Usual

Get used to that word - you'll be reading it a lot.

Training was as usual at the usual place at the usual time attended by the usual people. The only unusual things being a new face - Nhivashni (Nhiva would suffice) invited by Kew Pei Li, and the absence of Coach Jason Chan.

It started off with some people being remarkably early and others, well, remarkably late. Seeing that it was past 9 a.m. and Technical Advisor Khor Kuan Yang was still somewhere on the island besides PBSM hall, Juniors' Coach Pei Li dragged the team up for the usual warm-up. Minutes later, Kuan Yang turned up.

With that, he took over and the players paired up to practise the usual passing while goalkeeper Bryan Koh worked on movement. Crucial as it is, passing was rather usual, nothing exciting or interesting to be said, besides the fact that something was missing. And although nothing was made verbal, it was obvious that the players sorely felt the vacuum usually filled by the energetic Jason Chan.

Usual passing progressed to not-so-usual passing, i.e. V-shaped passing and flicks/lobs ("Flob?" wondered Yi Lin). Kuan Yang did give a demonstration on how to pass and receive lobs, but, as usual, he made it look easy. Flying balls probably lightened the atmosphere a little, with short (but loud enough) exclamations and stray balls bouncing 'round the place.

X-box. Four standing at the corners of a box and one in the middle. Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, shoot. The junior players cogitated a little before getting the hang of it. Almost eerily, the court became deathly silent at times, the rolling ball making the most noise. Which wasn't very usual.

Match-time, as usual. Passing was top on Kuan Yang's list. Surprisingly, Roselyn Ewe beat Yi Lin when it came to letting off the most screams. No goals were scored though.

Where was all the energy and excitement? Evidently Coach Jason's influential energy was on vacation with him in Malacca. All in all, training was - just usual enough.