By Looi Ee Xin (26S03M) and Koh Shin Robbie (26A01A)
All photographs provided by Lucas Aw (25A01C) and Kylie Chong (26S03E) from RIAC
At the end of a finals match which culminated in a penalty shootout, everyone let out the breath they had been holding. The scoreboard reflected the score, 16 – 13.
The match had seen both teams fighting right till the end for the title of champion, and one had come out on top. The newly crowned team, which had lost a few matches to their competitors, was triumphant in its comeback.
An unlikely victory over ACJC/SSP, the RI’s Water Polo Boys’ team’s win over them seemed to be an upset, as each team pushed the other to the breaking point.
Pre-Match
Raffles Press had the privilege to be able to join the athletes on the bus to the match.
Right from the get-go, there was music blasting as the water polo girls’ team was hitching a ride to their awards ceremony, which would be taking place before the boys’ finals. The girls’ joyful laughter and playful banter, accompanied by their music selection, contrasted with the silence that hung over the boys’ team.
The silence stood out glaringly with only tiny pockets of conversation held between the boys. It served as a reminder of what was riding on their shoulders for this match—the question of whether all they had prepared would come to fruition.
The match
The match itself was a tense affair. As the athletes readied themselves, the stands roared to life.
Both teams came out guns blazing. A superb shot from Samuel Neo Seh Jin (26A01A) signalled the start of a first quarter that saw both teams score 2 points each, after fouls were committed on both sides.
2-2.
It was a battle for the team to keep their nerves down, as the second quarter started with an unexpected goal scored by ACJC/SSP. Still, RI fought to take one point back, levelling the score.
Shoot. Miss. Try Again. Over and over, possession of the ball switched hands faster than the spectators’ eyes could track. An occasional cheer battle would start every time a point was scored by either team. It was a tense exchange between both teams, ending with a 1-point advantage over RI.
5-4.
Amid the cheer battle ongoing and the scoreboard staring at the team across the pool, there was a notable interaction occurring between the athletes and the supporters.
Athletes who scored would pump their fist in the air, before turning to the stands where their friends stood. In recognition and support, they would cheer even louder, pumping their fists back.
It was an affirmation given, a loud show of support for their classmate or friend, either an organised cheer or just a frenzied scream that told the athlete that they were there for them.
The ball was now in RI’s court, both literally and figuratively. A brilliant start to the match with a point to RI, saw hope from the supporters of a possible comeback. However, as the seconds ticked away, Q3 was coming to an end and Q4, the last quarter, was starting soon.
More fouls were awarded in favour of the opposing team, and play increased in speed, as it seemed the players were feeling the stress creeping up on them. RI’s 1-point disadvantage increased to 2.
“I thought they were going to lose when the goal gap started to increase. I was really worried for them, ” said an RI girls’ water polo team athlete.
9-7.
Q4 began. It was then that the spectators were stunned by the RI team scoring 2 points in a matter of minutes. We were back at a draw. Momentum was building as the RI went on to score another goal, putting the team at an advantage. With a score difference of just one point, it was now down to keeping the opposing team at bay for the last few minutes. Just as things were going smoothly, a time-out was called by ACJC/SSP.
9-10.
“Calm down, ” Jacob Oh Wee Wenn (25S06O) yelled out to the team.
ACJC/SSP scored two goals in a row, and the reminder to calm down suddenly became a mantra as Jacob repeated the call.
11-10
58 seconds left. RI scored a goal, to the absolute relief of some and the dismay of others.
11 – 11.
Would we see the end of it here?
30 seconds. ACJC had possession of the ball. With the final seconds ticking away in the background, the audience tensed in anticipation of a tiebreaker.
Penalty Shoot-out
As the seconds on the clock ticked closer to zero, crowds on both sides were stuck in a limbo between anticipation and fear. Any goal now would make or break either team’s victory. The suspense had built up to an all-time high, with both teams going in for hasty attacks.
Nonetheless, time ran out, and the fourth quarter ended with a score of 11-11. It was down to a penalty shootout.
Team Raffles went first, scoring the first shot. With Team ACJC missing their first shot, victory was in sight—but before that stood four more attempts. One by one, both schools scored every subsequent shot, and it came down to shot five by Team Raffles.
This was it. With bated breath, the crowd watched as Ahmad Irfan Kaysan Bin Ahmad Mudzakkir (26S03E) took to the centre of the pool.
The writers were too afraid to watch, but before we knew it, the crowd of RI supporters went wild. The audience leaped and screamed as the team rushed forward to the poolside, even pushing their coach into the pool. Amidst the intense relief and pride, Rafflesians rejoiced once more in one final cheer to end off the climactic match.
Post-Match Reflections
Amidst the lively post-match poolside, we managed to hear directly from the athletes themselves.
To Samuel Neo Seh Jin (26A01A), their victory was truly momentous. Still panting from all the cheering and celebrating, he shared that the team had been disappointed by their performance in their earlier match against ACJC, but had worked hard to review match footage, improve in areas of weakness, and come back stronger.
Their effort in adapting and formulating a strategy was all the more apparent as the penalty shootout team proceeded to elaborately describe their observations of the opposing team that had surfaced from their previous experience.
Ahmad Irfan Kaysan Bin Ahmad Mudzakkir (26S03E) added that the journey had been arduous for the team and that they owed a great deal to the teachers and friends who had supported them in their struggles. Still, above all, the team had each other to thank.
“We played as a team; we won as a team.” Xavier Wong Rae On (26S06I)
Perhaps the most heartwarming reflection came from the captain himself, Xie Yifa (25S06R). Admitting that their previous match did weigh on him in the lead-up to the match, his doubts had been slowly put at ease when the juniors began stepping up. “Our batch was a more party-loving A-Div batch,” he shared, “not serious.” Naturally, the team’s shift in seriousness came as a pleasant surprise, and he shared that he was proud of the growth they had made together.
As everyone slowly left the stands and the pool returned to silence, the absence of enthusiastic cheers and exuberant celebration was deafening. Above the sporting marvel displayed in today’s match was the fiery spirit of students and staff alike in cheering the team on, as well as the camaraderie of our athletes.
Team Raffles and its Water Polo Boys Team displayed a commendable effort— not just for the thrilling victory, but also for the unity and determination that made it possible.
List of players:
(1) Jacob Oh Wee Wenn (25S06O)
(2) Ng Kaen (26S06E)
(3) Xavier Wong Rae On (26S06I)
(4) Dapson Lau Jia Le (25S06E)
(6) Samuel Neo Seh Jin (26A01A)
(7) Lim Guan Yu Cayden (25S06G)
(8) Moses Cheam Zhi Xiang (26S06P)
(9) Ahmad Irfan Kaysan Bin Ahmad Mudzakkir (26S03E)
(10) Triston Ng Jun Kai (25S06C)
(11) Xie Yifa (25S06R)
(12) Jerry Chew (25S03R)
(13) Lin En Xi Toby (26S03H)
(14) Johnavan Seah (25S03M)
(15) Ng Rui Kai, Reyes (25S06B)
