Today is a Blessing!

Today could be the best day I've had in the last few weeks! First, I played paintball today with my friends in a place near SECAPA, called TriggerShooting. I enjoyed it, despite the fact I only played for about 45 minutes, because directly after finished playing the game, I then rushed into Wisma Parahyangan, to train with my teammates. I was busy but happy. My schedule today was tight but it brought happiness to me. 

We, arrived at the place at about half past 12, and then we quickly changed clothes and wore safeguards. It was vital, you know, because later in the game, a friend of mine shot me right on my face. Luckily, I wore a helmet, and I was saved from being blind. Those safeguards, which sometimes could appear useless, actually saved my sight this afternoon. Even though I only played for around 45 minutes, I enjoyed most of my time there and you know what? Because I said yes when I was asked whether I wanted to play paintball or not, I learnt that the place was next to a large fishpond, where people can fish their and since fishing is also my hobby, it actually gave me an idea of coming there for fishing in the future. What a coincidence!

Then I immediately went into Wisma Parahyangan to train with my teammates. It had been scheduled that today we would face a team from SMAK 3 BPK Penabur. The game was supposed to test our ability in playing football, because we know that SMAK 3 is a school with the best sporting reputations among the other BPK high schools. We thought that we would face a team with tight defense, brilliant midfield and  terrific finishing touches. It actually didn't go like that. In contrary, two teams from SMAK 1 BPK Penabur won the games, with actually superior final scores. Well, the last team from SMAK 1 did lose the game, but it didn't matter. We showed that SMAK 1 teams actually were the better ones today. I was proud, because I played well actually and also because I  made a number of vital saves that ensured my team's win. At last, after weeks of no progress in my game, I finally managed to show my quality, credibility, agility and also leadership in the field. I finally managed to have a smile on my face and joy in my heart after weeks of sorrow and stress that had been constantly affecting my game. 

THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR GUIDANCE TODAY!

Such a Bore!

My feelings are totally weird! I don't like doing anything these days but strangely, I have been having a strong desire, since last Saturday, to be able to hang out with my friends. Isn't it just plain strange? For one moment, I don't feel like doing anything but at the same time, I have a strong desire to go out!

The days passed without anything interesting happened. I just stayed at home and was bored to death. Nothing to do, no homework (oh gosh, Thank Heavens!), but also no friends. I'm so lonely and frustrated, because there's no other word that can describe my feelings right now. Luckily, my parents asked me and my sister to go out yesterday and we all said "LET'S GO!", without any hesitation. 

So, as you can guess, we set off to Paris Van Java at about 11.00 today and arrived back home at about 14.00 o'clock. Not very long, eh? It's okay, because by doing that, I can refresh my bored mind and just try to be awake. Try to be awake and also not to loose focus.

Well, that's how I've spent my last few days at home with nothing to do, nothing to think of, and no friends. Very pathetic, actually but it's still a gift from a God worth to savour. 

The Race to Olimpico

IT HAS BEGUN!! THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2008/2009 HAS STARTED!

The Champions League has once more kicked off. The contest of finding the new ruler of the Europe is now on progress. My team, Manchester United faced Villareal, the Yellow Submarines, from Spain last night at Old Trafford. The match actually ended with a 0-0 draw. What a bore!
Definitely not the perfect start everybody wanted for Manchester United.
However, the result of a team's first fixture doesn't actually determine the result of the contest itself for the team. How far will the team progress, how good will they play, how attractive their game is actually aren't determined by the first results. This is a competition, involving passion, determination and spirit and also hunger to rule the European football.
Manchester United are grouped with Glasgow Celtic, Strachan's team; Villareal; and AaB Allborg. Allborg is a Scandinavian team who almost has no name when it comes to the Champions League. Manchester United are truly the favorites in this group but the first result has shown them that even though it doesn't literally mean it is decisive, the first result actually shows the competitiveness of the group. This group is certainly worth watching.
Nothing is ever more interesting than to watch the progress of a football team. It's a sport involving passion and as I've said many times before, it's a sport with a passion worth to die for.
About this year's Champions League, it's often called The Race to Olimpico. It's not a bogus, because Olimpico is the main venue for this year's final and the race is certainly rough, full of obstacles and affected by luck, just like a famous quote:

"Football is 99% passion and skill and 1 % of luck."

Also, the race to Olimpico actually involves new teams. Arthoridis, a team from Cyprus, actually were a team no one knew but their involvement in this year's Champions League surely would make them more famous and richer. This actually shows that the competitiveness of the Eastern European countries' leagues are actually improving and it's actually really interesting to watch how things go in this year's Battle of the Stars.

The Perplexity of the World of Football ( Money - Skills - Passions )

A great number of signings were made on the final day of the transfer window and many of them were shocking. Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgarian star, finally made his dream move from Tottenham Hotspurs, the North Londoners, to Manchester United, the King of Europe. The transfer was said to be worth around 30,25 million pounds, a great deal of money, because if it's in Rupiah, it can be estimated around 504 billion rupiahs. Could you imagine possessing that amount of money? Could you imagine spending that amount of money for only a player? It's beyond our wildest dreams as Indonesia people, because the highest paid footballers in Indonesia only receives around 1/500 of Dimitar Berbatov's move to Manchester united. Only one billion rupiahs and this transfer, the whopping 504 billion rupiahs, was still not the highest transfer ever recorded in the world of football.
It's a world of money and football is not an exception. Robinho's move from Los Galacticos, Real Madrid to The Citizens, Manchester City with a whopping transfer fee of 32,5 million euros was a smashing hit on British newspapers. Man City was able to make this dream move because of their new owner, Dr. Sulaiman, from the UAE. He spent 220 million pounds, around 3.664 trillion rupiahs. That money really could buy all football clubs in Indonesia because that money is magnificent. It's a scorcher remembering that Dr. Sulaiman, spent it only for one single club. While Manchester United, the neighbor of Manchester City, was estimated around 1 billion pounds and many people, especially shareholders around the world, estimated Manchester United to worth more than 1 billion pounds ( 16,656 trillion rupiahs ). Imagine that! An organization, started by railway workers in the nineteenth century, is now worth 16,656 trillion rupiahs. That is amazing!!!!!!!!
These 2 moves made the world shocked, surprised and also amazed. Why are we amazed? Because these moves were the actual proofs that money buys everything.
Well, now let's talk about Dimitar Berbatov. The 4 times Bulgarian Player of the Year was actually kind of destined to play for Man United. They had wanted him even when he was still playing for the German side, Bayer Leverkusen. Paddy Crerand, a pro football analyst from England, was said to be expecting Dimitar Berbatov to show his magnificent credibility and he was also quoted to be sure that Berbatov would be a quality signing for Man United.
I, as a fan of MU, can say nothing expect "AMAZING!" The word amazing is enough to represent the actual happiness and pure jubilation of Man United fans around the world, said to be around 75 million people. I surely expect a total commitment and determination from this Bulgarian and I surely hope that his career and his personal life gets better and better because he's now in the heart of English football.

Football is always an art
An art can be bought by money
Money can change everything
But there's something constant people from around the world know
Football will always be reckoned as the beautiful game
The beautiful game that has the power to change the face of the world
The beautiful game that unites the whole world
Football is POWER

Football - THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Monaco, 29th August 2008. The most dramatic moments of football happened there. Stade Louis II became the silent witness that viewed the loss of the champions of Europe. Manchester United, the champions of 2008 Champions League, lost to Zenit St. Petersburg. What a night for Zenit! What a frustrating night for Manchester United!
Again, this proves a lot to all football fans spread around the world. The ball is round and it will always be round!!!!! There's nothing decisive in football before the final whistle blows and this major shock in Monaco was another perfect example of this saying.
Manchester United, as a much tougher side, proved their class by controlling the whole game. But football is never identical with a lot of control, it is always identical with the word "GOAL"! It didn't matter who was the better side that night in Monaco because there will always be one winner and being a better side doesn't always guarantee that you will be on the winning side.
That shock was a major heart breaker. Not only for me, but to 75 million people around the world who was expecting to see their favourite team winning the first European Super Cup Title it was a disaster. A disaster which could prove to be lethal for the players mentality. I'm saying mentality because football in its most basic context is never just a physical game, it's about the PASSION! The passion which drives men crazy and not to mention to fall in love with this game. I, am a man, who has fallen in love with this game.
That night, was a historical night for Zenit and also for Man United, who was proven to be number two once more when it comes to the Super Cup.
There's nothing left to say for this kind of game. A game ends when the final whistle blows but the magic of that game, or could be mentioned as the magic of football, is everlasting and never ending. That night would be remembered forever and even though it was a frustrating and a disastrous night for Manchester United, it would still be mentioned as a beautiful game.

A ball is round

FA Premier League has entered its second week and things are not going smooth for the BIG FOUR. Arsenal, for example, just lost at Fulham with a heartbraking score, 1-0. Liverpool meanwhile even though they got a win last night, are not going strong and tough as they were predicted before the season started. Chelsea and Man United are predicted to earn easy victories this week but in football, nothing is ever settled before the final whistle. This saying is true, because there are proofs and for example is the 112 seconds sensation in the UEFA Champions League Final 1998/1999. Until the 91st minute and 28 seconds, Manchester united was still trailing but when the clock struck 112 seconds later, it was Manchester united leading 2 goals to one. Only after seconds they took the lead, the referee blew the final whistle and it was a dream season for any team, anywhere, anytime.
Football in the Premier League and football in the Champions league are the same and this saying covers the whole football topic around the world. So, back to the Premier League, how are teams going to do this year? It's a question with an answer to die for. Chelsea and Man United, as the 2 teams who finished highest last year, also have this question on their minds because you practically can predict who's going to win in a match, but you can only predict because there's nothing definite in football.

"A ball is round and it will always be round. Football is never definite and it will always indefinite."

That's the right proverb for football, because by being indefinite, football is interesting and the results can only be decided after the final whistle blows. VIVA FOOTBALL!

It's About to Start!

The FA Premier League, which is reckoned as the greatest football league in the world, is about to kick off today, at 12.00 pm BST. The first teams to play are Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion, while my favorite team, Manchester United will play in the next day, at 16.00 BST. They're playing Newcastle United, which is included as their arch nemesis, in the sacred ground of Old Trafford.
This season's championship is called by all people as "the moment of truth". "Moment of Truth" in this tag means who would be crowned as the champion must show consistency and stability throughout the season, because as we all remember that Arsenal should have been crowned as the champion if they hadn't lost their key members in the last few month of the 2007/2008 season. Also that the BIG FOUR; Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are to be tested by the other teams which has been improving throughout the seasons and the pre-seasons.
I, personally, as a fan of Manchester United FC, still think that they have what it takes to be the champions one more time. There hasn't been any dramatical change to the team, which will strengthen the team's morality and atmosphere. I still can see that Cristiano Ronaldo is going to be the man, even though he's in an ankle injury recovery. Paul Scholes, as the main figure from the Class of 92, is still going to be strong and we would see his major contribution in midfield. As Paddy Crerand said, "We'd all argue differently about the starting XI. You look at who played in midfield in Moscow - any combination of players could have done the job.", any players will make the champions rule again!!!!!!

Glory Glory Man United!
The Stretford End is Arising!
Ferguson's Red and White Army is Winning!
And We shall not be moved from the Top!
As the Champion of England and the Pride of All Europe!

The Contest of Finding The New Ruler of the Sky

In this modern world, traveling as soon as possible from one place to another has always been the major priority. That's why there are so many airliners in the world. No wonder, the world of aviation has a major effect on today's world transportation. Without airliners, you can easily imagine that traveling from Asia, for example : Jakarta, to Europe, for example : Munich, will take months. But things are very different now. Traveling from Jakarta to Munich, for example, would only take about 18-20 hours. This length of time will be much shorter if you use a non-stopping flight.
Boeing, which is based in the USA, and Airbus, which is based in Toulouse, France have provided more than 80% of today's modern airliners. Boeing, which is famous for its 7-series jets could be said as the conqueror of the sky with thousands of its jets are spread around the 6 continents. Airbus, meanwhile, is a company which is much younger. But, globalization has changed dramatically everything in the world and Airbus, even though it is still much younger than Boeing, has gained a major reputation in the world of aviation and with its A3-series, an age is no longer a problem.
We've seen a lot of planes and what I'm going to talk about is the contest of finding a new jumbo and also the ruler of the sky after the 747 -400. Airbus, with its credibility has developed the A380. A380 is not only the biggest jumbo jet ever, but also the heaviest. This was the biggest issue because to build a jet like this it would take hundreds of millions of dollars. Not to mention the difficulties the company of making the parts of the plane. But, somehow they managed to do it. Now, the airline which will use the biggest number of A380 is Singapore Airlines. With its destinations which are spread around the 6 continents no wonder they need this kind of plane.
Some people did say that A380 wouldn't be successful because this was a plane that had never been built before. Well, I do think that they're just undeniably wrong. A380 has been built in a major number and is now the new conqueror of the sky with its capacity of more than 500 people. Boeing 747, meanwhile, can only carry around 400 people so it's much lesser than the capacity of the A380. A380, has truly defeated the 747-400 not only by the capacity, but the luxury it can provide for the passengers. Emirates, an airliner which is based in Dubai, UAE, has a dream to make the A380 a palace in the sky. I did see some of the plans because I did read in the website about their plan. I couldn't say anything because my jaws were just dropped because of my amazement. It's so wonderful and luxurious! Fits perfectly with the conditions in Dubai. A380 definitely has a bright future in the world of aviation and enough said, it's the greatest.
Well, talking about the future of aviation world, I still don't know what is going to happen but as everybody says, you can always hope for a better future. The signs are clear and the indications do exist. Future is guaranteed to be much greater and much more luxurious for the aviation industry.

Why can't I find a suitable one?

I started this day with high hopes that I was going to have a new pair of gloves . It all started well; my mom said it's OK then at about 3 o'clock we went to Istana Plaza. I looked around quickly, tried every pair of gloves that I could find, but every time I'd found a suitable one, they would say that they didn't have my size. I'm size 9 and what they had was size 10 and 11. Even if there were gloves in size 9, they mostly were the most expensive ones. How catastrophic, wasn't it?
Then after I came home I asked my mom for letting me go for the adventure of my life, finding a a new pair of goalkeeper gloves. She , as usual, agreed letting me go and the next thing I knew was that I was in downtown Bandung. I visited a store named Jakarta Sport; entered the store with a glimmer of hopes that I would find a perfect pair of gloves which suits my physical features perfectly. They did have but I kind of didn't like the model and also the colors which in my opinion were just too bright and because of it, they looked, at that time, kind of ugly. Then I left the store and looked for other shops. There were 2 stores, which in particular are located not really far away from the previous store so, just guess, I visited those stores.
What happened next was really annoying because I could find no gloves with my criteria for a perfect pair of gloves. It stinks, you know! To spend hours just to find a new one and what did I get? None! I'd wasted several hours of my life just to go from one store to another without finding what I was looking for.
Oh! Now it means that I have to find it another time. Let's just keep hoping that next time, maybe I can find a perfect one.

I love my friends

What a day! The first 2 periods were like hell, because of the atmosphere and the intensity in the class. The third and fourth periods could be mentioned OK even though they weren't splendid. But, the 2 periods that I really want to talk about here is the seventh and the eight period. In the early minutes, we had thought that there wouldn't be any class, because until about 10 minutes, the teacher hadn't shown up. But, our luck went out when suddenly Ma'am, sorry Miss, Wasti entered the room. We thought that it would definitely be boring and definitely dull considering that we had had enough Biology lessons for one day. But it later changed because of one tiny action, committed by Joshua and Jonathan ( I really prefer calling him JowJow).
Joshua and Jonathan are a pair of people who just can't stop meddling with each other. They kept the atmosphere in the class funny, because of the jokes they said. I just can't stop laughing when they continued saying jokes. It was hilarious! You needed to be there if you want to understand what I'm talking about. I wouldn't say that it was hilarious if the teacher wasn't laughing, but the teacher was laughing all the time and so was the class. No one could stop laughing! I could say that it's the best times that I've had in SMAK 1 until now.
Oh, I cried because of too much laughing. I hadn't done that for months and those jokes just kept me laughing all the time. Friends of mine were constantly telling me, "Calm down, Mon!" But I answered them, "I can't! It's just so funny!" It kept going on from the start until the finish. Oh, I miss those kind of moments.
Well, those jokes kept me alive for the next lesson, which is just simply boring, Bahasa Indonesia. Simply boring because it made the class looked like a morgue. No voices could be heard, no excitement could be seen. Oh, I would love if I had the ability to speed up time and just skip those Bahasa lessons. Well, that was my day. Hope you had the same exciting day as I did. Haha. See you.

How Racial!

Wow!! I read the newspaper just a few moments ago and what I read was simply terrible! I read the news about how the fans reacted during Persib vs Persija match and I can only say, it's embarrassing!!! No wonder that football has never become the trademark of Indonesia, because the fans are riotous and anarchic. Where is the fair play that has always been the motto of football around the world? Maybe, it's "dirty play" which has been the motto! I just can't stand hearing and also seeing that the football in Indonesia is always filled by anarchic behavior, both by the fans and the players.
Now, it's no wonder why football just can't improve in Indonesia. It's because the fans which just couldn't understand the meaning of the word "fair play". Football is supposed to be the universal language that can unite the whole world, but in Indonesia, football is the tearing apart machine, which will make the face of Indonesia uglier and uglier. I always keep asking myself, "When will the catastrophe end?", because it has been going on for years and the PSSI, the so-called Football Governing Body of Indonesia, has almost done nothing to stop this kind of behaviour.
So, when will this catastrophe stop? It won't, unless the "PSSI" respond to this catastrophic events , not just staring and doing nothing, which actually ( in my opinion ) will take years just to start managing the fans. Oh, God.. Please don't let the fans embarrass Indonesia more and more every year!

16th July 2008

Today was definitely a tiring one. The character building session was quite interesting even though I have to admit it's a little bit hard to imagine that my score in that lesson with be the score for PAK and PKN. What a challenge! Also, the terms for English, for me, is a bit confusing, relating to the fact that I have to read so many books! But never mind, I'll do my best in these assignments whatever they take because it's the challenge I'm looking for when I signed in for SMAK 1 BPK Penabur. Haha. Luckily, tomorrow there isn't any homework so now I can concentrate on things that I have to do for my assignments. It's sure going to be very tiring but it is worth to do so.
One thing that I like the most was when we were told to pick which sport do we like the most. I definitely choose football because until now football has become one of my passions and football has played important parts in my life.
Well, I think that's enough for today. See you again all later. Bye.