GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 23 – April 10, 2015 | Page 41

transport the Blue Dragon Junior squads, the coaches still had
no idea who from this new Gaelic Football entity would turn
up. Sitting at a tea stall were the
loyal Blue Dragon coaches and
a couple of small kids. Oh dear.
More coaches than kids, a start
though.
Another couple of players arrived, and then all of a sudden,
they all disappeared. What is
going on? Turns out they had
gone around to rustle up a few
more players from the local
SIS Ciputra U11 Team with attitude, and coach John Shoulders. (Photo courtesy of Jim Kiernan).
neighbourhood, rousing a few
kids from their daydreams and
rest. A couple of players arrived in sandals with not more
U11s BOYS (PRIMARY) COMPETITION
than a lollipop straw and a bent toothpick between themselves to see them through the day. Choco pies and water
The day started with the first Primary School (U11’s)
bottles (Lavie) duly distributed, the bus set sail into the sea
event in the All Vietnam Schools Cup history, as two
of traffic and over to the other side of the pond that is Hanoi.
newcomers to the game in Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation and Singapore International School at CipuMeanwhile, over at VAS, the school’s pitch was being set
tra squared off for the cup. The All Vietnam Primary
up for its biggest ever day of Youth Gaelic Football, with a
Schools Cup was the brainchild of John Shoulders from
morning and an afternoon schedule and the organizers preSanta Rosa, California.
pared for any eventuality. Banners are unfurled; bamboo
SIS CIPUTRA RED
2.03 (9PTS)
poles are attached to goal posts with bungee cords. The day’s
SIS CIPUTRA BLACK
2.01 (7PTS)
official scorecards are prepared and the yellow and red cards
are given a peremptory shine with the cuff of a sleeve. PlayThe first game was between SIS Red and SIS Black, two
ers slowly trickle in, some of them no bigger than three balls
evenly matched sides who came out playing tight defense
stacked on top of one another, others bristling with new
with neither side wanting to be the first to concede. As
found height and intensity.
the clock wound down, however, the game picked up in
excitement as back and forth late scores saw SIS Reds, led
SIS Ciputra get there early and John Shoulders has his
by scorers Kim Ji Woo and Bui Thanh Tung, escape with a
troops out getting a feel for the surface of the pitch and the
narrow victory over the SIS Black. Impressive for SIS Black
weight of a football. A veritable army: he’s able to put out
were midfielder Nguyen Cuong My and also goalkeeper Le
two teams which is a huge boon, allowing a triangular comKhac Gia Quan who made a few great saves.
petition to be played in the U11s.

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