We were privileged to have witnessed the boys from GFA Singapore participate in the Sengkang West 5-a-side tournament held yesterday (5th August 2007). We thought we, as parents, should share what we experienced.

GFA may not have won the title in all the divisions they were invovled in but to us each and everyone was a winner that day. The most notable difference between GFA and the other 'academies' was the manner in which you and your coaches presented yourself during the tournament. The calm and confidence all of you gave the boys was something no winners medal can give and most certainly missing in the others. The comaderie amongst the boys from the various age-group is something the rest can only envy.

Our son just started picking up football seriously when he joined GFA and he loves every second of the training he attends and only missed training due to illness or vacations. He's definetly not ready to be involved in any tournament now and yet the chance you gave him has only encouraged him to take this game very seriously.I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. I dare say if you had used the best players in the U-8 category GFA would have won that division 'hands down' yesterday. However you and your coaches decided to give an opportunity for 'rookies' like my son to give them motivation and build their cofidence. For that we thank you !

If sports was only about  winning we will never be able to go far. We saw coaches screaming away at boys as young as our son and being embarrased for the slightest mistake they make. We can only feel sorry for those boys and their parents. As parents we do have the responsibility of telling our children to take everything they participate in seriously and to give their 100% and we normally do it with some encouragement. We find this same quality in you and your coaches not only in the tournaments but in the regular trainings you have. Our son is most certainly in the right Academy!

Your methodology of corrections through encouragement and discipline through discussions will most certainly bring GFA Singapore more accolades. We like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your coaches on a job well done and wish you the very best !

We are fans of the Red Devils but are not ashamed (for the sake of GFA Singapore) to borrow the phrase of our sworn 'enemies' the Reds -  YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE !

Parents of Surya (U-8)