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2006 season’s review  The year 2006 was probably best remembered as the year Central Park Football Club finally achieved what it was set-out to do. Playing in the Islandwide League for the first time after three long years of waiting and tasting an achievement that defied all odds at the end of it was probably one of the highlights of the year. The club which was set up in 2003 had only two things on its mind when a decision was made to recognize it as a registered body; to be held accountable for its activities financially and to provide a platform for its members to play at the highest level possible. If anyone have told the Sharks what they would achieved at the end of the year at the start of 2006, most will just shrugged it off as just an extension to boost the team’s morale. The year however started on a bad note as it signaled the end of the Central Park Football Club Reserves squad. As the chairman sums it up, ‘That team has run its course. It was loosely created in the hope that new recruits who had potential will be promoted to the First Team which plays competitively while maintaining a social aspect of the team as the rigors of competition will take its toll on new recruits. While it provided the current team with the likes of Ng Heng Li, Michael Lim and Chin Jiawen who started their debuts in the team, it hasn’t been running like well-oiled machinery.’
 The chairman added, ‘To be frank, we are not a result-oriented club. We look for players who play for the club and in return, we provide them the platform. While we probably are still an amateur side with a social twist to it, not everyone understands the fundamentals on how to be associated with a club. In that context, the team has failed its purpose.’ On the other hand, it wasn’t smooth-sailing for its main team either as the club continued their participation in the Clementeers League at the start of the year on a bad foot only managing a single win after four games and during the process, they lost their vice-captain Salihin Zainal to a knee injury which have put him out of the game till date. On top of that, they lost the likes of Irman Mohammed which effectively placed a hole in the middle of the Sharks backline. The club nonetheless continued to soldier-on till they were controversially thrown-out of the tournament after only 13 games due to incidents which have been well-documented. After which, the team spent almost 4 months in the wilderness of friendly matches which provided neither incentives nor motivation. Questions were raised on the directions the club is headed and in came the existence of ESPZEN whose progress over the years since 2004 has been nothing short of a model for sports organisation. After 2 enrolments in local competitions which were less than desired in terms of organisation and logistically, the change into a more professional organisation became apparent. Central Park kicked off its first season in the league at Division 7 in July and finished the season third and qualified for a playoff spot and earned them a right at Division 6 in January’s season after beating FECA Football Club in the playoff game.
 The BIG one which was on everyone’s mind was the kickoff of the FAS Islandwide League in November. After two unsuccessful attempts to be part of the country’s mainstream competition, it became a reality and the rest they say, is history which will be remembered by those associated with the club for a long while. Achievements and milestones aside, Central Park Football Club probably will not have got to where they are without the players who made it all possible. Despite the gloom and long-term injuries sustained by some of the club’s longest serving players, in came the likes of the dad and son team of Lutz Fullgraf and Chris Fullgraf, the brother’s connection of Shahrilnizam Ismail and Shahrizad Ismail, Charlson Tay, Nick Tan, Asawin Likhitsup, Naoki Fukushima and Zulkifli Awab who have proven to be able replacements and probably an important pillar of the team. The seniors of the club nonetheless continued getting the job done with their attitudes on and off the field which clearly rubbed off new members of the club. Club captain Jeremy Chua achieved a milestone after turning out for his 100th game in all matches and competitions for the club as he marched his players out for the game against Unknown Boys on 10th September 2006. Though he was unable to rally his players to victory in a pulsating 4-4 draw which effectively ended Sharks slim hopes of finishing as Champions, the achievement was probably a poignant reminder for a player who made no impression on his debut as a left-winger but has move on to be one of the most respected member of the club.
 Another amazing feat was the probably the attendance of utility player Kelvin Tan Wei Hann who missed only a single game out of the 41 games the club has scheduled for the year and that record will perhaps take someone special to eclipse. In other areas of the team, it was no surprise as Ng Heng Li finished the season as top scorer for the second year running with 18 goals in 26 games even though it clearly dwarfed his explosive first season where he finished with 35 goals in 29 games with niggling injuries putting him out for most of the season. This year will probably see some competition as Chris Fullgraf looked to better his scoring ratio after disappointments in 2006. While statistics may just be numbers and one that players shows their contribution to the team, Central Park Football Club continues to function with the likes of Jeffrey Soon, Daniel Tan, Aaron Foo, Vincent Yeo, Nuriman Samsudin, Adrian That, Michael Lim, Ryan Soon and Sulaiman Othman providing important aspects for a well-oiled machinery. Not forgetting those who played their part for the team on a short-term basis such as Jean-Jacques who have since moved on, Norazman Suktiman and Kelvin Ang who answered the club’s call and Michael Fullgraf playing with the team on his overseas leave and whom the chairman later commented, ‘He came here precisely at the right moment to do a job and he done it fashionably,’ referring to his double strike in the playoff game against FECA which ended 4-0 in favor to the Sharks. He added, ‘The only disappointment is he’s not here to stay as it will be interesting to see the likes of him, Chris Fullgraf and Ng Heng Li banging goals every game for the team.’
 That leave us with left-back Teo Yi Quan and left-winger Kit Wong who has been a revelation for the club in 2006 since their debut against Outsiders Football Club on 21st August 2005 and OCBC on 10th July 2005 respectively and have since gone on to play no less than 50 competitive games between them in the Goal Amateur Football League, Clementeers League, ESPZEN Division 7 and finally the Islandwide League. What’s interesting is the relatively young Yi Quan who is only 17 and has made that left-back role his own when available while Kit who had no prior competitive experience has finally found his footing with 5 goals and 6 assists in the year. While the club enjoys the highs and lows of 2006 filled with controversies, disappointments and ecstasy, 2007 will be another interesting transition year as the Sharks will be looking at their current crop of players and new signings to bring the club to another level as they make a 2-pronged forays in ESPZEN Division 6 and the National Football League Division 3. It is a period where senior players passed their valuable experience and club’s culture to the multi-national and multi-cultural face of Central Park Football Club as we move forward to another voyage where it will probably be matched or bettered that what 2006 have provided to its players and club. On the same note, the management of the club wishes their thanks for the contributions of the players on the field and the loved ones of the players who continuously supported the team off the field during victory or defeat, rain or shine. Let’s have another memorable year in 2007! |
