HK Giants/Ho Kwok Pui Zhen

This Tuesday 30^th night, the GIANTS were down to the pitch in Choi Hung to play against Ho Kwok Pui Zhen, important game that would decide of our ranking in first division. With 13 players on the list and a good line up, we were quite confident and ready to win. During the first part of the season, we played them and won by 6 goals so we thought we could do it again.

After a good warm up and a few shots on the keepers, we started in defense, motivated. Unfortunately, motivation was not enough and we clearly lacked of focus. The defense was horrible, letting the opponents do whatever they wanted, running and going through easily. And even when our keepers stopped the ball, we let them get it back to score.

The attack was not even better, with many miss shots and many issues to find some open positions. After 12 minutes, they were already leading 6-1 and it was time to take a time-out to try to get us focus on the game.

It didn’t change anything and it was still too easy for them to score and go through, despite changing our defense to a 6-0. A few strange refereeing decisions later with some 2 minutes penalty, we were still 5 goals behind, trying to not make it worst.

We reached the half time on the score of 10-5, quite gutted that we couldn’t score more than 5 goals in 30 minutes. After a motivational speech, we started the second half same as we ended the first one, still believing that we could make it!

And even with all the motivation, we kept giving them easy shots and missing too many in attacks. Fortunately, we scored a bit more than the first half and after 9 minutes, scored 5 goals more, when they scored 4. It was then the time for the referees to get lost. With a series of 2 minutes for us, we played almost 10 minutes at 5 and even 4 players on the pitch for 1 minute. They also liked to stop the game for 2 minutes, to discuss about things, not being able to make a simple decision, which lead everyone to space out a little bit.

At 22 minutes in the 2^nd half, we were still 5 goals behind and didn’t score for 7 minutes. A last time-out took and we decided to start playing. Showing what’s makes the GIANTS a first division team, with a fantastic team spirit, we played an unbelievable defense, with the opponents unable to find any shoots. And with some amazing attacks play, we were back on them in the last 30 seconds of the game. But as it was not stressful enough, the referees whistled a strange fault on the wing, and it was the full time, with a penalty shoot to go for Ho Kwok Pui Zhen.

Pressure was at its climax, and on a wonderful move, Wan stopped the shoot, getting a very important draw!

After a quick celebration, a powerful MUSCHI NAS, and a good speech, we were happy to be safe and have secured our seat in first division for the next season.

Highlights of the game, special attention to our 2 keepers Wan and Tim, who stopped the right ball at the right time. Score could have been much worse without them. No best scorer, but a very nice shoots, that we would like to see more often and from everyone, from Paul and Gaspard, a great team spirit, even in the worst times.

One more game to go, then we can say goodbye to 2012-2013 season and start focusing on 2013-2014 ones, with many news things coming!

Stay tuned!

Sun Nic Gan/HK Giants

This Sunday 28^th, we were down to Choi Hung pitch for a very important game. With the weather being unstable for a few days, we were looking for a cancelation and hopefully, it didn’t happen. With 10 players on the game sheet, most of them hangover of the junk the day before, we were a bit worry as that game was a must-win. Temperature being very hot, the warm up was mostly for the arms and keepers.

After our usual 5 minutes shooting practice, it was time to start again a Sun Nic Gan team that was playing to stay in top division. And the first 10 minutes really showed that they wanted it more than we did. With a defense not focus and an attack equal at itself, we were in trouble to get to score and not let them go through us too easily. Unfortunately, the score was already 7-3 after those 10 minutes.

But then, we remembered why we were here and started playing well, with good attack and stronger defense.  And in 5 minutes, we were back, leading by one goal 7-8. They then took a time-out, feeling that they were losing control and couldn’t find any solutions, which motivated us in the good way!

The rest of the first half was a bit messy, with a few miss shots on both sides but our defense helped and we were up by 3 goals at the half time, 10-13.

Time to change sides and say a few words, to keep up the good play and that it was our game, we were back fully motivated for the 2^nd half.

It started quite slowly, with only 5 goals scored in 10 minutes. Then Sun Nic Gan got a flow of motivation and scored a 4-1 in 5 minutes to come back on our heels with only 2 goals less. The time for us to take a time-out and make sure everybody was focused on the win objective.

It’s when the referees decided to make some strange decisions and whistle some out-of-nowhere 2 minutes penalty. We have to say that our opponents were really good at faking, pretending and screaming for nothing. Maybe if they were more focus on how to play rather than trying to get fouls, they would be better. We manned up and fortunately, those silly decisions didn’t have any consequences for us.

We then played slowly for the last 10 minutes, making sure we don’t give them any chances to come back. With a score of 22-17 at 6 minutes before the end of the game, we were confident, probably a bit too much. Playing slowly lead to a few turnovers, and they slowly get back on us. But with a last minute under high pressure, we finally ended and won the game 22-20.

A great relief for all of us as this win helps a lot to secure our seat in 1^st division. It’s not done yet, but we took a good option on it! We still have 2 games coming and those are 2 must-win again!

A few highlights of the game, for our old Swedes who, despite a hangover, scored 6 goals and ended up as the best scorer of the game. Romain, for his first game with the Giants, who scored 5 but also took 2 minutes stupid and forgot to not walk on the pitch during the game. Our 2 keepers, who realized some important stops and all the others that came with a hangover and gave their best for this game.

The end of season is near, we still have 2 games to go to make sure stay in 1^st division and build on it next year. 

SCAA/HK Giants

This Sunday 21^st was the time for us to play again SCAA, which beat us severely during the first part of the season. With 2 convincing games before, we were confident in our chances to play well and cause some problems to them.

After a good warm up and the usual few minutes to shoot on the keeper, we were ready to start. At this moment, we have to note that the referees of that day were completely new. In fact, the “top” referees of HK preferred to referee a youth tournament instead of the games of this Sunday, as there was too many 1^st division games and that it might be too difficult for them… No comments.

And at the opposite of the previous games, when we made a good start, this time was absolutely terrible. Lack of focus, no passing and accuracy down to 0, after 5 minutes, they were already leading 5-1 due to many fast-break. A time-out later to try to get the guys in the game, we didn’t see any improvement and after 10 minutes, the score was 9-2 for them. The defense was not as strong as usual, giving too many easy shoots and the attack couldn’t find any solutions and when it happens, we can’t put it in.

The first half was a long and painful play, not finding any solutions in attack and defense. On their side, SCAA just played right and took advantage of all the gifts we let them, which brought us to the half time on the score of 15-5.

After trying to get the guys to focus on important basics as passing and accuracy, we were on for a second half, trying to practice more than expecting from this game anymore.

Hopefully because it started the same way as the first half, with a 5-2 for them in 10 minutes. With a few strange referee’s decisions and the basics as good as a 12 years old team, some players became quite angry and made a few bad choices. The rest of the second half was same as the first one, painful and useless. We failed on every part of the game and we deserve such a severe defeat.

Final score 29-14. We did show once again what to not do in a game. We didn’t pass well, giving away too many turnovers, when we happened to find an open shoot, we couldn’t even put it in the frame and we didn’t feel the team spirit that saved us in the past games.

Not to blame anyone, but we definitely need to focus on basics, as passing and accuracy. We are good individual players, but as a team, we’re not good enough and that’s where we lose. Those points will be drilled during next training and we hope to improve this quickly.

With 3 games remaining against 3 weaker teams, we should be able to get back to win and finally secure our seat in 1^st division.

YMCA/HK Giants

After two games cancelations in a row due to the rain, we were scheduled on this Tuesday night at 19h45. Originally planned 30 minutes earlier, we had to fight with the Association, to make them understand that working people can’t make it on time. Because of some –stupid- rules from the Government or else, we had no other choice that to play that day.

Arriving at the pitch, the clouds were starting to gather and made us expect the worst. With, luckily for once, enough time to warm up, both keeper and the team, we started with the ball against YMCA.

The first minutes, were, unusually, very good, with a strong defense, helped by the miss shots of the opponents, as well as a good attack, playing easy and waiting for the best chance. After 3 minutes, the score was already 3-0 for us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep with the defense, and after a few shots from the wings, the score was tied. We then collected the yellow card until our first team 2 minutes. The all first half was very defensive, with slow attack and very few goals. And 5 minutes before the half time, YMCA passed the 2^nd gear and took an advantage of 2 goals, to reach the half time whistle on the score of 10-8.

There wasn’t much to say at the half time, the defense was really good besides a very few mistakes, the attack could have been better, but we were on the good way.

Back on the pitch, we fell in our usual problem, with a poor start. After 11 minutes, we were 4 goals behind and many miss shots. But then, same as the last game, we found in ourselves the mental strength we needed and scored 3 goals in a row to get back on YMCA heels. Then, the referees, crappy since the beginning of the game, became even more. Missing many obvious fouls (defender catching shooting arm, stopping the ball with his feet on purpose…) which would have brought penalty shots and a few 2 minutes, we couldn’t get back this last goal to tie the game. Our beloved Swedish, on a very basic defensive action, took a red card in the last minute. Incomprehension on our side, YMCA decided to not shoot this penalty and ended the game on the score of 17-16.

Beside the fact that we played most of the game really well, I would to draw the attention on the referees. We agree we are quite keen to complain, but when a referee, during the game, whistle things on one side but not on the other, see definitely some fouls but ask the player to take it easy, and completely change the game with their whistle, we can only complain.

The worst would be when this referee clearly admits that he forgot to whistle some obvious fouls and that he also referees differently the teams, because we, GIANTS, are stronger. This is not a normal attitude, and we can only be disappointed by the level of the top referees in HK.

Complaining done, time for the highlights of the game. Gaspard, our best scorer of the day with 4 goals and two amazing defensive actions. Wan, great keeper with a few stops of international level. Joakim, for his red card. And all of the players who came despite the difficult schedule. We showed some great stuff and we can only expects to do better for the coming games.

We have 4 last games coming, we definitely need to win 3 of them! See you all at training.

HK Giants/Yuen Long

On this Sunday 30^th of June, we were facing Yuen Long, ranked in 4^th position and that we beat during the first part of the season.

The roster was quite short but with a good line up, we were confident on our change to win again. After a good warm up and the usual 2 minutes available to warm up the keeper, we were starting with the ball, focused and motivated.

Unfortunately and quite normal for us, our first minutes were difficult, with a lack of concentration. Defense was strong but after defending for 1minute, a simple shoot from 9m would score, because of no arms up or tired. In attack, we missed too many shots even if we made some nice combinations. After 12 minutes, the score was already 7-2 for them and it was time to take a first time-out. Trying to get the guys to wake up, we scored a few more goals then, and came back 3 goals behind. But with the end of the first half coming, and not enough substitutions, we let them take back their advance to finally end up at half time on the score of 14-9 for them.

During the half time, we saw that everybody was really motivated and was believing that we could come back, even with 5 goals less. A few wise words from some players, asking to focus on the game and on the team, rather than complaining to the referee helped later in the game.

Back on the pitch, we started the second half same as the first half, not completely on the pitch, not really focus on defense and still missing too many in attacks. After 16 minutes, the score was terrible, 21-13 for Yuen Long. But it happened to kick our asses and after another time-out, we strangled them. Defense was finally strong, all along, and when they happen to find a shoot, our keepers were vigilant and realized a few great stops. In attack, taking our time and playing easy bring us a few goals with many less misses. And with the time running, and the opponents starting to scare and play badly, we were back on their feet.

After a last time-out took by Yuen Long to try to stop the hemorrhage, the last minute started on the score of 21-19. A first quick goal from us made it to 21-20. Then the stupid Frenchie got a red card for losing his temper after a foul not whistled. An act that could have cost the game. But with a final turnover and a last penalty, we ended the game on a draw, 21-21.

All the players showed great mentality and bravery, to keep believing and playing even with 8 goals behind. We can notice that the passing in attack start to be smoother and less loss of balls leading to fast break.

A few highlights, as usual. For our keepers, who were amazing all along the game, but especially in the last 15 minutes with a few stops that saved the game. Jun Ho and Jacques, best scorers of the day. Jun Ho scored all our penalty shots when Jacques made the job from 9m. Special mention to his last goal, when he probably made around 10 steps from the middle of the pitch to the 9m. And thanks to everyone for coming and keeping up the winning spirit during the whole game!