adminCosmas Zulu Talking Football
I need to say this after watching the How Mine versus Dynamos league match on April 5 at Barbourfields Stadium.
How Mine players put up a good performance, unfortunately they lost the game because of an own goal. Seeing them lose to Bantu Rovers, I couldn’t believe this was the team I saw playing Dynamos.
You cannot blame the coach for this kind of a loss. Even a layman could see that the players’ attitude was wrong with no positive approach. I know it’s difficult to motivate players who still think that there are small teams at this stage, and who put 300 percent effort when playing teams like Highlanders, Dynamos and Caps United as if playing to beat them you get six points. I would like at this juncture to advise teams from this region that if you do not collect seven points upwards after playing five games you will be labelled as relegation candidates where any team you meet in the next game, comes to you with confidence.
I would like to congratulate Bantu Rovers for collecting the first three points in the Premier League and Highlanders for collecting three points in their second game. They scored beautiful goals and there was good commitment from players. Personally, and with the rest of the soccer loving public we are saying we do not want any of our teams from this region to be relegated this season. Good luck and work hard!
Team strategies
Within the area of team strategies the importance of play is exaggerated no system will overcome inaccurate passing or inaccurate shooting. No system caters for players who will not support each other or for players who cannot stick to the system of play concerned or with arrangements of the players on the field of play.
Most coaches would agree that there are three groups in a game.
1 Back players
2 Midfield players
3 Forward players
Dead Ball Situatioins
Set play has always been a major factor in winning soccer matches. The more important the match and closer the contest the more likely the match will be decided by set play. Thirty-three goals were scored in the World Cup finals between 1966 and 2002 of these 16 teams from moves started by set plays (dead ball situations) and five more when the ball was regained immediately following set play.
Ways to gain more set plays
- Passing behind the defenders
- Crossing to the back off defenders
- Dribbling
- Pressurising defenders
- Shooting
Scoring
Analysis tells us that approximately 70 percent of goals are with one touch finishing.
Shooter
- Needs to be bright and quick-thinking
- Quick move-reactions
- Be persistent, willing to keep missing
- Be brave, physically and mentally
- Be composed
- Needs a wide range of techniques
Did You Know?
The first World Cup in 1930 where Uruguay facing their neighbours and rivals Argentina even before the start of the game there was an argument about which match ball to use. Referee “Long John” Langemus wearing a cap came on the field with a ball under each arm.
It was agreed to play one ball in each half belonging to either side.
Uruguay won the game and players were acclaimed as National Heroes and the following day was declared a public holiday.
Quote: “I like my players to be under coached but over practiced.”
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Bongani Ndlovu