SDA Sports Carnival Labuan - 9th - 11th August 2013

It's been almost 2 weeks passed since the sport, and only now I am able to write about it here.  Transferred the pictures from my camera only yesterday, hence the long delay in posting this entry.

Onboard Kimanis 2  to Labuan

In our room

A little story about the journey and the event.  We (me and 3 other friends, also our team members, plus 2 kids) went to Labuan via Menumbok. Original plan was to leave the car at Menumbok car park since the ferry's quota for vehicles was fully booked.  However, upon our manager's advice, we tried our luck in waiting list. Well, we were lucky to be able to squeeze in at the first try lining up at waiting list lane.  That's a lot of relief for transportation matter in Labuan is no longer a problem.

So, reached our resthouse at about 4.30pm. It was a so-so resthouse, located within close proximity to Ujana Kewangan, the only shopping complex in Labuan.  May I say our welfare was adequately taken care of as the lodging and food during the carnival were provided for, including the jerseys and shorts.  Although there were few hiccups here and there, I must say this is the best management ever for the team.  Bravo!

KK Women's Futsal Team

Our first carnival day, on the first day of Raya Celebration. And the first event was futsal.  There were only 4 teams competed in the women's futsal, from Kota Kinabalu, Kota Marudu (2 teams) and Sandakan.  We stepped in as the defending champion although only 2 of the original team members were there.  Immediately after our first match with Kota Marudu (Morion) which we won by 4-0 (If I am not mistaken), we (and my double for badminton) had to rush, run, literally for our first badminton match against Kota Belud A.  We barely able to take a breath and relax our adrenaline, still pumping from the futsal match.  My grip was so loose, and shaking.  I doubted I could play my normal game.  My fear turned out to be right, we lost our first match. Lucky we still won the game, our team did.

Part of the KK Men's Futsal team

So, to cut the story short, the first day ended with our women futsal became the reigning champion for the 2nd consecutive year, with 2 wins and 1 draw. Our men futsal teams managed to get 1st and 2nd runner up. Badminton wise, we were qualified to the quarter final by winning 3 matches against Kota Belud A, Tuaran C and Tamparuli C.  That night, all were so tired that we were a little too 'eager' to head towards our beds and rest.

Before the Quarter Final Match

The next day started early.  We headed on towards our quarter final against Kota Belud B.  We won our match, so was our team. Once again, reached semi final which happened to start in the afternoon. It was a tough opponent we were to face, defending champion Kota Marudu A, so as underdog team, we went to just play our best.  As for women's double, we played against state project players.  It was a good game, a sign of improvement (compared to last year) as we played 3 sets. Why good, it was because we never have a coach, ever, in our whole life.  Self taught, more like it..and they took 3 sets to beat us.  *grin..

Dinner at Mawilla

So our team lost, but with dignity.  It was a good game.  We really sweat our jerseys out.  Satisfying, to say it in a single word.  Immediately after the game, we went to a couple of shops to buy chocolates, then the sun went down, our Sabbath rest began.  We went back to KK the next day, managed to get into ferry after 2nd attempt.

All in all, it was a good sporting journey. A successful one too, since the next Monday we received a very good news, KK was declared as the overall champion, beating all other teams from different districts in Sabah, and Labuan.  Congratulations!!!  Your hard work paid well.

On board ferry back to Menumbok

The only thing we regret was we didn't have time to went out and explore the island.  We barely have time to take our meal, in a proper place.  The only proper place we went was Mawilla, for the last day's dinner.

Au Revoir, Labuan.....Bienvenue, Sandakan, we'll be there next year for this event.