Soccer With A Heart

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By Kal-lynn Poon, Tan Chin Tuan Foundation

On the 17th of June, amidst the ongoing World Cup fever, the children of Sunbeam Place also managed to get in on a few hours of soccer action themselves. Despite their less than ideal circumstances, the children were a bubbly and energetic bunch. Once they arrived at Queenstown Sports Complex, wielding curry puffs and personalized water bottles kindly sponsored by the Foundation, the kids kick-started their day with running competitions, completely undeterred by the blazing sun.

It was not long before the French soccer players from Etoile FC readied themselves and got down to coaching the kids. While some of them were all decked out in their soccer gear and raring to go, some were slightly less enthusiastic. However, with some encouragement, even the most hesitant participants eventually decided to hit the pitch and have themselves a healthy dose of fun learning to dribble, shoot and save headers.

As the coaches then decided that the kids should put their newly acquired skills to the test, the playful bunch was quickly split up into the “Yellows” and the “Whites”. A closely contested game thus ensued, no less exciting than any World Cup match. The happenings on the pitch that morning rivaled any form of soccer drama we have seen on the professional stage. There were some tears, some sweat, a lot of fun, but fortunately no blood; one or two even decided they were better off switching allegiances and joining the opposing team mid-game! While a handful decided in the later half that they were happy to sit out and cheer their friends on, some potential soccer stars were discovered that day. We watched on as they made good their earlier training and exhibited such control and skill that could put any adult like me to shame.

When the final whistle was blown and the kids came back from what was an exhilarating game, each was brimming with their very own unique account of their experience out on the field. Two very tenacious young players, including a petite but very skilled little girl, credited themselves for scoring the winning goals for their team, whereas a young goalkeeper in training claimed to have made a few good saves himself.

Although ultimately no winning team emerged, as the t-shirts Singapore Encore gave out suggests, the kids were each stars in their own right. It was heartening to see them come out of their comfort zones and to have their characters reinforced through sport and friendly competition. On my own part, the cheer and boundless energy of the children served as a timely reminder that we should never allow our circumstances define us.