Double Champion in POLITE & IVP

The double champion for Po-lite Floorball and Inter Varsity Polytechnic Floorball tournament, Temasek Polytechnic (Boys Floorball). We are privileged to have a chance to interview TP Floorball Boy’s Captain – Muhammad Akmal Bin Shaharudin about his team’s achievement for both Po-lite 2014 and IVP 2015 tournament.

Akmal is 19 years old, and have been playing Floorball for 11 years. He is current playing for Victoria Schools Floorball in Singapore Local League. Akmal has been representing TP Floorball for 3 years, as a center.

Both Po-lite and IVP tournament was Akmal’s last representation for TP Floorball, as he will be graduating and moving on to his national services.

Getting to know the TP Floorball Boys team:

Q: What was the team goal for both tournaments?

The team's goal was obviously to clinch both the titles but we wanted to take each game at a time.

Q: Tell us more about TP Floorball Boys team.

A: The team consists of players from different clubs, different playing styles. We've been training for more than a year together and it allows us to better understand each other on court. We're practically brothers and we're willing to do anything for each other on and off court.

Q: How was the preparation like prior to POLITE and IVP?

A: The preparation for Pol-ite and IVP was very intense. Everyone was very determined to fight for the spot to play during games. The whole team worked really hard together with our management, Thian Seng( Sports Advisor) and our Head Coach( Filip Dahlgren). On occasions, Filip's brother Stefan would lend his helping hand to assist us with some of the tactical aspects of the game.

Q: Share with us one of the greatest moment in POLITE & IVP tournament, and why that moment.

A: The greatest moment in the Pol-ite season was actually coming from two goals down against RP and securing the draw. And the greatest moment in IVP was the first game against NTU when we won them with a score of 7-0. We weren't particularly happy with the score-line but more of how we played as a team.

Q: Use one word that best describe your team.

A: Brotherhood

Q: How do you or your coach motivates the team?

A: Basically the way I motivated the team was just to give the perfect effort that I can produce on court and hopefully it will influence the team to give their perfect effort. Filip has loads of faith in each and everyone in the team and that motivates the players knowing that their coach has his absolute faith in them to perform to the best of their abilities.

Q: What kind of challengers the team encounter during season?

A: The challenges that the team faced during the season was the fact that the year 3s were going to miss trainings due to Student Internship Programme (SIP) because of this we rarely had the full squad during trainings. In addition we also had players facing injuries during and before the competition itself. Because of this there were reshuffling of the lines and the players had to quickly adapt to it.

Q: What do you think about winning the championship?

A: Winning the championship has got to be the best feeling ever. It just goes to show that all our hardwork and sacrifices during trainings paid off. The win is also for all that have helped us in one way or another - TP Women's team, Thian Seng, Filip and Stefan for their unwavering guidance throughout our journey to become the best that we can be on and off court. Without whom TP Men's Floorball will never be able to come this far.

Q: What was the key element that helps the team to winning the championship?

A: Discipline. My vice captain - Simran and I always strive to ensure that our Team remained disciplined no matter what. We also had a vision that everyone on the team will have a pivotal role in this journey and not just going through the motion.

Q: How do you see TP Floorball Boys in near future?

A: We have good players entering TP as well as the current boys. If they continue to train hard and remain humble, nothing will stand in their way.