Tournament blog
More than just a team…
There was much debate about Fabio Capello’s choice of team in South Africa. He talked about the need for the right style, spirit, focus, and commitment. Players who could perform to their best of their abilities.
I have exactly the same task in the weeks ahead, with the first England game at the IBSA World Blind Football Championship kicking off on August 14th. This week all the squad will be at the venue for another training session, and they know I am looking for their absolute best, and some.
While I won’t, thankfully, be getting the same media scrutiny as Capello did when it comes to my choice, I will be taking it just as seriously as he did. Our team is ranked fifth in the world and second in Europe at the moment and the guys really want to be picking up that Cup on the final day, August 22nd. Their success so far is not only because of the ‘spirit, style, focus, commitment and ability’ that Capello talked about, but because of their communication skills and dedication to the game, too.
Communication is key because without sight, working as a team and winning a game depends on them communicating with each other, with me (on the touchline) and with the goalie (who is sighted). Their skill in listening to the ball (which rattles) and each other is trained and remarkable. They can position themselves and the ball using echo location from the boards at the side of the pitch. They tune into the voices of their team mates so they can locate and pass to each other swiftly and accurately, and to the voices of the other team who are required by the rules of the game say ‘voy’ as they come in for a tackle.
Dedication is everything because unlike the seniors (or indeed some other blind teams who’ll be competing at the tournament) our players work or study full time in between training and games. Our captain David Clarke who has been blind from birth, fits in his personal training and team sessions around a busy family life (he lives in the SE with his wife and two children), and demanding job as a senior partner in a city bank. And he leads an England squad made up of university students, disability development officers, police staff, property managers and more… each one leaving their own WAGS at home as they head to the gym before and after work, or to training on their precious weekends off.
It’s a real privilege to be the head coach of these players, but a real challenge picking the best from these best of sportsmen. You can be sure those who are in the line up come August 14 will give their all, and some. To come and see for yourself buy your ticket at thePoint4 or visit www.blind2010.com.
The Blind World Cup is being played at thePoint4 at The Royal National College for the Blind from August 14 – August 22nd.
Posted by Tony Larkin on 18-07-2010
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