ATHLETIC_NEWS_ISSUE_17

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By: Coach Tiew

Badminton Team Both U13 and U15 won 1st place in the ​ TISAC tournament, ​with this being our​U15 ​team’s 4 ​ ​th​straight​ championship!! W ​ e are ready to defend the TISAC championship ​in May 2017.​ All players were very strong and determined on the senior team. We almost won t​ he TISAC t​ eam trophy for 4 years in a row but unluckily we came up just short ​ due to​a new mini-game points rule.

We will surely get back on the court this year with improved performance to challenge the TISAC championship. Go Dragons!!

By: Mr. Joe

The U9 Boys had quite a season We never gave any one a reason To suspect we were so good.

But now I think it’s understood The u9 boys of 2016 Truly were a spectacular team We went to the tournament and won the day Then, with two of our best too sick to play We played Bangkok Prep to overtime In the hot, humid wet sunshine We didn’t win that day, it’s true Table Tennis But the last thing Coach Joe will say to you Is of all the teams we were to meet.

With our growth in athletic teams, this was the first There was not one we couldn’t beat. year​that Concordian ​ entered​all levels of TISAC​ T​ ournaments for table tennis. All teams performed very well and finished the season with​in the​ top 3! U-11​a ​nd U-15 won 1st place, ​ the s​ enior team came in 2nd place and the U-9 and U13 teams won 3rd place. For th​ e upcoming school​year, we plan to practice harder, improve more skills and be ready to welcome​more​players to join the tournaments ​in our​Concordian PY ​G​ym. P ​ lease​come to cheer our Dragons​on our home court!​

Great Job U9 Boys of 2016 You really were a spectacular team.

TISAC CHAMPIONS 2016 CONCORDIAN DRAGONS U-9

25 CONCORDIAN

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By: Coach K

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oncordian hosted the 2nd Annual South East Asia International Schools Football Tournament on our new grass field. Two teams came from Myanmar, two from Chonburi, one from Khao Yai, and several from around Bangkok. The inaugural tournament was in Myanmar where the Dragons made it to the finals, Tan was leading scorer and became an instant hit on a Myanmar reality TV show (see Impact issue Winter 2015). It was meaningful for us this time reuniting with the players from Botahtaung FC Yangon who guided us while in Myanmar and showed us how quickly Yangon is changing. Now it was our turn.

Khun Varnnee graciously allowed the team to stay in the Residency for the weekend. Only one of the boys spoke English, so the only time they got to speak Burmese was when Mr. Rich and Mrs. Sapai treated them to a pop culture experience at MEGA. The team enjoyed Suan Luang Rama 9 Park and thought it similar to Kandawgyi Lake, which we went to when in Myanmar. Anabelle was their chef while here and said that the boys from Botahtaung were the most well-behaved, respectful, and tidiest group that she has had in the Residency. After the tournament, 3 players gave their team uniform to Boomer, Chan, and Perth in thanks for playing with them and for their friendship.

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Kram and Lothang were tournament assistant directors, helping communicate with the teams beforehand, caring for all teams during play, and taking 500 photos of the action. The tournament t-shirt was created by Tawan and Sae and appreciated by players and coaches. They also appreciated the service by our nursing staff.

Dragons would like to thank Coach K’s mother and father for being adopted parents to the team for 48 hours and the great photos. Coach Ceisler of 26 Botahtaung FC Yangon commented, “The Concordian family has truly opened these boys’ eyes to a different world. Without the kindness shared, they would never have been able to experience this.

Only one boy has even been out of the city. We are forever grateful.”

The Dragons were Shin, Tan, First, Puthip, Leng, Nippon, Eiffel, Mammoth, Pooh, and Mac. In the first game, we immediately showed our desire and beat the Eagles 4-0. We won the second game against a younger SIS Khao Yai team, 6-2. The MIS game was a tough one, but we hung on for a 2-1 victory, which got us into the semi-finals. The best game of the tournament was the semi-finals between Concordian and Wells. Wells had beaten Eastern Seaboard 3-2 and tied with BCIS, last year’s champion. The game started like a chess match with both teams keeping possession of the ball and trying to work it up. There was good teamwork and passing but no goals. It was scoreless at half. Coach K changed the strategy for second half, moving Leng up to help with the attack. It was a risk that paid off, because a few minutes into the second half, Leng passed to Tan who beat the first defender and dribbled into a space behind the last defender, forcing the goalkeeper to come out. Tan faked the shot and passed to a wide open Shin who carefully put it in the net. Our stronger midfield and defense controlled most of the rest of the game with Puthip making a great save to preserve the 1-0 victory.

Sadly, the intensity of the semi-final took its toll on us.

In the other semi-final game, ISE easily outplayed the Eagles and a few of their better players were able to rest. In the finals, ISE scored first and a few minutes later we equalized for a 1-1 halftime score. In the second half, we were exhausted with a couple of injuries, and ISE still had strength. They scored to make it 1-2. Then they were awarded a penalty, which was converted, to make the final score, 1-3.

We made it to the finals two years in a row, so we do feel good about that. Next year, the tournament is at Khao Yai and we really hope to be the Champions. Thank you to all the people who helped and came out to cheer us on Saturday.

Awards

1st Place – ISE Eastern Seaboard 2nd Place – Concordian Dragons 3rd Place – Wells Best Player – Myat Min Thet Khine (Botahtaung FC, Yangon) Best Goalkeeper – Saran Sachdev

(Wells International School, Bangkok)

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Dear Coach K,

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his is primarily to you, but also to the Concordian administration and the staff and students who helped out with the tournament.

I am so grateful for the hospitality, kindness, and professionalism that all of you showed to me, and to all of us, throughout our time at Concordian. I know that the Botahtaung kids and the MIS team and coaches feel the same way. I know all the preparation it takes to organize such an event and you and the others at Concordian pulled it all off beautifully.

In December I flew to Yangon for a few days to help prepare my team and also to meet with MIS. My last night there we had a Botahtaung team meeting with all the players at 11:00 on a Friday night, sitting by the river adjacent to the street where they used to play -- that street is now a parking area for trucks -- like so many streets and open dirt areas, their play spaces had been taken away.

Anyway, we sat there by the river for nearly two hours.

The conversation was mostly in Burmese, which I don’t understand, but I gave the boys my instructions and Tunlinn translated for me. I told them that the people they’d meet in Thailand would likely know almost nothing about Myanmar. Indeed what the Thais would learn would come from how these boys would perform and behave during the trip. Play badly, behave impolitely, look disorganized and indifferent, people would likely come to believe -- “Ahhh, this must be Myanmar. ”Conversely, play well, be polite, look like you care, and people would believe --- “Ahhh, THIS must be Myanmar.” Fairly or not, first impressions last forever.

The boys love their country fiercely, with all its problems.

I wanted them to know that a lot was at stake. Not so much about winning, but about preparing properly and acting right.

As I watched the kids this past weekend I realized how smart they’ve become. They’ve come to understand that how they treat others reflects on them. And they’ve also come to realize, I think for the first time, that it really is a big wide world out there.

You gave them the opportunity to experience that.

Thank you --I’ll leave you with a message that Tunlinn Aung sent me last night.

------------Tunlinn Aung: When we left Concordian I cried in the car. Did you know that?

Robert: I didn’t know. Why did you cry?

Tunlinn Aung: Because you and their coach and his family. They were very very good to us and I will always remember them.

-----------I don’t think there’s anything more I can add to that.

27 CONCORDIAN

Best wishes always, Robert Ceisler

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By: Coach K

From the Dragons Lair D is for desire R is for respect A is for aspiration G is for gōng hé” (工合) O is for open-minded N is for nurture ​S is for synergize​

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oaches and student athletes of Concordian International School live and breathe these 7 characteristics. Known for our good sportsmanship and integrity, Dragons from K3 to Grade 12 represent our school very well. Congratulations to our highest award winners from the 2015-2016 school year.

Pictured from left to right: Coach K, Pakkard, K. Varnnee, Shin, May, and Kan 28

Highest Honor Individual Award Winners

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Dragon Sportsmanship Award – Pakkard Dragon Sportsmanship Award – Shin Female Athlete of the Year – May Male Athlete of the Year – Kan