Magazine Report on Blackstorm.....

Sy-ner-gy (srn-j) n.
Interaction of two or more agents/forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

The Story of Blackstorm - Cast & Characters

So here we are, after 4 long years, at the helm of the local canoe polo scene. 4 years of training together, pushing each other into the pool, eating at "cute" chicken, and ultimately, 4 good years of friendship. Before I close this last chapter of blackstorm's canoe polo career, let me just pen down my thoughts and feelings of the group of 8 who made it all possible ..

BLACKSTORM 1 - BEN TANG

One of the 2 keepers of blackstorm and in my opinion, a very good motivational speaker. Still remembered the story of "David vs Goliath" you told us when we were faced against much tougher opponents. Best remembered for 2 things - scoring the buzzer beater shot to win the match for Blackstorm against SP in 2002 and inviting bikini babes to take photographs with us. Hey, thanks for the encouragement all these years, thanks for being my friend brother!!

BLACKSTORM 2 - BEN PING

Reminds me of Chris Tucker in the movie "Rush Hour" with fastest mouth in NUS team canoe-polo. I like playing with him on my team because he irritates and antagonizes the shit out of the opponents. A self-motivated player who is unselfish and is a definite team player. Thanks for taking time off from work during the past 1 year to commit to blackstorm, I know it is difficult & tiring man. Hey, like you always said: "Thanks for the 4 years, it has been a f***ing good ride."

BLACKSTORM 3 - WEI TE

One of the current canoe polo gals team coach. Seems like he has the touch with all the ladies in the CP team - A "smooth operator" in you know what I mean! One of the other 2 keepers in Blackstorm and in my opinion, one of the best keepers NUS has ever produced. Hope you bring the gals team to even greater heights! Tactically sound on the pool and provides the game control which other Blackstomers lack. Awareness is his key asset, on and off the pool. I think teaching really suits you man - all the best for your career!!

BLACKSTORM 4 - JASON LIM

This is me man...

BLACKSTORM 5 - SEAH KAI

Ex-captain of NUS team, current canoe polo gals coach, fellow lecture-mate, fellow DSTA scholar, gym buddy, canoe polo team mate, fellow performing magician friend and now fellow working colleague. Sometimes, I see very much of myself in you. Done a great deal to promote and encourage the sport of canoe polo both to blackstorm and to NUS as a whole. Luckily you pulled me into canoe polo or else I will still be in dragon boat rotting my brains away (Just a joke- no pun intended!). Anyway, an excellent leader in every sense of the word. Thanks for the memories spent and the experiences gained.

BLACKSTORM 6 - DESMOND KOW

His funny antics will cause you to laugh your socks off. But don't be fooled by his small built and boyish looks. He currently, for the first time in canoe polo history, holds both the blackstorm and redtide captaincy, effectively placing all of us and all our seniors under his control. This speaks volumes of his ability, right Kow? When he speaks, people will listen. His e-mails shudder your screens like bolts of lightning. On the pool, he doesn't score goals straight on but prefers the thrill of scoring from acute angles. Shooting past 3 paddles is not a problem for this prodigy.






BLACKSTORM 7 - TONG LEE

In my opinion, the best all-round and consistent player NUS has produced so far. Currently in the National team, he brings invaluable advice to up the level of play within blackstorm and NUS on the whole. He has played a critical role in helping Blackstorm to win this year's championships. His international exposure has added depth and variety to our often stagnant playing style. Thanks for pushing Blackstorm beyond her limits when the seas are rough. It has been a pleasure.

BLACKSTORM 8 - KWAN HO

My fellow biathlon, triathlon, marathon training buddy. One of the gals coaches as well. A mentally strong, goal driven person who has high expectations of himself and others. He shot the decisive crucial winning shot during the finals in this year's canoe polo championship and helped to "keep the dream alive". Sentimental at times and is always reflective on life itself. Thanks for the card you given to all of us prior to our Rookies match. It really lifted up my spirits and reaffirmed the great bunch of guys I was playing with. I do hope you achieve your dream of completing the IRONMAN next year brother!!

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments which take our breaths away…….”


If this is so, then 21 Aug 05 will certainly be one of those moments in my life. It was the day when my canoe polo team, Blackstorm, realized its dream of capturing the mens open title in the National Canoe Polo Championships 2005, after years of struggling just to keep our heads above the water to match up with other teams, as well as to match up to our own goals and expectation of our team mates. As my fellow teammate aptly describes our Blackstorm story, “The story of David vs Goliath…….”


This chapter in my life began in the year 2001 when a motley, rag tag bunch of NUS freshies were recruited into what seems to be a relatively new and untested sport of canoe-polo in NUS. By the end of 2001, a group of 8 were finally selected to form the junior team of NUS canoe-polo and I was part of them. We christened the name “Blackstorm” when asked whether we had a name for our team, partly to look and sound “Gi lat”, and partly because we couldn’t think of any other name. The picture below sums up how blackstormers went about their daily business during training sessions….

Fortunately, we had a terrific bunch of seniors (called Redtide) who were not only committed to the sport but also naturally talented in this sport. They were our inspirations and we always looked forward to play matches with them. Naturally, they easily dominated the canoe polo scene in Singapore and were the title holders during our junior years. Our only consolation was we managed, by sheer will, to win the existing senior gals team (who happens to be terrific players also), by a narrow margin on several occasions. Encouraged by the playing styles of our seniors, Blackstorm managed to clinch a credible 4th in the Canoe-polo championships during the 2001-2002 season.


During the subsequent 2 years, the original group of 8 was split up to form other combination of NUS teams. During the same 2 years, the level of play in the local scene improved tremendously, especially with the emergence of the Rookies (a team from Singapore Poly) as well as the National Team. Blackstorm hit its lowest point during the 2003-2004 season when we completely lost to the SP teams. It was very disheartening to train so hard only to lose out during the crucial games. From then on, putting our other concerns and commitments aside, we then sat down and resolved to win the title as blackstorm the next season and to end our last year in canoe polo with a bang.

The following year was beset with problems with commitment, lost of focus, training attendance and so on. It came to a point where we lost hope not only with our initial goal but with each other as a teammate as well. It came to a point where we were even scolding & arguing with each other during games. It was one of the most frustrating moments during our 4 years.

The wake-up call came during our first match of the group stage during the 2005 national canoe polo championships where we nearly lost the match, managing only a mere draw where we could have won. From then on, we decided not to screw & pin point on each others mistakes but to encourage and cover up for each other instead. Canoe-polo, we decided, is not about winning and getting 1st, it was for the love of the sport. It was about the friendship and the memories spent with each other as friends on and off the pool. It was about encouraging each other when we are down and helping out each other when hope is lost. We decided that blackstorm will enjoy the remaining few matches of her canoe polo career.

The crucial game came during the semi-finals when Blackstorm was pitted against the Rookies-one of the strongest team in the competition comprising of many national team players inside. Both teams have met in many previous encounters and we were both arch enemies most of the time. Though the Rookies were undeniably stronger in their shooting ability and technical boat skills, Blackstorm, as the underdogs, managed to squeeze a 4-3 victory through teamwork and sheer desire to win. The picture below sums up our feelings after the match. It was really tears of joy……

Next came the finals and ironically, our opponents were Redtide – the very same bunch of seniors who taught us all we knew about canoe polo during our junior years. They were our mentors and our inspirations and now in a twist of fate, they are our opponents and obstacle towards fulfilling our dreams. It was a game of experience & tactics (Redtide) vs fitness & teamwork (Blackstorm). The match went into extra time due to a 1-1 draw. The extra time was a nerve wrecking moment to everyone playing on the pool. Blackstorm’s moment of truth came when Kwan Ho scored the decisive goal during the extra time to win the match. Our 4-year long dream was now fulfilled. The rest was history…….




Lessons I have learnt………

1) In life, our goal is not about winning, being 1st or earning the most money, but it is the journey towards our goals that moulds a person’s character. Take time off and enjoy the journey….

2) As long as you deal with people, teamwork is important in whatever you do. Never underestimate the power of it.

3) In life, nothing is certain until the final whistle is blown – Do not rest on your laurels….

4) Only when you thread though the deepest of valleys will you appreciate the sweet victory of accomplishment when you are at the peak of the highest mountains.