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GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Passion for football in the township is enormous, and football is played on each and every street corner.
On Sunday afternoons families go to the football fields to watch their partners, brothers or kids play the 'beautiful game'.
PHOTO GALLERY: Passion for football
Last Sunday was no exception when Morocco Eagles and the Portugal Birds' B team from Masizakhe, played at Graaff-Reinet Primary in Asherville.
Because of a shortage of games for youngsters, friendly games are organised to give rising stars the opportunity to play and display their football skills.
The game started just before 15:00 and by halftime, none of the players had managed to score, despite many opportunities to do so.
Coaches shouted instructions from the sidelines as exhausted players were called to the bench to give other team members a turn.
Coach Thembalethu Nofemele said many talented youngsters displayed their skills, but must learn to communicate better.
In his book, Maximal Training, Ted Dumitru describes the football brain as follows:
"Every aspect of a player's response to the challenges of both training and matches is controlled by the brain. From activities that require a lower degree of control - as in the case of automated skills and simple movement, where the brain only supervises the activity - to the complicated process of decision making, it is the body's central nervous system that rules the performance of players. In order to optimise its response and control functions, the brain is continually picking up, remembering, monitoring, processing and integrating information and experience. With time, training and match activities build specific nerve assemblies and circuits, which in turn will develop into a specialised system of connections - the football brain."
He states that a vast number of neuron connections, circuits and brain systems adapt physiologically over time, and become a distinct function that serves football specificity. This form of brain specialisation, is key for a player to reach full potential.
The Moroccco Eagles players enjoyed the game against the youngsters and won 3-2.
Results of the regional league matches played on Saturday 11 February at uMasizakhe Stadium:
- Birds United 1 - 3 Black Arrows,
- FC Galaxy 0 - 0 Eleven Attackers
- Portugal Birds 2 - 0 Real Madrid
Result of the game on Sunday 12 February in Jansenville:
- Football Academy 4 - 2 JV Manchester United
Ntando Dontsa of Portugal Birds and Benedict Blou of Morocco Eagles (green and white) struggling for the ball.
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