Junior Check
In a break from the travails of their senior sides, the Busy Bees hosted the Rancher Rabbits at Hornet Hive, and managed a narrow 2-1 win boosted by their home advantage. Amiruddin bin Zulhelmi just about waited out promising Ranchers keeper Kassim Zainun on a tenth minute penalty, with Mithun Udwadia squeezing a second home in the 33rd minute. The Singaporean visitors would take over in the next forty-five minutes in their 3-5-2, but Tan Keng Ah's 58th minute strike was all they garnered, as Aravinda Asuri came very close from a couple of late free-kicks.
It was a fair showing for both, with the Bees currently eighth in the Special One International World League after 17 rounds, on eight wins and nine losses. Rabbits for their part are flying high in the best league, edging Manchester United Junior 1996 at the top on goal difference with 45 points after 19 rounds. Observers have put this achievement largely down to excellent team organization, with this Rabbits squad not known for outrageous individual talent.
As for the Chicken Wings, they like the Bees are languishing in mid-table in the Kopalnia Diamentów, though they did best Chilean team los albitos 3-1 in today's away friendly. Wee Chao Jing and Lim An Keng hit early and hard, and it would be second time lucky for Dakota Gan from the spot, after Saturnín Arciego's lively reducer in the 71st minute.
Assistant coach Abdul bin Jantan sees the possibility of a new golden generation in the works, regardless. "Hwang Teck Fu, Mohd Marzuki Khairul, Chia Kwang Tse... all almost exactly the same age, and all so capable in midfield already. It really takes me back."
