Hopping On Hot Coals
The few thousand Bunnies faithful that made they way to Tanglin's saiNts James Park for their team's contest against the long-established saiNts United FC were not hoping for much at all. What they got, in the end, was an expertly-worked shootout victory that propelled the Bunnies into Division Three, some say prematurely.
The going-ons on the pitch were nothing to write home about - as expected, there were few actual attempts, as the cautious home side put not conceding as their first priority. Bunnies assembled a few notable counterattacks despite that, but they were nothing that Saints' backline couldn't deal with.
This went on through the full 120 minutes, at which point both sets of spectators finally realised that their season would come down to a sequence of twelve-yard duels. Bunnies pulled ahead, to much consternation, after Soh Ze Hao tried too hard with his long run-up, but would lose this advantage after misses from
Lim Rong Su and
Derek Ang.
With
Pek Rong Yau showing ice in his veins as he rolled it down the middle to keep his team's hopes alive, Saints' former national U-20 defender George Chan was then desperately unlucky as his powerful blast came off the underside of the bar, leaving the Bunnies' Young Player of the Season
Marcus Tsum to secure a historic win.
While the players' raw joy after that kick was unmistakeable, television cameras caught head coach
Elias van Dal furrowing his brow for an instant, before breaking into a slightly-forced smile and moving to congratulate his players.
"It's nice and all, but frankly, the club isn't ready for this." an unnamed trainer admitted, on condition of anonymity. "We wouldn't throw the match or anything, but the training staff were told to try and cool things down - stick to the basics, slow and steady, that kind of thing."
"Well, you know what? The kids can't take a hint."
van Dal praised the debuting
Cheah Chang Ming for keeping the side compact in the post-match press conference, but warned the fans not to expect too much - or anything at all - in III.5.
"There's Dodogado here, of course, but most of the rest are likewise simply out of our league. munchnomgroan have just entered administration, which makes survival a bit more realistic, but let's just say that any win we achieve will be a bonus."
van Dal's first administrative adjustment after the promotion was to expand the Rancher Rabbits' scouting team, with Yip De Da raised to head scout, and longstanding members of the local community Ooi Long Ming and Tong Han Kong joining up.
"We have unearthed some diamonds thanks to Yip's ceaseless searching, but his feedback was that it was too much for one man to cover all of Singapore, and the board had to agree." the head coach explained. "With our finances now secure, it only makes sense to expand our network."
