This is our 3rd consecutive year in the Primus Cup having completed in the tournament with our 1997 and 1996 boys over the past 2 years. It is always good to go back to a tournament year after year, as the staff become familiar with the tournament and the organising committee.
We were well looked after in a Youth Hostel just 15 miles from the tournament venue. Similar to all of our German excursions this month, we travelled on the roads through France, Belgium and Holland before settling in our final location near to Karlsruhe. The conditions on the roads weren't great, but whilst the mini bus was in use a little further down the road with Hobsy and Ginge and the 96 born boys, myself and Kingy drove in 2 cars from Myles Hire.
Travelling in small groups is great, as you can engage in some serious (and not so serious) discussions and games on your journey, which helps you understand the players a little more.
We left early Friday morning (4.30am) and arrived back much earlier than anticipated on the Monday evening having spent 4 great days with the boys.
Throughout the week and the team discussions in the evening, we have covered a lot of ground, which this group have seemed to embrace and utilise the information provided. They are skilful and often successful here in our games programme and whilst this is positive, they must never take their eye off the future, the next step. They are professional and independent and are a group of hungry, thinking footballers. Mental toughness is challenged time and time again in big situations; they didn't live up to their ability level in the end. This was a 1st experience for them making a major cup final, I'm positive that next time round they will handle it much better.
We were beaten 4-0 in the final by Brondby, who ironically we had shared accommodation with all weekend. It was no surprise that they won both the Under 12 and Under 19 tournaments at this venue and the Under 14 tournament that our 96's competed in down the road. Winning is a learnt skill like anything else. The club are used to being successful; this is the kind of team identity that we too will learn as we continue to progress in such competitions. Winning, of course, is not our sole aim, our players however are pushed to the limits to prepare, behave and perform as winners, in turn allowing them to deliver the kind of performances required to compete in such prestigious competitions.
We were told that our 1st game of the tournament was against the best team in our group, the club who were champions last year.
Vs FC Zurich W 1-0
Vs Hamburg D 0-0
Vs FC Koge W 4-1
Vs Waldhof W 2-0
Vs Frankenthal W 3-0
Vs Viktoria W 4-0
These results had us sitting comfortably at the top of the table and playing the top team in Group 2 in the Final.
Vs Brondby L 4-0
There were some excellent performances throughout the weekend, we were very proud of the players for their mentality, togetherness and maturity. Alongside this was another good display of their ever increasing ability on the pitch and ability to transfer knowledge and experiences from meetings and sessions into matches.
Congratulations also go to Stephy Mavididi who was awarded "Bester Spieler" (Player of the Tournament) above some other talented boys from some top European clubs. This, alongside reaching the final, was a good achievement, which has not only earnt us a recall to the tournament in 2011, but also provided this group with yet another positive experience that they can call upon in similar future situations.
Mark Bonner
Squad; James Macree, Sonny Coutts, Harry Larke, Jimmy Nottage, Daniel Brock, Will Daly, Joe Bedford, Stephy Mavididi, Billy Harris. Staff; Steve King, Mark Bonner
Final Standings:
1st Brondby
2nd Southend United
3rd Waldhoff Mannheim
4th Werder Bremen
5th FC Kaiserslautern
6th Hamburg
7th Darmstadt 98
8th HB Koge
9th FC Zurich
10th Fussballschule Nachtmann
11th Racing Club Strasbourg
12th Viktoria
13th Frankenthal SV
14th Frankenthal
