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HIS dream: To learn how to service and mantain an off-road bike, which he hopes to own one day.

And Muhd Farhan's school may help him realise it.

Motorcycle maintenance, hairdressing and baking will be elective subjects at East Spring Secondary School next year.

After learning core curriculum subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science in the classroom, students will go into workshops, salons and bakeries. This is in line with the Education Ministry's initiative on broadening the educational experience of students and exposing them to possible career paths or a course at ITE. (See report on right.)

But why would a school pick motorcycle maintenance?

The answer is simple: The students wanted it.

The school surveyed about 120 Normal (Technical) students and they chose motorcycle maintenance, hair-styling, digital animation and junior chef courses.

POPULAR CHOICE

There are more boys than girls - 70 boys and 50 girls - in this cohort, which probably explains why motorcycle maintenance was a rather popular choice.

Farhan, 14, feels that learning about motorcycle maintenance will prepare him better for riding off-road bikes and make it easier for him to get a motorcycle licence.

'I think it will be good for my future. It (repairing motorcycles) can be a part-time job,' he said.

He intends to 'do something related to engineering as my full-time job'.

The school is now in the midst of choosing the people to teach these subjects.

The students will be given an insight into the basics of their chosen elective.

For example, those who choose hairdressing will learn about hair structure, head massage and hair-cutting.

Each elective will cost about $240 for each student and there will be a total of about 20 hours of learning.

The cost can be deducted from the children's Edusave account and there will be some funding from the Education Ministry too, said the school.

Vice-principal Chew Ing Lim, 36, said: 'The school wants the students to find an area of interest where they can excel in and a skill they can use in the future.'

The school also intends to harness the skills of these students.

HAIRCUT AT SCHOOL

For example, those who can't afford a haircut may ask their peers (who have taken the hairdressing course) to style their hair for them - if they dare to take the risk.

And those learning cooking can help prepare meals for some of the school events.

For motorcycle maintenance, perhaps servicing the bikes can be part of a fund-raising experience, assuming that's allowed, said the school.

But whatever the course, the students we spoke to seemed quite pleased with the choices.

Isa Mohd Yusof, 14, likes to cook at home and has been learning from his mother for three years.

Naturally, he chose the cooking course.

He wants to be a chef.

Yusof said: 'I want to learn more about cooking because I like to eat too.

'After the course, maybe I can cook better for my mother and family.'

YOU see a man running amok, slapping and punching everyone within range.

What do you do?

Cleaner Soh K X had no doubts. After all, he had been hit as well.

So he hit back. Again and again and again. Until the man was subdued.

This drama unfolded yesterday at about 9.30am when many were tucking into their breakfast at the Ghim Moh market and food centre at Block 20 on Ghim Moh Road.

Now Mr Soh, 49, is a figure of controversy.

Some passers-by felt he had used excessive force because he was seen hitting the man repeatedly whenever the latter tried to break free.

And the volunteer cleaner looked intimidating at the time because he was not wearing a shirt, exposing his tattoo-covered torso.

The New Paper's projects editor, Mr J Rajendran, who was having breakfast at the time, said: 'The man may have done something criminal, but that's no reason to use excessive violence.

'Let's see things in perspective. He looked mentally ill and thin and was not carrying a weapon.

'Others could have helped restrain him until the police arrived.'

'A HERO'

But the stallholders disagreed that Mr Soh had gone overboard.

Instead they told The New Paper that he was 'a hero' for intervening.

A carrot cake stallowner, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan, 30, said: 'What if the man had been carrying a weapon? He would have been more dangerous.'

Mr Soh maintained that he had done nothing wrong.

He said in Mandarin: 'Like I told the police, if the man had beaten up so many people and then he beats you, what would you have done?'

Mr Soh said that at one point, the man even went up to a baby in a stroller. Luckily, he only stroked the baby's cheek.

Mr Soh stressed that he had beaten the man only because he was violent and refused to stop hitting others.

He said of the man: 'He appears to be mentally ill. Even when we talked to him, he wouldn't listen. So I had to beat him to make him scared of me, then he would stop.

'What good would it do for us to beat him up? He may have hit so many people, but he's still human,' he said.

Another victim of the man, Madam Annie Lim, said in Mandarin: 'He (Mr Soh) came to help me and my daughter. There were so many people who just stood there.'

She said that those who criticised Mr Soh probably only witnessed the second half of the drama - when the three people were subduing the man were outside the hawker centre.

She said: 'If not for Mr Soh, I would have been in hospital now.'

Another stallholder, Madam Letchmi, 43, agreed. 'If not for him, there would have been more chaos. If no one had reacted, the man would have beaten up more people.

Madam Letchumi's sister, Ms Mala Veerapen, 36, added: '(Mr Soh) was just trying to stop him. The man still kept trying to hit people. To me, you have to stop him.'

Madam Lim, 45, said she was having breakfast with her daughter, Jolene Tan, 16, at their family's fishball noodle stall, when she first noticed the man.

She heard a slap, looked up and saw a man on a rampage, punching and slapping three men and a woman in her 50s near her.

'His hands were super fast, he just went slap, slap slap! He was like a mad man,' she said.

Before she could react, the man turned and tried to hit Jolene's head.

Luckily, Jolene raised her arm in time and blocked the blow.

Madam Lim then stood up and shouted at him in Hokkien: 'Why did you hit my daughter? Why did you hit these people?'

The man then turned and punched her in the stomach.

When her husband rushed out of the stall to help his wife and daughter, the man punched him in the chest.

Eyewitnesses said that the attacker was in his 40s and appeared to be mentally unstable.

Wearing a white polo T-shirt, shorts and slippers, he had been wandering around the centre from about 8am, staring and pointing at strangers, they said.

He even used his bare hands to eat other people's food.

At about 9.30am, he walked up to a middle-aged cleaner and punched him.

Next, he swung around and hit two delivery men beside him.

He then walked up to a female passer-by and slapped her in the right ear, causing it to swell and turn bright red.

Said Madam Koh, in her 50s: 'I was just walking through the food centre when he hit me very hard. Luckily he hit me only once, or else I might have fallen over.'

That was when the man attacked Madam Lim and her family.

TRIED TO SUBDUE HIM
Ms Mala said: 'He slapped whoever he saw.'

Seeing the commotion, Mr Soh rushed to subdue the man.

'I grabbed him and pushed him against the pillar. I put my hand on his throat and told him, 'You still hit people? Stop hitting them,' ' he said.

But the man struggled and lashed out, hitting Mr Soh on the forehead and the back of the neck.

Seeing that Mr Soh could not handle the man, Mr Tan rushed to help.

They pulled him away while Madam Lim called the police.

They repeatedly told the man to sit or lie down while waiting for the police to arrive.

But the man kept getting up. Once, he suddenly stood up and slapped an elderly woman who was passing by. He also kicked Mr Soh on the buttocks when he turned his back.

Mr Soh was punched twice in the stomach, while Mr Tan hurt his arm.

The man was hit several times. Mr Soh said he hit him on the back and slapped his face.

The man then calmed down and sat on the stone rest until the police arrived.

Police spokesman Victor Keong said that the police received a call at 9.40am about a man causing disturbance to the public.

The man was arrested and is in police custody. He has minor injuries.

When The New Paper arrived at the food centre, victims Madam Koh, Madam Lim and Jolene were giving their statements to the police.

Madam Lim showed us the red mark on her stomach where she was punched, while Mr Soh showed us the lump at the back of his neck, and the red marks on his forehead.

Mr Soh said he had earlier spoken to the man after a customer told him the man was disturbing people.

'I saw him going up to tables, pick up a bowl and drink the soup.

'He even used his bare hands to eat noodles from people's bowls and then pushed the bowls back to them.

'I told him if he wanted something to eat, I'd get it for him, but to stop eating other people's food. But he ignored me.'

---

Not a regular

THE man was creating a scene even before he went on his hitting spree, said thosai stallowner Mala Veerapen.

'He was disturbing my customers, asking them what they were eating. Then he came to my stall and said, 'I also want'.'

All the stallowners said it was the first time they had seen the man at the centre.

Miss Mala's sister, Madam Letchmi, 43, said: 'We have about two or three mentally ill people in Ghim Moh. We know them, they are regulars.

'They talk to themselves but they don't disturb anyone. This is the first time that such a thing has happened.'

She said that usually Mr Soh would take care of them by giving them food.

Mr Soh usually helps such people when they visit the food centre. He buys them food and sometimes gives them chores such as cleaning the altar.

The stallholders give him a hongbao every year in appreciation. He lived in the neighbourhood for more than 10 years before moving out seven years ago.

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Who will produce Singapore’s best student newspaper?

- The Straits Times National Schools Newspaper Competition is back!

Following the success of last year’s inaugural competition, The Straits Times National Schools Newspaper Competition 2006 is all set to inspire and excite student journalists in Singapore.

This competition aims to encourage secondary school students to develop an interest in current affairs, journalism and writing in the English language, and recognizes quality publications produced by students.

The preliminary rounds will see schools submitting their school publications. The judges will be looking out for publications with timely and accurate reporting, a reader-friendly format and outstanding writing.

Ten of the best school newspapers will then be shortlisted for a 24-hour Newspaper Challenge. This hands-on challenge will take place on Dec 4 and 5. The school’s editorial teams will also be sent for a one-day training session of Microsoft Publisher.

These schools will be invited to send an editorial team of five students to SPH to compete in this final round. The top prizes will be awarded based on the four-page newspaper they produce at the end of the 24 hours.

The Straits Times’ Supervising Editor (Home) Bertha Henson said, “The excitement in the faces of the students as they put on their journalist persona, the high level of reporting energy they exuded and the enthusiasm with which they designed pages is really something I remember from last year's competition.”

Ms Henson added, “After being in the business a long time, we journalists sometimes forget that we are an exciting profession. Organising the competition makes us realise that all over again, and makes us want to keep sharing with others why we love the job so much.”

The winner of last year’s inaugural Competition was the team from Anglo Chinese School (Barker Road). Their teacher-in-charge of the Publications Media Club, Ms Nuridah Lee said, "The first ST National Schools Newspaper Competition last year provided our students with a valuable learning experience. They not only acquired better writing, editing and layout design skills during their preparation for the finals, but more importantly, they learnt the importance of teamwork and camaraderie as they drew strength from each other's talents while working under tremendous pressure.”

Attractive prizes stand to won by this year’s participants of The Straits Times National Schools Newspaper Competition. They are:

Gold award – $3000 cash & ThinkPad X41 worth $2949

Silver award – $2000 cash & Lenovo 3000 J105 desktop worth $1499

Bronze award – $1000 cash & Lenovo 3000 J105 desktop worth $1499

Three Merit awards - $500 cash each

Four Consolation prizes - $200 cash each

All submitted school newspapers also stand a chance to win subsidiary awards based on the quality of written language, reporting and design. One award of $300 cash will be given for each category.

Judges will be drawn from the Straits Times newsroom. They reserve the right not to award any prize in any category.

Supporting this year’s Competition are sponsors Microsoft and Lenovo.

For entry forms and queries, please call Elsie Ch’ng at 6319 1016 or email chnglc@sph.com.sg

Chuan Keng Keat took this picture with his mobile phone and sent this email to STOMP. "On 16 Sep 2006, at around 3:15pm, I saw a group of students in white uniform when I boarded SBS bus no 36 (SBS898C). I was shock and disgusted when I saw them using small pointed devices, poking at some flag day donation containers. It seems to me they were trying to steal money from the donation containers. It was after I started taking photos of their action that they stop.Interestingly, the bus that we were traveling in is equipped with surveillance cameras. The students' action should be captured clearly on tapes."

Police have stopped opposition politician Chee Soon Juan and his supporters from their planned march to Suntec City this morning (Sep 16), where the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings are being held. Earlier, Dr Chee led a rally in at Speakers' Corner, where Singaporeans are allowed to speak publicly, in defiance of a government ban to protest against curbs on free speech. Dr Chee, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, and six other activists wearing white tee-shirts saying 'Freedom Now', demonstrated at the city park. Addressing the crowd in English and Mandarin, he urged Singaporeans not to be afraid and to join in his march through downtown Singapore. He has vowed to stage the demonstrations and said he would brave arrests, despite the government's repeated warnings it would not tolerate any outdoor protests.

Samuel Lin, 23, saw these two police vehicles on Beach Road at around noon today (Sep 13). These are PETRAs or Patrol Escort, Tactical Response Vans, which are essentially mobile barricades to keep crowds away from protected areas. The PETRAs are deployed as part of the Police's security efforts during the IMF and World Bank meetings.

Public road turned private playground? This barricade is not part of any roadwork. Several families living along Jalan Nuri have blocked off this road and labelled it as a "private road". Christopher Goh, 50, noticed that one out of two lanes on the road has been sectioned off by some residents in the estate, as a space for their children to play badminton and cycle. Motorists travelling in opposite directions are now left with a single lane to travel on. This has been happening everyday for the past two weeks, according to Mr Goh. He said: "It's very selfish of these people. I usually ignore the signage and drive through the area anyway. The residents and maids of the houses along the road can actually stare at me, as if I was the one doing something wrong." LTA spokesperson Naleeza Ebrahim responded and confirmed that Jalan Nuri is a private road, that LTA "does not interfere with the way private streets are maintained or managed, except only if the road is found to be in a defective condition which compromises the safety of the public and road users."

Alden Tan spotted these two security personnel as he was at Bugis with a friend on 13 September. In his email to STOMP, he wonders if the security personnel are fit enough to respond to emergencies: "I was with my friend at Bugis when we spotted security people walking around Bugis. An interesting sight caught our eyes - 2 very obese guards sluggishly walking towards us. We also noticed that people were turning back to look at them and talking. The thought crossed our mind that they may have difficulty giving chase if need to as they looked like they were already having problem walking. They are unlikely to pose much of a deterrent to a would-be terrorist! We are not discriminating against obese people but this job calls for those who are fit and nimble. We should perhaps give more thoughts to suitability before assigning duties."

This mms was sent to us of a car with the door ajar. It was taken today (15 Sept), 11am at Ayer Rajah Crescent. The person who sent the picture reckons that the driver must have been in a hurry to get out of the pouring rain and simply forgot to shut the door. STOMP wonders if it's also the reason the car is parked in a 'Lorries Only' section.

Chris Chua, 48, spotted this lady at the Food Centre in Bedok Central on 15 September at 2.25 pm. In his email to STOMP, he says:
"She went about asking for money donation. Overheard her saying it's for charity. Not many gave though she showed them a publicity leaflet with her. Can like tat one meh?"

Lena Chew emailed us this picture as she was taken aback at the boldness of the man who had blatantly ignored the No Smoking poster. Ms Chew also says she had noticed those who hid their cigarettes under the table while smoking in the 'no-smoking' zone.

Tan Suan Wee, 17, a student, Lim Boon Wah, 24, a student and Steven Fong separately sent us pictures of this incident which happened at Clementi MRT station last evening (Sep 14) at about 7pm.


The alarm was raised and SMRT staff helped her back onto the platform.
Moments before the incident, a commuter overheard the 26-year-old woman telling a male companion in Mandarin: "Don't push me." As the male suspect started to move away from the scene, several commuters chased and held him down until the police arrived. The suspect was arrested and investigations are under way. Train services were disrupted for about 10 minutes, said an SMRT spokesman. Mazlina Majlam, 35, read this report and sent an SMS to STOMP. She had seen the couple arguing at the bus-stop next to the Clementi MRT station. This is her account:
"The woman was shouting loudly at the man, who tried to sweet-talk her and he put his arms around her to try and pacify her. But she pushed him away and was obviously very unhappy. I didn't think too much about their quarrel until I was at a shop nearby and saw people looking at the MRT track. By then, the lady was already on the train tracks and I recognised her from the bus-stop! It was alleged that the man had pushed her off the platform! But from what I saw at the bus-stop, I don't think he actually pushed her off the platform, even though I wasn't at the platform to witness it."

This woman in black escaped with minor injuries after being allegedly pushed off a platform and onto the tracks. Shouting as she fell, the woman quickly pulled herself up and managed to reach the far side just as a train pulled into the station. Passengers in the train were stunned to see her on the side of the track.

Students learn 3D animation through Virtual Paper Napkin initiative By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 September 2005 2134 hrs SINGAPORE : Singapore's talent pool for 3D animation has just grown younger. Secondary school students have had the opportunity to get such skills through a programme called Virtual Paper Napkin. The partnership between Temasek Polytechnic and IM Innovations may well lead to the production of a future animated blockbuster right here in Singapore. 3D animation is usually offered to second or third year polytechnic students at Temasek Polytechnic, but lower secondary students like Law Wei Yen and Shahrul Nurhafiedz show that it is never too young to learn. They started a programme on 3D graphics and animation as part of their Co-Curricular Activities last April, and after just 30 hours, they have become quite proficient. Said Wei Yen, a student at Admiralty Secondary School, "It's so interesting I wish I could do more. Recently I did a sword so I want to make more and maybe make a movie out of it." Shahrul, also of Admiralty Secondary, said, "With this knowledge (I hope) I can join a production and create wonderful effects like a starship." Admiralty Secondary is one of three secondary school which have taken up this programme, with ACS (I) and Canberra Secondary School being the other two. Temasek Polytechnic, which offers the programme through its 3D Media Studio, says that with Singapore's push towards becoming a digital media hub, the programme will help support the industry. Said Dr Tan Hock Soon, of the Temasek Engineering School at Temasek Polytechnic, "With the push towards the digital media hub, students are exposed to these kinds of media at a young age, they will grow up with it because these kinds of software need experience. "Working on this kind of programme needs some sort of creativity, some sort of thinking, going through practise, hard work. So through this process, when they are starting this young and they grow up with the technology, we feel this will help us towards this kind of push to produce more content." The software used, called "Cinema 4D" and "BodyPaint 3D", are the leading programmes used by animators worldwide. And the 3D Media Studio now has a leg up as it has been appointed the exclusive Authorised Training Centre for the software in the region. Said Vincent Ong, managing director of IM Innovations, "One of the next things we are going to do is to reach out to the industries, not just in Singapore but also in the region, so together we want to be seen as the lighthouse for 3D technologies and applications." He added, "If you look at where 3D is being used, innovative companies around the world for example BMW uses virtual reality. They save a lot of money, they save a lot of time to design their products, costs are saved. What's going to happen is that if we were to build our capabilities and to be recognised, be branded to be the place and the hub where international companies which have such a need will go towards, then we are going to attract those companies, their type of project into Singapore." The software used by these students is the same one used in the production of animated movies such as the "Polar Express" and "Spiderman". The next animated Hollywood blockbuster might well be done by these budding animators. - CNA /ct URL: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/171135/1/.html

Brief History

Admiralty Secondary School is founded in 2002. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, our school aims to bring the most dynamic and effective teaching and learning environment to both our teachers and students.

Our school has performed well in the years since its inception with the multiple accolades it has garnered in the various fields. The school’s special rooms such as Aaha! Centre, Lighthouse Production Studio, Wow Garden and Technology Hub are fertile grounds in the school to experiment with creativity, innovation and technology.

In 2006, we were the youngest school to be awarded the DSA-status of a Niche-School, focusing on Robotics and Enterprise.

In the years to come, Admiralty Secondary will produce generations of ADSSians who will shine and excel in their respective jobs, and contribute richly to the progress and prosperity of our nation.

Our Mission

To nurture every ADSSian
to shine as a creative life-long learner
with integrity and perseverance

Our Vision

To create a Dynamic Learning Organization and
an Innovative Community

Our Motto

Be a Guiding LIGHT that Shines

Our Values

Life-long creative learning Integrity Graciousness and compassion Humanity Togetherness Self-discipline and perseverance

My School

English Language Departmental News Events

Thank you for visiting our English Department Website. We have designed an interactive site with discussion forum and owing to constraints; we are unable to host it on this MOE-based server.

Please visit us at www.adss-elweb.org

Ther website contains our vision, departmental activities, useful learning resources and a forum for ADSSians to post their views regarding certain current affair matters. We hope you have a pleasant and enriching experience at our website.

Robotics Club was formed in September 2002 and was officially renamed as Robotics Enterprise (RE) in March 2005. Under the great leadership of Mr Wee Gark Kung, RE has flourished from a mere 20 students to strength of 90 students and 6 teachers.

As a young club, RE has emerged as one of the great challengers in some National Competitions such as the National Junior Robotics Competition and the FIRST Singapore Robotics. Apart from National Competitions, RE has performed well in the International Arena as well. We are the only club to clinch International Awards for the School.

For community, RE has organized zonal as well as National Competition such as the N7 Robotics Competition, the National RoboCraft Fun Race and FIRST Lego League.

---

Our Vision:

• Global Partners in Robotics

Our Mission:

• An Established Club for others to Emulate.

Our Motto:

• We make your Dreams come true.

Our Core Values:

• Valuing Teamwork
• Appreciating Talent
• Contributing to Community
• Self-Actuating,
• Self-Reflecting

---

Short Term Goal & Long Term Goal

Short Term Goals: 2006 (1-3 years)

• To organize a national level Robotics Competition
• To clinch the top place for Best Performance Award in NJRC
• To clinch the at least 2 International Awards

Short Term Goal Progress:

• Organised the National RoboCraft Fun Race in June 2005
• Won the 1 st International Award (Championship Award in FIRST Vex Robotics @ Atlanta (International) on April 2005)

Long Term Goals: 2005 (3-10 years)

• To win the 3 rd NJRC Championships Award
• To win the 1 st FRS Championships Award
• To connect and collaborate with Overseas Robotics Teams to share knowledge and experience.

---

KPI (Key Performance Indicators)
Review @ Jan 2006

Achievement	2004	2005	2006
At least 20 Non-Robotics Teams will participate in the NJRC	40 NJRC Teams	50 NJRC Teams
At least 4 teams will be in the top 40 Finalists in NJRC	04 Teams went into the Final	05 Teams went into the Final
At least 01 FRS Award	02 FRS Awards	02 FRS Awards	04 FRS Awards
Participate in at least 01 International Robotics Competition	Participated in World Robot Olympiad @ Singapore in November 2004	FIRST Vex Robotics @ Atlanta in April 2005 FIRST Lego League @ Japan in May 2005 International Robot Olympid Competition @ Korea in October 2005 World Robot Olympiad @ Thailand in November 2005	FIRST Vex Robotics @ Atlanta in April 2006 FIRST Lego League @ Denmark in May 2006

---

Heritage

Achievement	2004
Sept 2002	Formation of Robotics Club
Sept 2002	First appearance at National Junior Robotics Competition @ Singapore Won the Best NewComer Award
Sept 2003	Won the Championship Award in National Junior Robotics Competition
March 2004	First appearance at FIRST Robotics Singapore @ Singapore Won the Champion Alliance Award and Project Management Award
Sept 2004	Being the only Secondary School to win the Second Championship Award from 2003 to 2004 in National Junior Robotics Competition
Nov 2004	First appearance at International Competition at World Robot Olympiad @ Singapore Won the First International Award Sprint Race (Silver)
Mar 2005	Won 2 National Awards at FIRST Robotics Singapore @ Singapore
Mar 2005	Robotics Club renamed as Robotics Enterprise
Apr 2005	Won the First International Championship Award at FIRST Robotics Vex @ Atlanta , USA
Aug 2005	Won the Second International Championship Award at FIRST Lego League @ Nagoya, Japan
Sept 2005	Being the only School to win the third Championship Awards from 2003 to 2005 in National Junior Robotics Competition
March 2006	Won 4 National Awards at FIRST Robotics Singapore @ Singapore
May 2006	Admiralty Secondary School awarded the status of Niche School in Robotics Enterprise by the Ministry of Education

Admiralty Sec Sch

4^th time NJRC CHAMPIONS

ADSS RE: 4^th time NJRC Champions

By Mr Andy Koh: Angels Mentor

Four secondary one girls have done it AGAIN! Admiralty Secondary School has won the prestigious Championship Award in the National Junior Robotics Competition 2006, and this win means ADSS RE has won the same championship for 4 consecutive years (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006).

The team of four girls (Adele, Joel, Brenda and Ying Xuan) otherwise known as Angels, have become the youngest team in ADSS to clinch the championship award. This would not have been possible for the following people:

Mrs Lim Ai Poo: Principal

Mr Micheal Lim: Vice Principal

Mr Gabriel Goh: SAC Treasurer

Special thanks and mention to:

Mr Wee Gark Kung: Master Mentor of ADSS Robotics Enterprise

The girls have also won 2 other awards from NJRC: 2^nd place for website and 3^rd place for their booth design. NJRC has been an enriching learning experience for the girls and it is our hope that ADSS RE will continue to thrive.

To end, Angels have a little message to share with everyone, that is, to help conserve energy so that mankind can outlast the limited supply of crude oil. A simple habit to switch off lights after use goes a long way.

Leroy Lee was tickled pink to see this truck having slid down a slope last week at Ewe Boon Road. This was his email to STOMP: " Saw this on my way to work one morning last week at Ewe Boon Road. Other damages include a steel garden chair that was totally smashed and flattened, steel fence, lamp post. There was no one in the truck. My guess: the apartment is right on top of a hill and i think the guy either forgot to engage the handbrake or it simply didnt work. can image the poor guy running after his truck! hahaha."

Joe sent STOMP these pictures of children playing at a playground in Pasir Ris Drive 4 on 5 September. In his email to us, Joe says: The playground is next to blk 458 pasir ris drive 4 outside the RC office. The picture was taken on 5th September. I don't see any warning signs at the play ground. No parents were around at that time. It is not a common occurrence. Only a few particular kids does its and they do it when there are no adults. I have seen two kids climbing up both the roofs, one sitting on each of the roof. The children did it for fun.

Japan edge Iran in thrilling penalty shoot-out: AFC U-17 Championship QFs

11 September 2006

Action from the Japan-Iran match. AFC photo by Stanely Chou

By Tan Boon Piaw

SINGAPORE: Japan edged Iran 9-8 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to qualify for semifinals of the AFC U-17 Championship here at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday.

The win on penalties, coming after 120 minutes of football produced a 1-1 draw, also booked Japan’s spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea Republic next year.

Japan goalkeeper Ryotaro Hironaga, who plays for FC Tokyo, was the hero for Japan after saving Ehsan Hajysafi’s final spot kick of the night.

The teams battled out a one-goal deadlock in regulation time and there was no end to the stalemate even after extra-time, forcing the tiebreaker from the spot in which Hironaga showed why he is one of the best in the business with his intuitive shot-stopping skills which reserved Japan’s place in the last four against Syria, who defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 at the Bishan Stadium.

Japan opened the scoring early in the first half with a goal from Yoichiro Kakitani. Iran leveled the score eight minutes before time through Jalaladin Almohammadi. For the record, the two teams met at the Tehran Invitational in May last year, with Iran winning 4-3 and it was Japan who gained sweet revenge this time.

The opening minutes were all but exciting with Japan dominating strongly. Both teams were error prone and there were wasteful passes all over the pitch. With the battle concentrated in midfield, there were not many real chances created by both sides.

Japan drew first blood in the 14th minute with a flash of brilliance from their influential playmaker Yoichiro Kakitani.

Receiving a long pass from the defence, the Cerezo Osaka youngster accelerated his run with perfection and ran for 40 yards beating the entire Iranian backline, before finishing past the on-rushing goalkeeper Davoud Noushi Sofiani.

Iran were made to wait till the 21st minute for their first shot on goal but Hamidreza Ali Asgari Dehaghi’s lob went well wide.

Hiroshi Jofuku’s lads muffed up two golden chances to improve the scoreline when, in the 39th minute, Sofiani came off his line to pouch a long cross by Japan but fumbled, but before Kakitani could steal in, the Iranian custodian pounced on the ball, and two minutes before half time, Jin Hanato had a near post shot off a corner, blocked on the goal line by the alert Abolhassan Jafari.

Japan continued their domination in the second half but the Iranians slowly picked up the tempo with inspirational captain Hadi Azizi Kalehsar and his midfield partner Dehaghi started to stamp their authority.

Japan suffered a scare in the 47th minute when Bakhtiar Rahmani burst through the Japanese defence but with the goal mouth at his mercy, he contrived to shoot into the stands.

Japan continues to create- and waste chances - with Kakitani and Shohei Otsuka being the main culprits.

With 20 minutes to go, Jofuku opted for a conservative policy by substituting Otsuka with midfielder Hiroto Tanaka, and pushed Kakitani up-front alone. Another first choice striker Hanato, was replaced by Manabu Saito earlier at half time.

Jofuku’s tactic backfired spectacularly with the desperate Iranians equalising eight minutes before the end to force the game into extra-time after the Japanese defence failed to clear a flowing attack on the wing and Almohammadi blasted the ball into the net to level the score.

Captain Kota Mizunuma wasted a golden opportunity to put Japan, who were now without a recognized striker, back in the driving seat in the 105th minute by shoot inches wide after being put through by Naoki Yamada.

Iran played with 10 men from the 112th minute onwards with defender Reza Rishi Esfahani getting his marching orders from UAE referee Mohamed Fareed Ali Al Marzouqi for his second yellow card of the match.

The scoreline remained unchanged after 120 minutes of play and both sets of players were only to glad to settle it out from the spot where Japan proved to be the superior team.

Japan coach Hiroshi Jofuku was a relieved man after the match. “The penalty shootout is a lottery, and I am happy to take the team through and qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2007.”

Jofuku explained that it was his desire to shut out Iranian midfielder Hamidreza Ali Asghari Dehagi which prompted his decision to substitute Otsuka. ““I changed the team formation and tactics in the second half to contain the threat of Iran no.10 (Dehaghi), who was influential. I needed to tighten up the team defence in order to nip Iranian attacks in the bud.”

“I was definitely not going for negative tactics as I am not a defensive minded person.”