Creamed Spuds and Teh Tarik

English Premier League

Trotters & Spuds ... 1
(Bale 15th)


Sekolah Henry G00nery, London ... 3
(Ade 65th, Cesc 80th, Ade 94th)

--------------------------------------------
Actually I missed this game because I thought it starts at 11pm.

Therefore I happily went gallivanting to the neighbourhood surau for, *cough, terawih prayers and to catch up with the gang.

We're not particularly pious - I think we do just enough to be a good example to our kids and also to their friends.

And of course our tai-tais are never fooled ... *cough

But we, the local Male Society that is, do enjoy each other's company and it has become an annual tradition to meet up and lepak at the surau in the fasting month.

There's usually meehoon goreng (fried vermicelli) or maybe roti canai (flat dough pancakes) plus some kuih served for the after-prayer moreh (snack).



And, more importantly, teh tarik on tap.


So it makes more sense for us to hang out at the surau rather than the nearest mamak outlet. Especially when it enhances our domestic image somewhat.

I suspect that our forefathers were more or less the same.

So by the time I got home it was only to catch the last bit of the second half.

Thankfully there was still enough in the game to enjoy as the Absolutely Fab Cesc drilled a 35-yarder past Mrs Robinson the England keeper in the 80th and when Ade spun and buried the third in the 94th.

There wasn't much piety around the telly that night but I'm chuffed to report that no French was spoken at all.

I've noticed that this year we're less flashy in our passes but there was a more gritty approach from everyone. One can almost smell the industrial reek in our tackles and running.

It was great - the last time we beat Spurs at White Hart Lane was Nov 13, 2004. And it was by the unbelievable score of 5-4.

After that it was all draws and we've only beaten them in our home games.

Scene to remember - the Godfather and der Pussie grinning crazily at each other as they high-fived after the final goal.

Such a touching Family scene.

So that's how Sekolah Henry Goonery topped the English Premier League this week.

--------------------------------------------
European Champions League

Sevilla ... 0


Sekolah Henry Goonery ... 3
(Cesc 27th, Pussie 59th, Dudu 92nd)

--------------------------------------------------------------
I first planned to watch this game at a mamak early this morning - there's one outlet just a minute away from my house and two other outlets just a 3-minute drive away.

Somehow the idea of scarfing down some sahur nosh outdoors with CL action on a giant screen at 3am seemed very attractive.

Perhaps it's the casual outdoor dining ensemble of faded sarong and ratty Pagoda-T that appeals to my inner slob. Not to mention visions of zesty early morning breeze wafting up the sarong for that cold-cockle effect.

Then I found out that it would be a delayed telecast instead.

Duhhhh - bodoh cam nak mampuh ESPNstar - picking a dull ManUre-Lisbon fixture instead. Real farmers' fare.

Okies - so it was sahur at 5am with the (delayed!) match on the telly and of course my eldest just had to tell me we already won.

Being a model father meant biting my tongue and shoving food down my throat instead.


Incidentally, sahur was instant roti paratha with beef curry plus some sambal sotong ...


... and dhal stew for gravy.

The maid also fried some chicken in a cornflour-and
-chilli-paste batter mix.


Which were all good - as was the fare on the Emirates' immaculate pitch.

Sevilla was stonking hot the first 15 mins or so - Diego Capel bothering Sagna on the right and Daniel Alves taking on Clichy on our left.

Surprised by their pace, both Clichy and Sagna took the first few minutes to get to grips with both the fast flankers. Clichy had to contend with (Jesus) Navas as well but this young Frenchie is not easily fazed.

By the 27th minute Flamini had the midfield like he chokes the chicken, Adey was all over Escude and The Absolutely Fab Cesc sneaked in a Lampard-style goal - aye, it was a fortuitous deflection, off Escude past his keeper.

Throughout the rest of the game, Sevilla was gamely trying but were easily kept in check. Our second goal was from a set-piece (free-kick) and the third was a well-worked gem between Hleb, Cesc and Eduardo in practically the last minute of the game.

The final scoreline flatters us a bit as Sevilla was a classy bunch with good linking and runs but they tended to flag at the point of penetration, *cough.

Last words: Both the food and the footie were exceptionally good.

But really, really last words: ... Bye, Jose. It's been a lot of fun.



Left: Moana giving Roman a last hard pump.