Game Afterthoughts

All eyes were fixated on the parking lot eagerly awaiting the arrival of Cristian to soothe the nerves. I am only assuming that everyone breatheth a sigh of relief when Goran's message came in stating Cristian's entourage were ten minutes away. One would wonder if majority of the boys had preplanned wearing their new soccer cleats in yesterday's game. It looked like a Puma, Nike and Adidas showroom on the turf field. Money well spent. Before a ball was kicked, the London Whitecaps   parents were impressed with the Woodbridge Strikers entry and warm ups. One parent in particular said, "I can tell a good team based upon their arrival and pregame drills", Strikers not knowing those comments, concurred unknowingly with a completely dazzling display of team soccer. Within minutes of kick off Strikers went under pressure and I figured that this would be a true test for the boys.  Eventually it didn't materialize as such because Strikers play proved to be superio...

Coach Chris arrived looking very focused and coach Joe was rather meticulous in his workout with the goal keeper. The intensity began before a ball was kicked in the third and final game against Richmond Raiders for true bragging rights. The verbal briefing by the Woodbridge Strikers coaching staff was done behind closed doors, out of hearing range from lurking opponents. The Strikers had a swagger of confidence about them at the kick off. Their team play in the first quarter definitely endorsed such mannerisms. Today should have been the coaches assessment, because without a doubt they would have passed with flying colours. The level of execution in terms of passing and getting balls out onto the flanks with timely forward runs was truly impeccable on the eyes as a observer. Strikers closed down all possible outlet that Raiders imagined, like magnet onto iron. After a series of combination passes the ball was tucked away by Tremaine for a more than deserving lead. In the ...

Burlington Youths arrived at the dome with a tailored plan to be implemented upon the referee blowing his whistle. Very frightening was their individual and collective goal celebration practice routine suggesting it might be seen publicly and often throughout the game. Props must be given to the team's physio for having all 18 players available to the coaching staff, thereby inducing headache on the coaches in selecting their starting eleven. The first three quarters was a game of parking the bus/playing defense by Jose Mourinho(Burlington Youths) against Pep Guardiola tick tock/ attacking soccer being played by the Woodbridge Strikers. Strangely enough it was far from being boring. Even the heat and humidity Inside the dome could not prevent Strikers from stringing passes after passes together as if they were making a fishing net. One would need Sheldon from Big Bang Theory to break down the intricate angles through which the ball was played, just like putting thre...

Wiithout question Saturday's game proved to be in my opinion one of the best team game,  the best for some players and at the same time showcased the best possible ball movements for some time. Again the coaching staff were hampered by injured and missing player ( Ethan and Tayshaun M).  I am trying as best as I can to recall if and when they had a completely healthy squad to select from. The last two games against SC Toronto were very competitive resulting in 1:0 and 2:1 wins for Strikers. Anticipation of a more favourable result this occasion on the traveling supporters part was truly understandable. Their videographer believed so, who, by the way is the goal keepers coach. The first quarter started off with a dazzling array of passing and moving with and without the soccer ball. The attacking duo of Tremaine and Isaiah moved with such synchronization they totally had the opponent's defense utterly mesmerized. Cristian was at his impeccable best in starting the play...

Normally I only write about our boys' exploit after their games wether they win, lose or draw. But in light of the increase of violence amongst males ranging from young teenager to young adult within the province of Ontario, I felt compelled to write a few lines as our boys enter grade 8. How strange and alarming that this voilence hits home immediately at an elementary school in Milton Ontario. One 13 year old boy in police custody and two taken to hospital after an altercation erupted  into a violient knife incident. In the confines of the school walls our boys are taught academically using a pedagogy method. It will allow them to move forward onto high school and eventually college or university the choice will be theirs. They have all the physical resources, teachers and administrators who will assist them in the process upon the pathway towards higher education.  My concern however, is not about the education pathway or their soccer progression if I am privileged ...