Springs Old Boys u-13 eliminated from cup competition
“If a keeper saves it, it's not because you're useless. You just have to change the technique of how you take your penalties.”
The Springs Old Boys u-13 team played against Birch Acres in a cup game on Sunday morning and lost 4-2 on penalties.
The home team fought hard and came from 2-0 down and equalised at the last minute to draw level with the visitors.
The loss means the youngsters were eliminated from the cup.
Also read: Springs u-8 soccer team beat Benoni 6-0
Although the team lost, there are many positives to take from the game.
“The fighting spirit the boys showed was fantastic, as they were down to eight men because of injuries and the tiredness of the players.
“Tactically, they were very disciplined in terms of keeping their shape and closing down the opposition and then catching them on the counter attack,” says coach Ronie Slava.
The focus of the team will now shift to the league where they can apply some of the lessons they learnt during the cup game.
Also read: Victory of 5-2 for SOB
Slava has already identified areas where as a team they can improve.
“Our penalty taking is something we will be working on some more.
“I always tell my players that penalties are not a gamble. You have to make a decision and stick to it.
“If a keeper saves it, it’s not because you’re useless. You just have to change the technique of how you take your penalties.
“I will also be bringing in a goalkeeping coach once or twice a week, to help us in that area, as in yesterday’s game we had an infield player as goalkeeper so I want our goalkeeper to get better as well as one infield player in case our goalkeeper is not available,” says Slava.
The coach also emphasised the importance of getting the basics right and improving the finishing of the players.
“We just have to get back to our winning ways,” says Slava.
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