; so thanks for letting me realise that national players are not fallible to things like ego and often display less humility.
I'm sorry I lost all respect for you guys.
~ st*rcr*ss*d ~
Labels: school, sports
