“Ode to the Goalkeepers”.. but before that, a short review of my debut season as a goalkeeping coach..

After a 2 month sabbatical blog leave, I unequivocally owe an explanation to you readers. March 2nd was my last publication and so many happenings ranging from focusing total commitment to my job as a goalkeeping coach for Park View FC, a troublesome bout of illness down to an ever increasing awareness in stagnation of personal development.

To begin with, the club finished 13th in the Divison 1 league and this season being my first ever as a goalkeeping coach (player/manager) has been nothing short of a packed filled emotional, exhilarating and many a times frustrating experience. As a rookie I’ve learned that I’ve got a lot to do to improve my skills as a goalkeeping coach, and by levelling up on my qualifications will tweak the areas where I lack knowledge that stems from inexperience. Overall, I’ve learnt that coaching is just one fundamental part of the job as a coach. The psychology, the relationships, the welfare of the goalkeepers are other fundamentals that are equally as important and if ignored, it will be of detriment to the overall ethical values expected from the goalkeepers. I quickly realized the hard crude way as the club lost the second and eventually the first choice goalkeepers, leaving the club ( although the latter was dismissed for gross misconduct ). This left me in precarious position as I had to scout for goalkeepers in the middle of the season, which would not be an easy task as far as searching for quality is concerned. Luckily, we got two young goalkeepers from the help of the chairman but towards the end of the season we again lost one of the young goalkeepers, who has yet to report back to the club after taking an unnotified Easter leave. Avesta Mehmar who is currently the first team goalkeeper is 17 years of age and has a promising career ahead of him as long as he stays focused by working steadfast on confidence and self belief. This season has been though for him but with the valuable experience gained, he will look forward to next season with a different approach in attitude and added boost in confidence, therefore extensive off season training is required and will be deployed.

During the course of the season, I didn’t expect to be called upon to play but that was exactly what happened on four occasions. The first was the FA Middlesex Premier Cup game against Bedfont and Feltham FC that ended in a 2-2 draw and subsequently lost on penalties. The second game was a home game against the second position team Broadfields United FC, a game that didn’t go according to plan as I suffered a dislocated right pinkie during warm up before the game. I decided to play the game but to my detriment as we drew the game 2-2, courtesy of an uncharacteristic weak attempt to catch a tame free kick that handed the opposition that “get-out-of-jail” crucial equaliser. A huge lesson never to play with a dislocated finger indeed. The third game was the highly anticipated game against the already league champions Harefield United FC who by the way were unbeaten, we suffered a 4-1 defeat at their home ground. Lastly, my final game was against Rayners Lane FC, a gruelling 4-3 victory as we had to play back to back games in three days during the Easter holidays. That game took its toll on my body as I was beginning to feel the aches and pains of an 80 year old active battlefield veteran all over my body. During the course of these games I suffered two dislocated fingers, a torn shoulder muscle and a severely bruised lower back, but the bottom line is.. I Love This Game.

The cold virus got a stranglehold on me twice, the second a lot more severe. Also I suffered a setback through lack of motivation in building my brand Ultimate Keeper but I’ve now taken control over the situation and forever looking forward to the future and the less I say the better 😉.

.. Finally an now, what you all have been earnestly waiting for..

ODE TO THE GOALKEEPERS

Hero today, villain tomorrow it is what it is

Villain today, hero tomorrow this is what we are

We overrule our instructors as egos overrule we

We pay the piper for the decisions we make as we fall flat on the penalties

With redemption burning in our hearts, we thrive on till the next episode

“The Time Is Here”.. says redemption “Time To Get Smart!”

Striker place the ball on the spot.. takes a linear bluff approach

“Stand your ground!.. and make the save!” Was the message received and by faith the deed manifest

Bewildered striker has been hoodwinked!.. still bamboozled to this day!

Redemption has and always will be willing to honour our calling card

Currently hailed as the best goalkeeper that has forever been arguable, so influential to the deceptive ego

That clean sheet against the Lillywhites, those leg-stopping blocks made him a hero

How quickly form dips, when deniros takes centre stage

400,000 of them, every week to inflate the deceptive ego

“I deserve every single one of them!.. my status demands it!” .. as my deceptive ego rubs its hands with a gluttonous smile

“Facts don’t care about your feelings!” as ramifications was swift and unforgiving

Game after game his game was exposed! Those leg-stopping saves deserted him, are you worth 400,000 deniros?

Good enough to be pro, a lot more room for evolution to be on par with Stergen

Champions of England! The City turns blue!

Back to back titles, with footwork skills of a modern day goalkeeper

He’s a hero and a lesson for every aspiring goalkeeper

Not a notable shotstopper but an exceptional footwork goalkeeper!

So comfortable with the ball on his feet he puts most ball players to shame

He’s been behind the City’s fortress for the past two seasons with success

Commiserations goes to his counterpart country man who was denied, that debut season trophy that He truly achieved

Still the treble is on, for the first ever domestic sweep

“Alice in Wonderland” is a synonym to be literally understood, as “le Kop” Klumpped into the final

Irony is a given, as Brexit gatecrashes Euro finals… then Brexit!

This goalkeeper took the honours, for being the cleanest goalkeeper in clean sheets!

Alas!!!.. It was Dyke! That skated the D donning his tricks and spikes!

The goalkeeper also a baller, just like his City counterpart country man, but of the average shotstopper

A messy attempt to bottom hand stop a top hand 35 yarder! Oh what a mess! The jury is out there, for this epic finale!

Lest we forget, our nations forgotten performer as his heart is filled with bewilderment, as to where his career has gone

Once touted as the answer, has become now a huge question. A former City Champion, now reduced to obscurity!

How goalkeeping fortunes, can reveal its ugly face and scare the game out of he

Struggling in the face of adversity, once a revered champion. Was it the Pep talk that done it?

Or was the veil uncovered! For a man to be spent at still a young goalkeeping age, is a mystery to ponder

As we wonder where He will end up next season! We wonder!

Legend comes and legend goes, in their own right they are legends.

As the season ends, we say goodbye to two legends

Two legends each for completely different reasons, characters achievements and influences equally on different planes.

Euro and FA finalist goalkeepers, but will each of them start?

The onus is on Gomes and the other faces a Cechmate!

You Are The Ultimate Keeper Of Your Destiny – ULTIMATE KEEPER