With 27% of all votes, logo 7 has become the winner of our logo creation contest. Congratulations to Rob for creating a winning entry and thanks to all other creative artists who submitted their suggestions.

Dear Amigos,
 
All of us will remember 2008 as “ THE Year of many High’s and Low’s”, in commodity trading you call this volatility and I can tell you this year the volatility in the markets were at an all time record highs never ever seen and experienced before by anybody !
 
Just to give you a few of the HIGH’S,  The Beijing Olympics, The Opening of the World Financial Tower in Shanghai (Yamada-san’s building), The weather in Shanghai during the summer was one of the best ever, many blue skies !, Bush is leaving the white house, Hairy Crab is sold at a discount, Less taxi queue’s, Property Prices are coming down, you can buy the Shanghai stocks at a 70 pct discount, Spain was crowned Champion of Europe in Soccer/Football ! Lions won the SPL Championship 2008 (or was that a Low ?), THE SANTA CUP !!! All of the SPL Players respected each other and there was only Friendship and Fairplay on the battle field ! Many people in life can learn from us !
 
Now here are a few of the Low’s, The Sichuan Earthquake, The Food problems in China, esp the milkpowder melamine contamination for baby’s, Bush agreed to move to Shanghai after the White House, Shanghai stock market crashed 70 pct in four months, Credit Crunch, Cancellation of the SPL Cup Final on the day of the final, Job’s are no longer secured ! Next year there will be no more American cars !! So we go back to the Donkey Society !  (no pollution and you can even convert them into a Donkey Burger).
 
Last Sunday we had the last three games of the year played under perfect weather conditions :  
 
10 AM E-Rouge – Hawks 2-4,  First half was dominated by the Hawks who took a comfortable lead at 0-3, second half especially the Brasilian part of the team took it rather easy and thought the games was in their pocket, indeed they scored 0-4 but in the end “Les Rouges” fought back and scored two goals. Hawks are the “Herbst Meister” this year, so its up to the other team to kick them out of the first spot. Congratulations !!
 
12 PM Lions-Vlis 7-1, First Half was even the Lions played uncharacteristic defensive (main reason was that they only had eleven players, so 1-1 was the result. After the break the Lions went all out to attack and the Vlis players surrended quickly to swallow the defeat.
 
14 PM Galacticos-Dulwich, 3-1 “Time is on my side”, famous Rolling Stones song. That’s what it is for the Galacticos give them the late kick of game and they will be on their best. Only 10 man they looked strong on the counter with a few promising young players and an “old” solid defense they bang in the three points !
 
To look back at the first half of the season performance we can conclude the following :
 
8) Galacticos 3 points, rare position for them but mainly due to the formula 1 (Lewis Hamilton Craze……) and the change between summer and winter time, they couldn’t figure it out how long they could party more ! So the main problem I foresee is that in 2009 Shanghai GP will be in March and the change of winter into summer time will be in March as well !
 
7) Vlis much better than last year but the only scored 3 goals. Hopefully the birth this week of Fredrik’s son Willem will add quickly to the strength of the team !
 
6) E-Rouge they surely can perform better as they have a strong team, 25 sponsor’s and the best website !
 
5) Dulwich the only team to beat the Hawks this year and maybe they can be proud of that ! After that it went down-hill, injuries woes bcs of their severe dulwich trainings camps are rumored to be the cause….!
 
4) Japan they only played 3 games but they love it as underdogs will suit them perfectly to make a surprise run in 2009 for the title, the Santa Cup final was a good indication of what we can expect from Japan. So Captains don’t tell me I didn’t warn you……!
 
3) Bulls well leave it to Bilgin, he is in the category of Bill Gates, Kasparov and Hillary Clinton. Nobody likes to play against the Bulls as they can score even during half time when you are having a tea. He can substitute 10 players in 5 seconds so it leaves all of the defender puzzled who is playing where. On top he tend to start late irritating the opponent…..so don’t tell me I didn’t warn you…..!
 
2) Lions after the departure of Brian its good to see that there are still some Lions left behind who want to pick up the pieces so pls don’t celebrate to hard if you beat them but we are happy they are still competing strong !
 
1)Hawks great team this season perfect mix with Brasilian/Italian/Chinese players. 100 pct deserved to be on top ! Pleasure to play against them as only when we play tough games we can see our own weaknesses and know what to do next time to beat the hell out of them !
 
So I am confidence that 2009 will bring a great SPL competition  I hope that all of you will have a good time with your families and friends to celebrate Christmas and we are looking forward to have you all back “healthy and in good shape” on the Pitch in 2009 to continue our League !

As an extra gift in Santa's stockings, you can find the Santa Cup Pictures below.
Feel free to comment.
Unfo for now, you can not comment yet on individual pictures.
 
Best Wishes to All of You ! Cheers / Freek SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee
 
PS January 11 we have matches pls check our website www.shanghaipremierleague.net

Dear Amigos,

I don’t know how he did it but when last Thursday the temperatures in Shanghai  suddenly dropped below zero with a strong wind-chill I  feared for a frozen Santa Cup. Quickly I thought of changing the cup into an ice-hockey tournament, but when I opened the curtains Sunday morning I saw the blue sky and the temperatures were 12-15 degrees I knew that this was going to be a great day. Of course Santa was proud to have his own Soccer Cup for the first time in Shanghai and I am sure he arranged this day to be perfect with the help of Sophie our weather girl !

Foremost I would like to thank the Captains and the Players and the Referee’s for the success of the Santa Cup. This cup was special for two reason’s. 1) During the day there was a great sense of Friendship and Respect for each other and it was all about Fairplay and there were no red cards and just a few yellow’s 2) The teams kept Competing until the last game whether it was at the final Japan-Hawks or the game for the last place Dulwich-Vlis.

On the day there were two teams outstanding: Japan , who arrived at the Jiangwan stadium 6 in the morning and the Hawks who seem to have found the perfect mix of players called BRITCH (This stands for Brasil/Italy/China). To have these two teams in the final is what you wish for as organizer. The Final was a spectacle and both teams were cheered by the other teams, 1-1 it ended and just one penalty miss from Japan gave the title to the Hawks. Well done to both teams and we are sure Japan will even try harder next year to win the Santa Cup 2009 !

Pls see Santa Cup 2008 Ranking :
1)       Hawks
2)       Japan
3)       Lions
4)       Galacticos
5)       E-Rouge
6)       Bulls
7)       Vis
8)       Dulwich
Would we have the same ranking at the end of our season ?? Only Santa knows it !!

After the games all of us went to Latina by Dulwich Schoolbusses arranged by John Hinde. We received a warm welcome there with a great BBQ and all the drinks we wished for. The price ceremony saw each team receiving a Santa and our all time favourite Mikki from Japan was voted player of the tournament this to her Big surprise. There were repeated “Merry Christmas” wishes from the Captains especially after the Caiphirinia’s started to work in their heads ! Thiago became Topscorer of the Santa Cup ! Big thank you to Angela and Jacky of Latina for their arrangements of the party.

Now we go back to reality and we have our last games of 2008 this sunday, looking back at 2008 it was a very good year for our league and we hope we can keep the same Spirit and Friendship combined with a Good Competition in 2009 !

10.00 AM E-Rouge-Hawks
I am sure the Hawks want to maintain their unbeaten record this season and the French will try to put up the Great Wall or restore the Berlin Wall to stop them !

12.00 PM Lions – Vlis
Both teams will go for attacking football as they want to end 2008 on a high note and find any reason to enjoy a beer or two after the game !

14.00 PM Dulwich – Galacticos  
Given the time of the encounter the Galacticos will have a strong squad ready by 14.00 PM and the Dulwich will try to get out of their losing spell. John Hind told me that after the break we will not recognize them as all the Dulwich players will be turned into top notch athlete’s as well they will have complete new out-fit !

Sunday weather will be ok 11 degrees and still the sky will be blue, where do they get that paint from ?

 

Check out the website www.shanghaipremierleague.net as Frederik will post the pictures of the tournament. Currently he is helping his wife delivering their second baby in Belgium . We wish them well !

 

Three apologies from my side :

 

1)       Sorry there was no toilet at the Jiangwan stadium, Michael Kruppe almost exploded on the pitch as he intended to deliver a master piece before the first game. Next year we will lease a portable toilet made in Japan .

2)       Sorry I didn’t arrange beer for in the bus !

3)       Sorry We didn’t chose the logo ! The race is still on and the decision will be made by the votes on the website with final date 20 December.

 

Ok enough apologies and last enjoy the last part of 2008 !! See you all on Sunday / Cheers / Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee

Amigo's,

These are exciting times and perfect times to forget the economic crisis and
enjoy being part of the SPL !!

Last Sunday we had two SPL games !

Hawks - Lions 2-0
The Lions thought they were playing against the Brasilian National team as Andrea was able to put a very strong and fast squad on the field. Several thunderballs were targeted at Etienne, the Lions stand-in goalie, but he bravely stopped all the balls.
Lions even went ahead with a clear goal but for no reason the lines-man raised his flag, think he wanted to have a coffee at starbucks or needed to go to the toilet.
0-0 half time, but the second half the Brasilians outclassed the Lions defense a few times, 2-0 end result, well deserved !

Bulls - Dulwich 2-0
After the game most of the Dulwich players were having a depression as they were angered by the late bulls turn up as well the fact that they couldn't score against nine bulls.

Hope all of you are ready for the big day on Sunday ! Its our first Santa
Cup and cannot be missed !

Pls check our website www.shanghaipremierleague.net
<http://www.shanghaipremierleague.net/>  for or the details, small recap :

Tournament will be held at the fantastic grass fields of the Jiangwan
Stadium in Puxi.
Tournament will start at 1200 AM sharp (make sure you are on time !!) and
finish at 16.00 PM
Every SPL team will participate and each team will play 4 11-aside games of
30 min each. For your team's schedule pls check our website !
Drinks you can buy at the stadium or bring yourself, food we recommend you
to bring as there are no nearby shops there.
16.30 PM there will be busses ready to bring you from the stadium to Latina
Science Centre Pudong, The busses are free of charge.

1700-2030 PM we have a Christmas Celebration at Science Centre Latina with
all the SPL players, referees and SPL Friends. There will be a fantastic all
you can eat BBQ ready for you at 50 rmb only ! alcoholic drinks will be
discounted to 20 rmb, non alcoholic at 15 rmb. We will have an official
price ceremony of the Santa Cup 2008, as well we will repeat the last years
popular karaoke competition and finally you will choose the final winning
SPL logo.

Captains only with your good cooperation the Cup will be a success, key is
to Come On Time / Check The Schedule / Check The Rules / Play Fair / Have
Fun / Enjoy the Party !!!

Cheers to Santa !
Freek / SPL President on behalf of the SPL Committee