Amigo's and Amiga's,

Finally the Expo will be opened and for the people who have
been living here during the year long preparations it will
be a big relief. As construction will be stopped during the
Expo and the dust will be settled down so it will be a good
time to come and watch one of our SPL matches with your
family and friends in Green City. We can guarantee you the
entertainment and the Chinese Government will guarantee you
the nice weather !

We had a full program last Sunday with a few surprises !

Bulls - Galacticos 2-1 It was all or nothing for the Bulls
and a loss would have had big consequences for the players
or Bilgin either of them could have been fired without a win
! The Bulls were trailing after a Ned Kelly goal but started
to fight back and got two goals from Eric to seal the win.
Its said that Ned missed several goal opportunities blaming
it on the fact that he scored several times the night before
the game !

Japan - Flamenkos 0-0 Its very rare in the SPL to witness a
goal-less game. However this was one of the most exciting
games of the weekend. Both teams were in full attacking mode
and fighting for the one and only goal which would give
either of them the win. We saw players hitting the post and
goal keepers make saves as if they were "van de Sars" ! Due
to the draw Japan lost two points in the Champions ship race
and are now leading by only one point !

E-Rouge - Lions 1-4 Many many French players on the pitch
maybe that was the reason the first half was rather messy
not messi....! ERS was fighting hard but proved to be less
effective in front of the goal and even needed the help of
Adam the lions defender to score a beautiful own goal !
Lions had a bad half and a good half enough for the three
points.

Hawks - Dulwich 5-3 It was difficult for Dulwich as they
were behind again from the beginning 3-0 after 10 minutes.
Dulwich showed their fighting spirit and didn't want to give
up ! Unfortunately the Match was over-shadowed by two
red-cards !

Well this weekend there are no matches due to the opening of
the Shanghai Expo and the National Holiday on the first of
May so we can relax and prepare for the
final part of our SPL Season !

Cheers !  Freek SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee
!

Amigo's and Amiga's,

Last Sunday for the first time we got less rain than
predicted ! It was a perfect day to be out in Green City and
play our beloved sport. We had loads of goals (29 !!) and
even a new SPL record in our history books. Four games and
only three yellow cards is a clear sign of "Fair Play".

Japan - Lions 2-2 The BIG game of the weekend. Japan never
been in this position was eager to finish the Lions off. The
Lions looked crippled as they could barely field 11 players
due to injuries and lets blame the rest on the Iceland
Volcano. Within five minutes Japan took the lead but the
Lions fought back with two goals from Big M who left the
pitch after half an hour with a shoulder injury. Japan got
another goal and the Lions were looking tired versus the 30
Japanese players. However in the second half the Lions got a
goal disallowed and hit the post. Japan had a dangerous
header from the smallest and fastest player on the Pitch but
Nicolas saved it.  So both teams had to settle for a draw and
will have to battle it out for the SPL Championship in the
remaining 5 games !

Dulwich - Flamenkos 5-6
While I was enjoying an ice cold beer at Latina's I noticed
something was going on at the field. Goal another goal
another goal, goal goal goal.....everytime I looked I saw a
goal. First half score 6-4 an absolute SPL record ! For
Dulwich it was a painfull day as they were trailing from the
first whistle 0-3 down in five minutes. Flamenkos had lost
6-5 to the Galacticos this season and that bad experience
helped them not to let that happen again this time.

Bulls - ERS 0-4  Bilgins orders of elimination of the
opponent were not executed. Rumours were that he was sipping
champagne at the Formula 1 instead and the Bulls without the
Boss looked un-inspired. The French Friends were happy to
take advantage of it and took three valuable points.

Super 48 - Galacticos 0-10 Daniele got her third goal of the
season and the Galacticos enjoyed the afternoon as they got
almost all their players on the score sheet !

This coming Sunday we can experience the end of the winter
and a perfect Spring day in Shanghai ! Four pure
entertaining games on the menu ! Good time to bring your
Grandmothers and Ayis and Girlfriends to the field and show
them our skills !

9.30 Galacticos - Bulls Watch out for Bilgin's action but
can he stop the Galacticos winning streak ?

11.30 Japan - Flamenkos The Lions lost against the Flamenkos.
Was that an accident or are the Flamenkos that good ?

13.30 ERS - Lions How many French players will there be on
the pitch ?

15.30 Hawks - Dulwich Only a win for Dulwich will wash away
their frustration of the last two games but can they do it
versus the rested Hawks ?

See you all on a Sunny Sunday !

Cheers Freek SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee !

Amigo's and Amiga's,

Looking outside the window its hard to imagine that Spring
has arrived in Shanghai. Its Windy Cold Rainy and Grey and I
have no explanation for it but believe that it has to do
with the fact that the Expo will open on May the 1st and the
Chinese have "manipulated" the weather / I bet you know the
sky is crystal blue starting on May the first !

It did bring a special memorable Sunday for the SPL teams as
it was raining on Sunday but the Pitch was in Top Notch
condition and we could play all our four games !

Flamenkos - Lions 2-8 It was the first Semi-Cup-Final ! Both
teams were well motivated. Lions didn't want to lose twice
against the same team and the Flamenkos wanted to keep their
unbeaten record in 2010 ! Not sure whether the fact that "el
classico" took place the night before was part of the reason
some of the Spanish players were missing and that might have
been the reason of the rather large victory of the Lions.
First half was 1-4 and the second half was 1-4 ! Lions will
face either the Dulwich or the Galacticos in the final later
this season.

Dulwich - Japan 2-3 Typical "UK" Weather should have given
the home side a big advantage however before they new it
they were 2-0 down. Second half however it was Dulwich who
controlled the game and Japan decided to sit out the game it
almost cost them dearly as Dulwich leveled 2-2 and only 5
minutes before the end there was an unlucky handball due to
the wet pitch which was in the box. Japan converted and knew
that they were very very lucky this game. Dulwich could have
easily gotten more out of this game if they would have spend
less time arguing with the referee and focus more on the
finishing !

Bulls-Galacticos 1-1 Bilgin escaped Shanghai knowing the
rain was coming but the field condition was too good to let
go this weekend. So several text message later it was good
to see Bilgin at the side-line shouting at his players who
were 1-0 down. Galacticos thought they made it but another
last minute penalty forced them to share the points.

ERS - Super 48 5-0 As rain intensity was getting worse and
worse we made a last minute decision to play or not to play
! For the Honqiao players among us luckily we could play.
Think both teams were happy with the score ERS got a win and
Super didn't lose double digit !

Next Sunday we have another "Full Program" with rain in the
forecast so we will stay alert !

9.30  Lions - Japan Massive game as these two teams or going
for the SPL Championship this season and cannot afford to
lose.

11.30 Flamenkos - Dulwich Two teams in form and aiming the
third position this season.

13.30 E-Rouge-Bulls After Bilgin hammered his team mates in
public on the site we can see whether the psychological war
fare will have an impact or not.

15.30 Super 48 - Galacticos  Formula 1 is back in town is
the "Hamilton" effect over or it will give Super 48 their
first win !

A gentle reminder to everybody on the Pitch and in the
Clubhouse you are not allowed to smoke ! Smoke Outside !

We wish everybody Great Games and a lot of Goals and
hopefully no rain this time !

See you all on Sunday  ! / Cheers Freek / SPL President on
behalf of the SPL Committee !