I tried so signal out Alex but the pixel quality and camera position just made it impossible. @PhillyFury any chance next games can improve hd quality or can you be the first dad to encourage his 14 year old son to dye his hair )))))))?????))). We are old enough to understand that as a joke I will rewatch it tommorow to comment on the red whites as a team. @PhillyFury no lockdown????????
Sorry, that's the best I have for that game. At least his highlight moments are discernable. Yeah, he's really grown a bit over the past few months now, and is struggling a bit with this latest spurt. He's about 6'0" and being just 14 could easily add a few more inches. (There's already a defender who's about 6'2") So, looks a bit slow out there and gangly. Also, starting to bulk up just a bit, doing push-ups and some light weight-lifting, plus also doing lots of jump-roping. He's really made an effort to dedicate himself a bit more, which is a good sign...
Amid the doom and gloom, got a hint of good news a few weeks back. Given the dire situation here, the youth teams would be travelling to Croatia for three weeks for an extended, extraordinary training camp on the shores of the Adriatic. Making it all the sweeter was the fact, Slavia would pick up the entire bill. Plus with schooling now online, it wouldn't cut in too much to today's version of a school day. But alas it wasn't to be. Just days after the plan was announced, Croatia's own COVID-19 worsened, making travel there trickier, with a mandatory quarantine on arrival required. So, back to a few small group training sessions a week. A bit of good news, however, was that Alex got called in to train with the U16s.
Yeah, good one. Last Friday, the U16s scrimmaged against the U17s. Alex got in for the second half with the other kid from the U15s, when the score was 2-0 for the older guys. Game ended 3-1 for the U17s. Game was closed to public. Alex said the coach -- who is also the U15 assistant for the Czech YNT -- said he did well. He said the game was a bit faster and a lot rougher, with more fouling. Attesting to that, he came home with a nice swollen ankle. Said one of the defenders clipped him hard on a dribbling run. Will have time to rest it, as Czech Republic now in hardcore lockdown, with movement between districts outlawed. Has one of highest infection rates in the world. No practices of any kind now for the next three weeks....
After months of no games, Slavia's U15s had a friendly on May 3 against Vrsovice rivals Bohemians 1905, this time against their U16s. Parents weren't told about it to keep the crowd down. Some did of course find out from their kids and went. Slavia won it 3-2. Wife, who was on hand and is pretty critical of him, said Alex had a strong game in central midfield. Said touch, passing, dribbling all good. Faulted him for not maybe shooting a bit more. No goals on the day. Only one goal scored by a Slavia winger was worthy. I guess coach was pleased with him, as Alex got subbed out at the very end, one of two guys to play most of game.
Just for corona context, in Berlin only u13s can train now. A coach has to be tested every training and can only train 5 children at a time where everyone trains with 2 meter distance. A lot of coaches have quit because of work/unemployment, so I now have 3 teams and basically try to train them all from 10 am till 6pm. The schools are for the most part closed. Hello darkness my old friend.
That's rough. Sorry to hear that. I just read that Oktoberfest has already been canned, so the Germans are being, perhaps, extra cautious. The hope here is that they can restart games by May 15, but it's all so unclear, uncertain right now. I'm just grateful they can get on the field. On the other hand, have used the shutdown to find Alex and individual trainer, so that has been a blessing, I guess.
Another inter-squad match, this time against the U16s. Bit of a surprise with the U15s winning 3-2. Actually, shock as word got out quick to soccer community here. Got a call from someone asking if the result was correct. Alex was active, set up a tap in for one assist. Former coach, now the B-team manager, was on hand, and had kind words for him afterwards...
A nice bit of news and another step forward in Alex's career. Called in for a U15 CZ YNT regional camp this weekend. This is one of five and takes in Prague and central Bohemia. Lots of players from Slavia and Sparta, which will probably make up core of national team. Alex will have lots of competition, that's for sure. Working in his favor is his size, 6'0" now, and that he's a lefty. Proud-papa moment. 1394525191288631297 is not a valid tweet id
Hmm, no idea why that Twitter link is invalid. Here's a direct link to announcement: https://repre.fotbal.cz/nominace-u15-na-vyberovy-kemp-v-hornim-bezdekove/a14169
There has been some contact and interest in seeing video, especially given the move up. That's about it!