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CLUBS and national teams’ officials must come up with two documents I have mentioned above. I will give you instances why they must go that way.· In 1998 Highlanders FC lost Titus Majola when he was stabbed to death by a fan in a bar after the game.
· Caps United lost three players Shingirayi Arlon, Blessing Makunike and Gary Shoko after using unofficial transport back home after a game.
· We nearly lost one of the best coaches Stephen Kwashi in a car accident and he still to recover.
· Chicken Inn FC lost Adam Ndlovu when he was involved in an accident while not using the official team bus, thank God younger brother Peter Ndlovu survived.
· Dynamos lost a promising young defender by the name Watson Muhoni who was travelling from an unofficial money game during the off-season and more players get injured during these matches.
· Michael Schumacher has been in a coma while leisure skiing during a holiday.
· One year a Highlanders player’s marriage shook after he had asked to return home only to find a stranger picking up his wife.
· Recently we found out that if you don’t shut communication from the outside world during camping ahead of important games, players are disturbed thereby taking games for granted and they stop implementing the coaches’ instructions.
· Recently we nearly lost three Highlanders players Peter Moyo, Milton Ncube and Kudakwashe Mahachi in a car accident.
I remember in 1993 when I was on attachment in England with Coventry FC I noticed the code of conduct on the notice board at the club training ground, prohibiting players to drive 24 hours before the game.
They were not allowed to visit leisure spots before the game.The player undertook not engage in any sporting activity or pastime which could have caused injury or impaired the player’s ability to perform under that agreement.
Heading techniques
The one skill that is unique to soccer is heading. There are several other codes of football but only in soccer is the head used for propelling the ball and it is a skill that has been developed into fine art.
Heading technique depends on whether you are attacking or defending but the basic principles are the same always strike the ball with your forehead and keep your eyes on the ball right up to the moment of impact. It is important to be confident when heading. If you let the ball hit the top of your head it will hurt, but the forehead is hard and reasonably flat if you use it properly by meeting the ball it will not hurt you.
With the correct timing it is surprising how much power you can get behind a header especially if you use your neck muscles well and jackknife your body to impact extra power. You will usually be competing with opponents for balls in the air and you will have to jump to get them first.
It is obviously an advantage to be tall, but timing and judgment are even more importance in defence winning the ball in the air can be the difference between winning and losing a game. When clearing your lines it is obviously preferable to send the ball to a teammate but at all costs it must be directed away from goal and danger. There is less danger if your header reaches an opponent out wide than in a central position.
The chief pressure on defenders in the air comes from deadball situations crossed from the wings and long kicks down the middle often from the opposing goalkeepers. If you are marking a man don’t get too close to him to try to get a run at the ball so that you can climb higher, attack the ball and aim to meet it at your highest point .
When clearing the ball go for height and distance, in midfield try to direct it to a teammate. Heading for goal is different first you have to get away from your marker. As soon as you can judge the flight of the ball, make your run and unless you have your back to the goal aim to get well over the ball.
Headers directed downwards are the most difficult for goalkeepers to reach. Backward deflections may be with the top of the head at the near post at corners for example a ball allowed to glance off the roof of your havoc in defence.
Did you know?
Manchester City was founded in 1887 as Ardwick FC becoming Manchester City in 1894.
Manchester United founded in 1878 as Newton Heath FC becoming Manchester United in 1902
Until next week
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