Soccer Training Helps Feeds The Community

Today was a fantastic day.

During the week we had identified 35 players from each training session who were to come for a full days training and then play matches. As it turned out we had close to double that, over 60 players. I can only presume that word had gotten out throughout the community as the numbers increased in both players and spectators.

Unfortunately, it rained the night before, leaving the pitch very muddy, with large puddles across it. As always, this didn’t stop the quality or energy, the players just played as normal.

We started off with 4v1’s in a tight 8×8 area, defenders on the outside of the grid, rotating in on the command of “change”, so the defender was fresh and the players had to be aware of where he was coming in from. We then went into a session I watched online from Gareth Southgate, encouraging creative play. 9v9 in a tight area, keepers at each end, trying to either dribble or receive a pass over the end line. We had 3 of these games going on at once, rotating teams around.

The players play with great imagination and are very instinctive but what we need to keep adding is a greater awareness of their surroundings, so sessions like this, in tight areas where there is always a press on you makes you develop a plan and ideas in your head before receiving the ball.

After we played this, we decided to play 11v11 matches to help accommodate the amount of players. We had five teams and played first goal or 10 minute match. Winners stayed on. We played till 12.30 and then broke for lunch.

Lunch was the very best part of my day. We went to buy the players lunch. A simple plain lunch of bread and milk was all Hesbon said we needed to get.

This meal which was graciously received here, would have most children in other countries turning their noses up. As we were handing out food to the players, much younger children approached hoping for food too. There was no way we could leave them out, so John and I hopped in the car, rushed back to the shop and bought enough to feed the young children at the park.

Happy days 🙂

In the afternoon, we played 11v11, Hesbon organizing, myself observing. Our idea is to produce a top team for Naiavasha to be coached by Hesbon, and hopefully get the players recognition both in Kenya and Internationally. My hope would be able to offer players the opportunity to play collegiate football in the US.

We played all afternoon, and when we finally bought the curtains down on a great day every player and spectator at the pitch came in to hear what we had to say.

To top today off, I received an email from a coach in Florida with regard to the Kenyan Under 17 ladies, maybe we are slowly moving in the right direction?

It’s a start…. 🙂