SPL Championship still undecided! 05/16/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, For several years the SPL Championship was decided on the last playing day! Of course an ending like the BPL we can’t match you can call it a horror movie if you are a United fan or the best comedy of the year if you are a City fan! All in all it shows that football is top class entertainment especially when both teams HAVE to win. In the SPL we play every Sunday like that, both teams are going for the full attack whether they are in the bottom or at the top of the League. That's why so far we have 511 goals scored this season and that's an average of 4 per game an absolute SPL record! This coming Sunday we might have a new Champion depending on the result as a win or a draw will do for the Hawks but they play the E-Rouge and they are tough French Cookies! Anything can happen and the Hard Days Night need to win to still believe in a miracle! Pls come and watch the final games of the SPL! Entertainment is guaranteed! Flamenkos – Cowboys 1-5 Surprise loss for the Flamenkos who blamed it on their lack of numbers which recently seems to be true as they can hardly bring 11 players to the field! Cowboys were very happy with their win and left the field on their horses to go party into town! Hawks – Super 48 7-1 No surprise here. The win kept the Hawks on track for the second SPL title. Super 48 did manage to get their weekly goal and they are looking forward to their Galacticos game in two weeks! Hard Days Night – ERS 5-3 One of the best SPL games of the season. At any given time the game could be won by either side. ERS took an early lead but just before half time HDN took over the lead 2-1. The second half ERS looked more dangerous especially from the midfield and took over the lead 2-3. They had a golden opportunity to end the game with a “one on one” but got denied by a great safe of Jack the HDN keeper. ERS were very unlucky to concede a penalty for a handball which blocked a shot straight at the player and a slip of their goal keeper on the wet pitch as HDN took the final lead 4-3, netted one more a few minutes from time 5-3! Great performance from both teams it makes the SPL great! So the heat is back in Shanghai and we can have a decisive weekend ahead of us as well please put 10th of June in your agenda as the dates of the SPL Semi Cup-Finals! 1000-1200 Pistolera Bulls – Super 48 1200-1400 Hawks – ERS 1400-1600 Hard Days Night – Cowboys Looking forward to see you all at the field on Sunday ! Cheers Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee ! Add Comment SPL 4 rounds to go! the heat is on! 05/08/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, The heat arrived early this year in Shanghai! 32 degrees in the first week of May! Glad to see that it didn't influence the entertainment level of the SPL games as we could record 26 goals. We are getting closer to the end of the SPL Championship and we could see a decision at the top if the Hawks win and Hard Days Night will lose this coming Sunday! Lions/Flamenkos/ERS/Pistolera Bulls will battle for the sub top spots, Japan looks stuck in the middle and the Cowboys/Galacticos/Super 48 can fight it out in the bottom. SPL Goal scorers list is heating up as well! Peter 18 (Hard Days Night) Joshue 17 (Flamenkos) Nils 16 (Pistolera Bulls) Joel 15 (Lions) Julien 13 (ERS) Yamada 1 (Japan) Lions-Japan 3-0 This was the youngest Lions line up ever with four 16 year old players. Within 20 minutes the Lions had a 2-0 lead. Japan tried to fight back but were denied a few times by the young goalkeeper. Second half Japan changed most of their team but found the Lions back controlling the game. Joel sealed the victory with a penalty kick. ERS – Super 48 9-0 ERS has the best defense of the SPL this season and they were motivated to keep a clean sheet. Early goals killed the game and after 60 minutes it was 9-0. More than enough to slow down the game for the last half and hour. Julien scored a double hattrick! Flamenkos – Hawks 2-7 Flamenkos were handicapped by their missing strikers Joshue and Joost as well their squad looked too thin with only one substitute in the heat. For half an hour the game was even but once the first Hawks goal was netted it was more and more difficult for the Flamenkos as they started to run low on energy! Hawks now have 29 goal difference this season! Galacticos – Cowboys 5-0 An important game for both teams as they are trying to fight it out in the bottom of the SPL. With the return of Ned the Galacticos were playing their best game of the season. He scored three goals and finally they could party after a 5-0 victory! Three games this coming Sunday : 1000-1200 Flamenkos – Cowboys 1200-1400 Hawks – Super 48 1400-1600 Hard Days Night – E.Rouge Enjoy the last rounds and the ice cold beers after the games ! Cheers Freek SPL President / on behalf of the SPL Committee ! SPL 5 rounds to go! 04/24/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, Last Sunday we had a full 5 games program and now we have caught up with most of the postponed games. If the weather stays normal we will be able to finish the season as per schedule and we can start thinking of our next season 10 years SPL anniversary! Flamenkos – Super 48 9-1 The Flamenkos strikers had a pleasant game with both Joost and Josue scoring a hat-trick! Super 48 will need to work hard to get a few more points this season! Last season they won their last game of the season vs the Galacticos and this season that will be there final game again! Lions – Cowboys 1-1 The game was overshadowed by a horrific injury of Mus the Lions player. His leg was ripped open by an unintentional tackle of a Cowboy player. All players were shocked to see the wound and poor Mus had to be transported by ambulance to the hospital where he got 15 stitches to close the wound. Luckily there was no further damage to his leg but he will not be able to play for a long time. Both teams were not in the mood to continue the game but the referee told them to play on. We wish Mus a fast recovery and do hope one day to see him back on the pitch! Hawks – Galacticos 3-0 Statistics don't lie! If the Hawks keep winning their games they will be Champion for the second time on their history. Galacticos despite their loss can be positive about their performance versus the current number 1! ERS – Pistolera Bulls 3-4 A real SPL thriller which made Michael J feel proud upstairs! ERS showed their intention to finish high in the top of the SPL this season leading 3-1 at half time. The Bulls changed their playing system and went all out on the attack! We have seen it before: you don't want to face an angry Bull! They equalized 3-3 and in the last 5 minutes the Bulls scored the winner 3-4! We have our first May holidays this week but because its during the weekdays we can hold 3 games on April 29th. So please come and watch your favorite team playing in Green City! 1000-1200 AM Galacticos – Cowboys 1200-1400 PM Flamenkos – Pistolera Bulls 1400-1600 PM Hard Days Night – Super 48 Enjoy the green grass and the SPL ! Cheers Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee ! SPL getting into the final rounds! 04/17/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, The weather is slowly getting better and the grass is getting green! The restaurants and bars around the field are getting full and we can see more and more spectators watching our games! Life is good especially in Green City! Flamenkos – Galacticos 8-0 Flamenkos needed to correct themselves after their surprise loss versus Japan and that's just what they did. Joost was a happy man scoring a hat-trick! Galacticos managed to get a lot of new faces on the pitch but they still need to gel them as a team. I am sure they get some more points in the final games of the season! Lions – Hawks 0-2 Lions started to look pale when they saw a full “Shenhua” team showing up! However they started well and had most of the possession. Hawks scored on a break and the Lions kept on trying to score as they needed to win this game to stay in the title race. Second half the Lions missed two golden opportunities which prooved to have cost them dearly as the Hawks clinched the 3 points after scoring 0-2 on a break again. Very competitive and good game! ERS – Cowboys 7-0 Etoille Rouge are having their best season and look to end high on the SPLChart. What stands out is that they conceded the least goals of all SPL teams, 10 goals only so far! The cowboys could match them for 30 minutes and after that they opened the gate and goals started to flow in! Coming Sunday we have a 5 game program in order to catch up with the schedule! Don't miss the action come over and watch the most entertaining league in Shanghai. If you look for a team just come to the field and talk to the Captains they will happily help you out! 930-1130 Flamenkos – Japan 1130-1330 Lions- Cowboys 1330-1530 Hawks – Galacticos 1530-1730 ERS – Pistolera Bulls 1000-1200 Japan- Hard Days Night at Century Park Really good to see all the teams in action ! Enjoy the games and Enjoy the SPL ! Cheers Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee SPL getting excited at the top! 04/10/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, We had a full 4 game program in Jinqiao and even were honored to have ICS TV paying us a visit. It is good to see that people recognize the SPL as a “Grown Up” and “Exciting League”. Next season will be our 10th year and surely we will be pleased to organize a party! This year the title race is still in full force with the Hawks and Hard Days Night and the Lions looking to have the best cards and ERS the team in form can be still be a dangerous outsider! Japan – Flamenkos 3-0 Quite a surprise result. Japan seems to get stronger by the week and after a 0-0 first half they got the goal they were looking for. Flamenkos started to attack by full force but were denied a few times by the Japan Goalie and the linesman. Japan played the counter attack and were very happy to get 3 points! Lions – Hawks 3-0 Top flight game! The Lions needed a win to stay in the race and started off well. They controlled the midfield and found the net twice behind the tall Hawks goalie in the first half. Second half the Hawks were stronger but half way the Lions got the killer goal 3-0 by a header from Joel. Hard Days Night – Galacticos 6-2 Beforehand Danielle expected a lack of Galacticos players due to overseas commitments but there were Yellow Jerseys everywhere at least 18 players I counted which is a good sign for the last games of the season. Steve the Hard Days Night manager was complaining about the “hang over’s” of his players and the play displayed but on the other hand with their win they came to within one point of SPL League leaders the Hawks. Pistolera Bulls – Super 48 3-0 Super 48 is getting more serious by the day. As they were practicing many set pieces before the game. The Pistolera’s badly needed a win as the pressure on Bilgin was building up! A clean sheet was more than welcome as well! A quick look at the SPL top scorers as that competition is as well heating up! 1) 16 goals Nils (Pistolera Bulls) 2) 13 goals Joel (Lions) / Peter and Fedja (Hard Days Night) Recently we get approached by people who like to offer services or products to the SPL we welcome that as long as its related to Sports and can benefit SPL players. Here are two examples : 1) Jon Robinson is an exercise physiologist and is conducting a seminar on April 21 from 1400-1600 PM at Big Bamboo Nanyang Lu Puxi about how to help people with back and neck aches and other pains, especially good for SPL players. He offers 100 rmb discount on the entry fee for SPL players 150 rmb only i.o. 250 rmb (including the seminar material and a drink) 2) We got contacted by Selcuk Kisa who works for Emiran Hotels Group In Turkey. They have state of the art soccer training facilities which are used by pro clubs like Zenith, Borussia, Hungary national team etc.. for training camps. So if you want to properly prepare for the next SPL season pls contact Selcuk@emirhanhotels.com / he will be in shanghai 17th of May and available to meet you after 1400 pm This Sunday we have three good games on the menu! Weather should be good! 1000-1200 Flamenkos – Galacticos 1200-1400 Lions – Hawks 1400-1600 ERS – Cowboys Forget the Formula One in Shanghai nothing better than running behind a ball with your Friends on a Sunday ! See you all on Sunday / Cheers Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee Lions on ICS! Check it here... 04/10/2012
Our beloved Lions featured on ICS last Tuesday! Check it out here... Spring arrived and SPL is heating up! 03/27/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, What a fantastic weather we had! 17 degrees and a blue sky with weather like that you can keep on running! On top the grass is getting greener as well! Perfect conditions for your friends and family to come and watch our games. We are having a break next Sunday due to the Qing Ming festival. This will give the teams time to lick their wounds and prepare for the final games of the Season. Japan – Cowboys 2-0 Japan is finally winning again and are moving up on the chart. They were missing Yamada-san who got married last Saturday. We wish him and his wife a happy life with a lot of football! Pistolera Bulls – Hawks 4-11 Pistolera Bulls are in need of players if you are interested pls contact Bilgin. It was hard for them with only 11 versus Hawks who had Chinese players coming from every corner. Half time it was 1-4 for the Hawks but the Bulls being Bulls battled back to 3-4. 20 minutes from the end however they imploded and Hawks were happily working on their goal difference! Flamenkos – Hard Days Night 2-1 Good game of football. Tactically it worked all well for the Flamenkos who deciced to play with one striker only. If your striker is as good as Josue it can work. Hard Days Night went 0-1 ahead thru Peter but got a set back when they lost Fedja due to a hamstring injury. In the second half a superb strike by Josue leveled the teams and while Hard Days Night was trying hard to score the winner to stay in the title race it was Josue again and his goal gave the Flamenkos all three points ! Lions – Galacticos 2-0 Lions had most of the possession and created several changes but failed to finish them. Credit to the Galacticos who never gave up trying to score. After the break we return on April 8th for a four game weekend. After all the bad weather during the winter we now face the challenge to complete the SPL on time so we urge all the Captains to do their best and cooperate to get the teams out play ! 930 - 1130 Japan-Flamenkos 1130 - 1330 Hawks – Lions 1330 - 1530 Hards Days Night – Galacticos 1530 – 1730 Super 48 – Pistolera Bulls Enjoy the break and see you all on April the 8th in Green City ! Cheers Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee ! Goals, goals and more goals! 03/21/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, The weather was on our side last Sundays and we had 4 cracking SPL games! Believe it or not but we had 38 goals scored in 4 games that was an absolute SPL record. Not a good day for some of our goalkeepers but surely a good day for the spectators! The SPL is now in full swing and teams are at the phase of the competition that they cannot afford slip ups anymore. Hawks-Cowboys 7-2 Hawks made up for their loss of last week to put them back in the title race and the Cowboys still enjoy their games in their first ever SPL season. I respect the teams like the Cowboys who find it difficult to win but still put their effort to improve and learn each and every week. Pistolera Bulls – Hard Days Night 4-9 One of the strangest SPL games I have witnessed. First of all one of the Pistolera Bulls players arrived in a Ferrari. This could be a trend for the SPL players so we expect more fancy cars around Green City, Yamada-san in his Lexus, Banksy in his Jaguar and Bilgin in his Datsun…. ! St patricks day or night left some wounds in the Hard Days Night team and management. Despite a quick goal they were down 4-1 in just 15 minutes. You would expect the Bulls to defend that surprise opening but their problem on the day was that they only had 11 players and average age closer to mid 30’s. So yes they tried hard for 45 minutes and could hold it to 4-3 but the second half it was game over for the Pistolera Bulls and the Hard Days Night were back into their game scoring another 6! ERS – Galacticos 9-0 The difference was noticeable in the warming up where we saw 16 french players jointly doing the warming up but for the Galacticos they were still waiting for the shirts to arrive. One of the largest victories of the French and they are looking to be in fine form at the moment. Galacticos is trying hard to turn the tide and hopefully they snatch some wins before the end of the season. Japan – Super 48 5-2 Japan versus Japan ! A classic SPL game which you would expect both teams to go for a draw ! But Japan was too hungry for a win since their recent performances were not as good as it used to be. Super could hold to 1-1 at half time but after that the pressure was too much for them. We are going to have a fantastic blue sky spring weekend and another 4 games all played at Jinqiao ! Expect goals and friendly but competitive games. 930- 1130 Japan – Cowboys 1130-1330 Hawks – Pistolera Buls 1330-1530 Flamenkos-Hard Days Night 1530-1730 Lions – Galacticos On a side note please do not forget the handshake after the game. We can understand that sometimes you are frustrated by the result or by the opponent but after the game we are all friends and respect each other. That is what makes our league stand out and remember the SPL is all of you ! Cheers Freek SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee ! SPL is heating up, so is the weather! 03/14/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, I was back in Holland for the weekend for some family matters! It is different if you follow the SPL from a distance and I am glad to be back in Shanghai. Finally we see some signs of spring arriving and after such a long and rare spell of bad weather it will lift the spirit of the players and the SPL. Time for the (girl)friends and family to come out of their hibernation and support their teams on the field. We have played our last game at Waigaoqiao last Sunday as the “cricketeers” (how’s that……!) are taking over the whole field however there might be a window for one “summer evening game” from 1700-1900 pm once the sunset is later. Talks about next season have already started to make sure we have at least two fields to run our SPL. Lions – Super 48 8-0 There were two different halves. First half the Lions found it difficult to penetrate the “Blue Wall” and the Supers didn't manage to score their usual early goal. Just 1-0 at the break but after 60 minutes the Wall was cracking and the Lions were happily working on their goal difference scoring another 7! Japan – Pistolera Bulls 1-3 A welcome win for the Pistolera Bulls and this might be the beginning of a Bull’s run! Japan continues to struggle and the fact that they missed a penalty didn't help them either! Flamenkos – ERS 0-3 Apparently somebody was drying his hair at Waigaqiao as there was a huge wind influencing the game. The way the field is positioned you are either with or against the wind! Interesting enough when ERS was playing with the wind they didn't manage to score thanks to the outstanding Flamenkos goalkeeper! 0-0 at half time but same happened to the Flamenkos in the second half with the wind they couldn't score. Surprisingly ERS managed to score three goals against the wind! Fair and well played game with no cards! Hard Days Night – Hawks 8-2 A top flight encounter. Hawks, the SPL leader were unbeaten so far and clearly the team to beat. The Hard Days Night are the team in form and for them this game was crucial. First half was a good and a fast pace encounter 2-1 for HDN. Second half was influenced by cards as the tension was mounting and too much for some of the players. 3 red cards + several yellows is not what we want to see in the SPL. Especially the top teams should be an example for the others and stick to what they are best at and that's playing football!! Sunday we have three games at Jinqiao ! 1000-1200 Hawks – Cowboys 1200-1400 Pistolera Bulls – Hard Days Night 1400-1600 ERS – Galacticos We also have Japan – Super 48 but field and time will be confirmed later ! Lets enjoy the warmer weather and make sure the referees are keeping the cards in the pocket ! See you Sunday / Cheers Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee ! Yamada's hair is getting grey! 03/07/2012
Amigo’s and Amiga’s, I don't envy Yamada-san’s position as he is in charge of the SPL schedule! Every week he has more grey hair because of what is going on with the weather! Since February 5th the Shanghai weather was dominated by gray skies and heavy rainfall. It was the longest stretch of gray days in 32 years! In the second half of February there were only 5 hours of sunshine, the lowest figure since 1972….! As the schedule is running behind now I was very happy 8 in the morning to get the ok to play from Adam as it was dry but when I put down the phone it started to poor down hard. The water on the pitch made it impossible to play and I had to tell the Flamenkos that we couldn't play (the worst part of my job…)! It is rather depressing and the Chinese government advises the locals to wear more colour clothes so next time if you see me walking around in bright orange you know what is going on! Luckily we found a dry section on the Waigaoqiao pitch and we had two games over there. Hard Days Night – Lions 4-2 The lions struggled in the beginning on the wet pitch and the HDN’ers had a great start and looked more hungry for the win, 2-0 after twenty minutes. Finally the Lions woke up and equalized 2-2 but the killer blow came one minute before half time when the Lions goalie slipped and the ball went in the net. The second half Lions were back in force hitting the post and had more shots on target but Hard Days Night sealed it when the Lions failed to clear the ball in defense. Great game and very well refereed by Kevin together with his CFA officials! Japan – Galacticos 6-1 It was a welcome win for Japan who recently had to suffer heavy defeats in both the Saturday and Sunday league. Galacticos are looking for a goalie ps contact them if you are interested to play for them! Now believe it or not but the weather forecast for this weekend is Sunny! Hopefully that's true! 1000-1200 Lions – Super 48 1200-1400 Japan – Pistolera Bulls 1400-1600 Hawks – HDN 1200-1400 Flamenkos – ERS at Waigaoqiao Enjoy the Sunshine and the SPL games ! Cheers Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee ! | 
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