Infamous Tea & Honey show
Saturday September 4 saw the first matches of the 2011/12 Shanghai International Football League season played, and things got off to a spectacular start with a total of 43 goals scored. The league has expanded to 22 teams divided over 2 divisions, the Premier League and First Division with 11 teams in each competing for the championship and eternal glory.
Two new teams have joined the SIFL this season: FC Teranga and DIB FC. Both teams are competing in the First Division. Two teams that got promoted to the Premier League are last season’s First Division champions Shanghai Nomads FC and runners-up Happy FC. Games are played at Tianma Country Club, at the Shanghai Rugby Football Club at Waigaoqiao and in Century Park Football Club in Pudong.
Premier League
In the Premier League champions Azzurri FC got off to a flying start beating Happy FC 9-0 and claiming first spot in doing so. It could be an ominous sign of a new football dynasty in Shanghai. The French Lions beat hapless FC Oranje 5-1 with a solid performance creating many chances. It was FC Oranje’s Roger Gong who produced goal of the match though, with a stunning strike from 30 meters earning him the first man of the match award of the season.
The Shanghai Nomads, a team mostly made up from players of Kazakhstan, marked its debut in the Premier League with a great showing beating Beaver United 3-1. Big Bamboo Shooters had to produce a Houdini act when the German Krauts were leading 2-0 with 10 minutes left on the clock. It was a stunning come-from-behind victory when they ended up with 4 on the score sheet while Germans just struck 2. The Vikings edged out ReUnited 3-2 so that after one round of play Azzurri FC is leading the table followed by Puxi Lions on 2nd and Big Bamboo Shooters at 3rd spot.
First Division
In the First Division Voodoo and Voodoo Child both got off to a great start. Voodoo proved too much for Shanghai Cosmos when with a convincing 3-0 victory. After an even first half the deadlock was finally broken by high school superstar Andrew Gerbhardt first goal for the club, while Liam Redican and Jon West put some gloss on the result in a good-natured game of football. Meanwhile the Voodoo Child spell was too much for the black magic of newcomers FC Teranga - two goals for Peruvian international Antonio sealing a 2-0 victory and a great day for the Voodoo Club. DIB FC did better in their debut having the last laugh as they outscored the Sauerkrauts by one with a 3-2 win. The only draw of the day was between Anzacs FC and Long Tang AFC with a 2-2 tie. In the First Division Voodoo is taking the lead followed by their offspring Voodoo Child with DIB FC on 3.
Due to the upcoming October holidays the second round of play in the Shanghai International Football League is scheduled to take place on October 15, 2011. For more details visit the official SIFL website.
