On the 13 of May the 18 men Titans Squad travelled to SMK Tanjong Rambutan to kick off their campaign.
In the first match against SMK Jati, the Titans started the game pretty even against a more experienced team, even scoring the opening goal from a tap-in by Taranveer Singh.
However the opponents equalized and scored 2 more goals in the coming minutes. The boys continued to fight until the end, eventually scoring one more goal before the whistle was blown.
The squad regrouped after 60 or so minutes to face their second opponent SMK Taib, where the Titans used a defensive and counter-attacking playstyle which lead to our newly joined teammate - Kane Takahashi to slot a goal home past Taib’s keeper in the first half.
After a 5 minute pep-talk the team continued defending the back of their post with their defensive based strategy. Eventually, it was full time and the Titans has gained their first 3 points in the tournament.
As the fixture between Jati and Tanjong Rambutan ended with Tanjong Rambutan gaining 3 points. It meant that the Titans have to beat Tanjong Rambutan in the next match for us to qualify for the second round.
“Football is brutal sometimes. The lost cuts deep, but nobody can take the brotherhood we built through every minute on that pitch.”
Taranveer Singh ~Taranveer SinghTaranveer Singh ~
“I love this team We will be back.”
Xing Jie Liao ~Xing Jie LiaoXing Jie Liao ~
(captain of U15 team)(captain of U15 team)captain of U15 team
The boys entered the final deciding match full of enthusiasm which was presented by their “Once in a lifetime opportunity” - described by Head Coach Mr Azri Ismail.
The match against the home team started slightly dull with both sides playing fantastically. However, our striker Kyle Kosgei pierced through the opponents net in the end of the first half, which was followed by another goal by Kane in the second half.
The home team were left stunned as the Titans took 3 points from Tanjong Rambutan, cementing themselves as the second international school based team to qualify for the second round, repeating our first team’s success in 2024.
The home team’s photographer even posted online quoting “SMK Tanjong Rambutan is a team full of drama, they cameback against Jati 3-2, but lost thinly to the underdog team (Tenby International School)”
The team carried this momentum into the second day of the tournament where they faced the eventual champions of the tournament and another rival school team in a fierce group to qualify for a top 4 placing match.
Despite the boys efforts, the squad was weakened by an absence of a few players due to examinations, where they ultimately fall short and th ended as 5 place of the Zone A MSSD Kinta Utara.
“ I had fun and meaningful time with teammates and we will come back stronger.”
Harumitsu Takahashi ~Harumitsu TakahashiHarumitsu Takahashi ~