Hockey

Convenor: Subhas Nathan | Article by: Julian Michael

5 v 5 Test Event - Blue Wristband = Negative ART

We’re two years into this pandemic, and it’s been a good six months since we’ve been told it’s endemic. While measures have loosened somewhat, we’ve not had much chance to pick up our sticks and hit some balls. Some of us may have forgotten how to play. I for one am guilty of that. We’ve been allowed to train in small groups, at times in pairs and in others in groups of fives, but we have not had league games in that time. As the Padang hosts the National Gallery’s Light to Night Festival, thankfully that was not the only light on our horizon. There’s been some light at the end of this long COVID-19 safe measures management tunnel. A pilot exercise of 5 v 5 hockey was announced by SportSG and we held a test event on 28 January 2022 at 5.45pm with 10 of our Section Members participating. In compliance with safe measures, our guys had to test negative with an ART prior. Thankfully, all did. On to the game, it finished 12-4 in favour of Team Black. However, the statistics are not entirely representative of the quality of hockey displayed with Team Gold putting in a rather good show, albeit needing a little more luck in front of goal. Newly elected Section Committee Member Philipp Farenholtz putt the Section on notice by finishing the game as top scorer (I think). Teammate Devaneswaran Sandrasagaram racked up a good number of goals as well (and maybe was top scorer). Our resident physician Dr Kong Chee Seng put on an exhibition in defence with Siva Subramaniam covering every blade of grass alongside him. Ben Bowden showed his reading of the game hasn’t been diminished by the lack of competitive games with excellent positioning throughout. Scott Treloar of Team Gold was voted man of the match, despite losing. P Jeyaputra was forced into an early shower when an old knee injury acted up. Hans Pieter Sluiser led a brief comeback but was unable to overturn the substantial deficit. Durai Shunmugam showed his dazzling stickwork in patches but that too fell short. Prem Singh was hampered by an injury and that did not help Team Gold somewhat in stemming the slew of goals from Team Black. It’s a good thing that all of these guys Ladies Captain Janice gifts Fiona with Farewell play for the Club, so they’ll memorabilia. be terrorising other teams when competitive fixtures are back on. We can only assume that the other pilot 5 v 5 games are going on elsewhere without incident as there are plans in place to run the U19 Junior 4s Hockey Leagues. We will be entering one Boys’ and Girls’ team and you can be sure to read up on how they fared in the next edition (which would mean competitive hockey is on the cards for all). As for Section matters, it’s been ages since we’ve had proper socials. This meant we couldn’t do a proper farewell for Fiona Herbert. The legendary Ladies 1s full back has relocated back home. We surely will miss Fiona’s free-spirited laugh-a-minute antics. Rest assured though, the Section Committee is looking into any and all available means to host some safely distanced engaging socials in good time. In the meantime, we’ll see you on the Padang or around the Club. Stay safe.