An Injury Setback

After a bright start to 2013, I suffered an injury setback. Last Friday, I tore my left hamstring. It's been almost 11 years since I had a hamstring injury. With the clock ticking down, I need to be able to shake off the injury for our next match in February. Here's a rundown for my injury. 

A pulled hamstring may also be called a torn hamstring or hamstring strain. It’s when one or more of the hamstring muscles are abruptly or forcefully stretched/pulled past their normal positioning. This injury is commonly caused by activities that involve sprinting, such as track, football, baseball and basketball.

Anatomy As It Related To A Pulled Hamstring

The hamstring actually isn’t one large muscle, but rather three muscles located in the posterior thigh. The semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris comprise the hamstring. It starts in the lower pelvis and runs the length of the femur bone. It crosses the back of the knee along either side and attaches to the fibula and tibia bones. The large muscle controls much movement in the body. It helps to turn the leg out and in, allows the knee to flex, assists with hip extension, and is highly involved with power lower extremity movements for thrust and propulsion. The hamstring is also highly involved is eccentric movement. It increases in length when under tension, acting as a braking system to stop the movement. This action can be felt in the hamstring as one tries to stop suddenly from a sprint.

Causes Of A Pulled Or Torn Hamstring

The biceps femoris is the most often pulled hamstring muscle. More often than not, pulled hamstrings occur while under eccentric motion. The stretching or tearing could also be the result of a direct hit to the area or any movement that causes the muscle fibers to abruptly or forcefully contract. Other risk factors include:

* poor flexibility

* significant imbalances in strength or flexibility between hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups

* hamstring fatigue or weakness

* overexertion of hamstring

* leg length differences may cause tighter and more apt to pull hamstrings

* participation in activities and sports that require quick starts-and-stops

Let's hope I'm able to recover on time as I need match fitness and match sharpness as well. Hope this injury is not too severe. Til next time folks. Cheerio! 

A New Beginning

As I embark on a new beginning in the year 2013, football has been by my side since 1992. With all the ups and downs, football has been loyal to me albeit it can be heartbreaking at times too. Last year was a breakout year, personally and professionally. That's all in the past now and I hope I can achieve further success than last year. 

One thing came to mind for 2013 was playing regular football. Don't get me wrong. I've been playing futsal aka indoor football for close to a decade now but it isn't just the same. I'm one passionate man when it comes to football. Started watching it since 1992. Started playing it since 1995. Been a student ever since. 

Last Saturday, me and my futsal mates had our first match of 2013 at Kepong. It was our first football game together. We've been playing futsal together for a decade now and we believe it's time for us to step it up a notch and give ourselves a try on a football field. Unfortunately but as expected, we lost the game 5-1. Though it was a heavy defeat for us, there are a lot of positives we all can take from it and I personally believe it will benefit us all as a team. 

We were up against the RMC '99 Old Boys. We played in 3 halves of 30+20+20 as we had stamina issues. I'm pretty sure we were all excited and nervous at the same time when the match started. No doubt they were much fitter than us. We were outpaced by them but definitely not outclassed. We drew level at 1-1 after going a goal down. Ezuan took his chances well and finish it off calmly. Then the floodgates opened for them. Banging in 3 further goals against us. By the end of first half, we were already down 4-1. 

The lads looked tired and dejected but our player manager, Ezry aka AgVB (currently out with a knee injury) made a couple of necessary changes and lifted our spirits. We did much better in the 2nd half as we managed to keep the scores goalless. Special mention to Kapal, our 'keeper who kept things at bay with a string of fine saves.  

As we moved on to the 3rd half, fatigue began to tire their defence. We managed to create a couple of chances. Unfortunately we couldn't convert our chances into goals. I myself, had a glorious chance to reduce the deficit after side stepping the 'keeper but fluffed the shot just wide of the goal. What a sitter!!! All I can say was, it happens to the best of us. The most important thing is that we are creating chances up front. So that should not be a concern to us. We conceded another goal late on but as I said earlier, there are plenty of positives we can take from our first game. 

Our next game will be in February and we have plenty of time to prepare ourselves as we look towards a better performance and better understanding. Not forgetting adjusting ourselves to a new environment. To my teammates, do not let this defeat derail us as we will improve and with more practice, we will get better. There are a couple of absentees last Saturday, therefore we are looking forward for their attendance in the next game to boost the squad. A thank you note to Yus who made this all possible. 

FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012

Lionel Messi won a record-breaking fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or at an awards ceremony in Zurich. The 25-year-old Argentinian took the honour ahead of Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi enjoyed a remarkable 2012 even by his own high standards, most notably surpassing Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year, finishing with an incredible 91. Messi said: 'To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words. 'I would like to recognise my other colleagues from Barcelona; Andres it has been great to train and play alongside you. 'I would also like to recognise all of my friends in the Argentinian national team, everyone that has worked with me, coaches and staff and my family and my friends. Also my wife and my son. Thank you.

The top English player in the list was Manchester United's Wayne Rooney who came 15th with 0.39 per cent of the votes. Speaking at the pre-gala press conference, Messi claimed he did not consider 2012 his best year yet. He said: 'I'm more interested in team awards than I am about what I might win individually. There have been years where we won more titles that have been better.'

Messi's team-mates and rivals paid tribute to him. Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas wrote on Twitter: 'Congratulations Leo, fourth time as the best player of ballon d’or, you deserve it. And also to @andresiniesta8, huge to be there.' Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero simply Tweeted: 'Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi.' Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand Tweeted: "Congrats to Messi! Wow,4 yrs in a row!! Messi has added something else to his list of 'the only person to....' #isMessiTheBestOfAllTime ??

Fenerbahce's Miroslav Stoch won the FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year, Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque was named World Coach of the Year and United States international Abby Wambach won Women's World Player of the Year.

The FIFPro World XI was named up entirely of players based in Spain with Barcelona's Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Xavi, Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso and Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao joining the three Ballon d'Or nominees in the team.

Franz Beckenbauer received the FIFA Presidential Award.

Cristiano Oh Cristiano

Cristiano Ronaldo rarely misses an opportunity to blow his own trumpet, and has a pair of boots made up to spell out just how great he is - the Portuguese star takes to the field on Sunday night in Nike footwear listing his phenomenal goal stats from 2012.

Real Madrid take on Real Sociedad in their first match of the year, and although they trail Barcelona by 16 points in La Liga, Ronaldo has deemed the occasion perfect for letting the world know just how talented he is.

And let's give the man his due - Ronaldo enjoyed a spectacular 2012. Just look at the numbers stitched into his boots.

1, 9, 14, 19, 27, 55 and 60 might sound like the winning EuroMillions balls, but in fact each one refers to an achievement from the last 12 months:

1 - Liga title won
9 - Goals for Portugal
14 - Games for Portugal
19 - Number of Liga teams scored against (i.e. all of them except Real Madrid)
27 - Age
55 - Club matches
60 - Club goals

Ronaldo said: "Last season was a very special one for me, helping my team and country achieve success.

"It's great to celebrate these achievements and also have a great pair of boots to recognise the moment. I'll enjoy playing in them for sure."

However, Ronaldo's amazing feats are unlikely to win him the prestigious Ballon d'Or, awarded every year to the world's outstanding player.

Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi is favourite to win the prize for the fourth year in a row. Ronaldo and Messi's Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta are the other nominees.

Thank You 2012, Welcome 2013

2012 was a tremendous year for me. Loved every minute of it. I'd love to tell you all on what went down last year but let me just share some pictures with you. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Oh and here's to a better 2013!!! 

I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from it. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.

Thank you for everything.