An Interview with
Schwarz Star F.C.

Interview By Socialsoccer.com

In this interview edition, we present Brandon Sng from Schwarz Star Football Club. Formed in 2004, they have been making waves in Socialsoccer.com with their various recruitment drive.

Do tell us a bit about yourself (such as playing career etc), Schwarz Star and your role in the team.

Well, basically I am a 25 year old guy from a family of soccer fanatics and because of  the influence from my Uncles I started playing soccer from a young age. My playing career is not as colourful as my other fellow brothers in Schwarz Star F.C. I started off at Changi Beach Club, a local amateur team in 2000 and had to stop short my competitive playing stint due to a reconstruction of my ankles’ ligaments which I broke in the army. I laid off from soccer since then but occasionally played with my friends at the void deck.

Schwarz Star was formed basically in October 2004 with two of my fellow brothers Jingxiang and Scholes ( yup his name is Scholes..no joke). Soon another member Helmi joined us and the four us kicked started Schwarz Star F.C. Schwarz Star F.C started its usual kick-about at an open field at Marina.  In March 2005, we shifted our training ground to our present Alexandra Hospital soccer field which is now called the Falcons Arena. The new training ground presents the team with better training facilities( Proper goalposts, nearby parks for running, a steep slope for endurance training, etc ).

Schwarz Star has participated in a few friendlies and tournaments since its formation in October 2004 and the results are encouraging for the team. With an initial size of 13 players in October 2004, its grown to almost 36 players to date and we are currently in the process of forming an Under- 17 squad so that the U-17 Squad can supplement the Senior Squad in future competitions.

My role in Schwarz Star .FC is more on the medical and recruitment side.  As I am a registered nurse working in the trauma department of Alexandra Hospital, I take care of the medical needs and injuries of the players ensuring that they are properly taken care of. The recruitment aspect is shared with my fellow brother Helmi, as we comb the island for players regardless of their skill , age and race to join Schwarz Star F.C

Who are the people behind Schwarz Star?

We have a committee in Schwarz Star F.C which are handled by my fellow brothers. In the training department, Helmi and Haniff are the trainers of the soccer club, they were chosen because of their vast experience in the amateur soccer arena. Marvin is also part of the training department and he plays the important role of whipping the guys into shape. He has experience playing in the Division 2 League in Singapore.

At the IT department, we have Jingxiang and Keith running the show as Jingxiang is currently away serving the nation.. Helmi has stepped in to help out temporarily. Schwarz Star F.C team website will undergo a major overhaul as Keith has plans to revamp it and from the looks of it, everyone in the committee agrees that it looks fantastic. Kevin is in-charge of the Logistics department where he deals with the soccer equipment such as training bibs, soccer balls, cones etc etc. Scholes handles the Finance department which deals with the cash flow of the team and as of 1^ST July, Scholes will be coming out with a 3 monthly financial report of the team’s financial status. The medical department is held by me and I am looking at in the near future to get the guys liaised with Alexandra Hospital in learning CPR and another aspects of first-aid. The recruitment department is held by Helmi and I. There is no manager in the team, basically the most important reason being that everyone in the team are equals.

There is a monthly meeting among the committee members to look at issues concerning the team and if there issues that need to be settled , it will be discussed among the committee members. Everyone in Schwarz Star are treated equally and when a player has suggestions, the committee will look into immediately to see if could benefit the team. However, if the committee is unable to come out with a suitable situation, the players will be brought in and they will be doing an example, a survey to which method they prefer etc. This will enable the players to feel a sense of belonging as they are also part of the building process of the team. I would like to take a chance to thank all my fellow brothers of Schwarz Star for putting their heart and soul into building up the team. Schwarz Star also have a reputable legal advisor in the legal profession to help advise the team if there is any legal issues that may arise.

What are Schwarz Star objectives and aspirations and how do intend   to achieve them?

Schwarz Star aspire to be a team that players of all ages, race and culture will be able to join. The team have 5 mottos and they are : Determination, Pride, Commitment, Unity and Passion. The 5 mottos were discussed among the committee and decided upon and these mottos are the core values of the team.

Our objective is to provide enjoyable soccer for one and all. We at Schwarz Star want to keep the team going on and on. Our wish is that our children can also continue the Falcon tradition of Schwarz Star. To achieve the dreams that we pursue will be a long and hard road. We at Schwarz Star will always strive to give our very best and by keeping to our 5 mottos ,we will be able to achieve the dreams and objectives. We always motivate the players whether they make a mistake or when we are losing or winning we always motivate and help each other on and off the field. Imagine a scene if a player makes a mistake and he gets all the blame, how would he feel? In another scene if a player makes a mistake , he is encouraged by his fellow mates not to be disheartened and to learn from the mistake, how would this player feel? The outcome is for you to ponder on it, which would be a better scene for the player.

In terms of activities between now and the end of the year, what do Schwarz Star have left to accomplish?

We are now currently preparing for a 7a side tournament to be held on the 10/7/05 and we will be using this tournament as a good opportunity to expose the U-17 players and also for the senior players to gel together. We are also preparing for next year’s participation in the amateur league and preparations have been going well. We will be having a year – end party which the committee have not decided whether to be a chalet or overseas package to Malaysia or Phuket and when we are there we would also arrange a friendly game. No confirmation as yet but the players can look forward to having a party just specially prepared for them for all the hard work they have contributed to the team.

At the same time, we are proud to announce that we have concluded an arrangement with Oasis Board Game Cafe located near Bugis MRT as our club official cafe.

How do you prepare or motivate your team before games?

Preparations before games are done by the training department. Marvin will prepare a fitness programme tailored for the players about 1-2 weeks before the game. Helmi and Haniff will discuss the tactical aspects and one week before the game, they would usually give their tactics they had planned a try-out. On match day, Helmi will give the final instructions to the players and the rest would be up to the players.

What are your views of amateur football in Singapore?

Amateur soccer in Singapore has grown by leaps and bounds. Little was known about amateur leagues and with more amateur leagues coming up, this will be a fantastic avenue for players to enjoy a good workout and to bond with their friends. I , personally believe that amateur leagues such as ESPZEN have done well and this provides players something that they can look forward to every weekend.

The only thing that many amateur teams are facing are the lack of soccer fields for their kick-about. I applaud SSC for opening schools for their soccer field usage. This will lead Singapore amateur football on the right track.

Funds are basically a bane for many teams and have sometimes proven to be a stumbling block. What are your views on these?

Yup, I do agree to a certain extent that funds are a stumbling block and many amateur teams are facing this problem. As the saying goes” Money is the root of all evil”

We believe that friendships and team morale can be affected and destroyed easily with just regards to funds. Funds are a very touchy issue and our committee are taking steps to ensure that the funding are dealt with carefully so that relations will not be hurt. As I have said earlier, we are coming out with a 3 monthly financially report which will be shown to the players so that they will know where the cash are going to.