Tsakani – U11 teams recently went head-to-head at the Ext 5 police station grounds in the School Holiday Tournament organised by FC Manu.
The strong-willed game between FC Manu and Thubelisha United kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Each team aim to win, with good coaching from both teams’ coaches.
Thubelisha United coach Pule Khanyile said even though his team did not win, he was happy with how they played.
“They listened to me and played the game well enough for me to congratulate their effort. We made mistakes here and there, which included bad communication and a loss of focus. After our opponents scored their first goal in the first half, we panicked, and that cost us a lot,” he explained.
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He said he would concentrate the team’s practice sessions on specific aspects and errors he observed during the game.
“One of them is ball control. We focus on the ball only while playing instead of creating opportunities for ourselves. We do not pass around the ball as often as required, and my players fear making mistakes, forgetting that we learn from them,” he said.
The game ended in a 2-0 win for FC Manu, with their coach, Bongani Modisane, saying the first half was tough for his U11 players.
“Our opponents were stronger in the midfield. We decided to change our formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 and added a speedy player for higher attacking options. This is how we changed the dynamics of the game,” said Modisane.
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Modisane said his team’s biggest mistake was playing with nerves, saying they always fear opposition players when playing against them for the first time. He said his team gave away too much possession, causing them to play under pressure.
“We changed a lot in the second half. We added speedy wing players.
“This helped us change the game while putting pressure on the other team. My players need to practice good ball possession to maintain control during each game. Finishing is also essential,” he added.
He said he was happy to win the game, saying his team never disappoints him.
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