2009 Team Photo

A team of local expatriates working in the Tobacco Industry… Floggers being the sellers of and Robbers being the buyers of tobacco leaf. However, this year… it’s a floggers affair!

POPS - (Dave Hird – Captain) - Zimbabwean

Yup… we heard it again for the umpteenth time: “Ok chaps… my last year for sure!” Dave, who is now referred to as POPS (for obvious reasons) has been playing in the CNX 6s for longer than most of us have been having hot dinners. As one of our most experienced & able cricketers, expectations on POPS are high. We hope we can keep “Old Father Time” at bay for one more year!

STACKS – (Wally Pohl) – Zimbabwean

Wally needs no introduction to those of you who’ve attended the 6s before. Although in recent times Wally has been renowned more for his off- pitch accolades (founder & CEO of slammers) than the on pitch. At time of writing we are hopeful that Wally’s participation will come to fruit. To- date Wally’s F & R’s carrier has been fraught with injuries including self diagnosed blood poisoning to be treated with Listerine mouth wash (but later known to people with any medical knowledge as Dengue fever) & a pulled “fat” from our bi-annual net sessions. However, the younger members of the team have been regaled of his past talents around the camp fire.  

OSCAR – (Simon Grant) – Zimbabwean

Simon reigns from a particularly remote part of Zimbabwe known as The Low Veld, where owning shoes is a luxury but actually wearing them is only for special occasions! A bit of advice… bowl at his legs & he’ll “hook you,” (not the ball). Simon has proven handy behind the stumps & will be donning the keeper’s gloves again this year. If you’re wondering where Oscar originates from… think: Grouchy Green Monster in a trash can from Sesame Street… “Aaahhhrrrrr!” 

FRODO – (John Wood) – Wales

As John is only about half the height of your average Hobbit & along with the fact that Welsh people were all born in caves, we thought it apt to rename him Frodo. Whilst Frodo is the undisputed “Wee-man” of the team, he certainly makes up for it considering the amount of alcohol he recklessly barrels down his gullet. With POPS (Old Father Time, as per above) already surpassing retirement age, John is the new quickie of the team – however, we hope that we can keep his gullet closed for long enough for him to see the stumps!

GREENBALLS – (Mike Green) – Zimbabwean

For those of you who thought that Elvis was dead, I am happy to inform you that he is alive and well, propping up bars all over northern Thailand.  Mike is the F&R’s ‘spirit’ual leader, normally of the Vodka variety but as is often the case, whatever is close to hand often works also. As another one of our larger than life Zimbabweans we have been surprised by Mike’s momentary flashes of brilliance, normally whilst sat at the F&R’s bar but even occasionally on the pitch.  Jokes aside though, Mike has been the driving force behind getting the team organized and takes care of all the logistical hurdles that the rest of us aptly dodge. Although some may consider it dubious to ones sexuality, Mike has in fact sought the help of a male personal fitness instructor to ‘whip’ him into shape,  a real show of his commitment to the team. We will therefore be expecting a new ‘Greenballs’ with renewed vigor and enthusiasm on the pitch.  Just hope and pray he leaves the new spandex gym shorts at home.

V - - A - - A – (Chris Allen) – MaBriiiteeesh

Most worrying is that Chris (stick insect with tourette syndrome-jitterbug-where did this karaoke receipt come from) Allen has been tasked with taking care of the team kit & we hope that he has been oiling the bats with linseed rather than 100 Pipers.  Chris is seldom seen in sober form and as such his cricketing ability is solely guesswork at this stage. Occasionally “Veranda” surprises us with the odd stray ball that actually uses the facilities & lands on the wicket. If you want to throw jitterbug off his game, gorge yourself in free beer at the F & B bar without making a donation – something that never goes amiss with our resident bean counter.

JUDAS – (Ant Jackson) – Zimbabwean

Jacko recently moved to Chiang Mai from China & whilst Ant is another long in the tooth member of the F & Rs inventory, we’ve heard positive feedback concerning his agile ability on the field but most importantly, his off field prowess will require severe scrutiny if he is to pass the F&Rs stringent selection process for the 2011 season! After working in rural China for so long Ant has developed a natural squatting position that most wicket keepers would be proud of. However, due to the F&Rs shallow bowling attack, he will be in our bowling line up. His 1970’s cricket gear was apparently in “better condition” the last time he saw it many moons ago… we’re sure he will be surprised to find out how far technology has advanced since his school boy cricketing days. He will have to pillage into his Scottish wife's wallet to find enough Baht to buy a new set from Imran! 

FILTH – (Ant Robertson) - Maori

Ant (that’s the way I roll beyaaatches) Robertson is confused whether he’s a pimp from Queens, New York or a Maori from that Sulphur smelling, mud bath place in New Zealand called Rotorua. Filth claims to be one tenth Maori, so as to enjoy their “special privileges,” however, those of us who know Ant well enough know that in- fact; upon arrival in NZ one of Ant’s perfectly white MaBriiiteeesh descendants was in-fact eaten by a native Maori, and therefore, Ant is Maori solely by digestion. Filth had his inaugural tour with the F & Rs last year during the BKK 6s – Let’s just say that we expect a little more from this young Kiwi!!  

Mina Puza Nyama Sterek – (Eric Dawson) – Zimbabwean

Eric has “ummed & aaared” about whether or not he was going to grace us with his presence for this tour but decided at a late date that we simply wouldn’t be able to manage without him. As the undisputed non-playing member of the team we’ll be expecting him to ensure that beverages are maintained at optimum temperature. We’ve also informed him that unless his extortionate African beef jerky (AKA – tong!!) is complementary for the team this time, he is hereby BANNED from filling his satchel and trying to pimp & hawk it around the ground to unsuspecting bystanders.

PUZZLE – (Carlos Wollmann) – Brazeeeeel-via-Reichland

If you’ve read this deep into the F & R’s player profiles… we applaud you! However, if we have to dig this deep into our super-sub bench we’re in big trouble. We suspect that Puzzle was absent from class the day they handed out coordination, however, what he lacks in ability he certainly makes up for in enthusiasm… he’s always the first to arrive at our annual net session & ensures that our bar is always adequately stocked. Caparina please!!!