Spirit to rise from the ashes
Friday, 17 April 2009
Statistics say that Bundaberg Spirit may struggle in their clash with the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) at Lions Stadium this Sunday but their coach Richard Mitchell has backed his team to rise from the ashes.
The Spirit have lost each of their four matches so far, scoring just two goals while leaking 22, but they have been the first scorer in their past two starts before being blown away by high flying League leaders Olympic 8-1 and Whitsunday Miners 6-1 respectively.
QAS, on the other hand, are in fifth spot on the ladder with a 50% winning record with two wins, one draw and two losses.
They are coming off a 2-2 draw with Logan United after having defeated Capricorn Cougars 3-0 and the Miners 3-2 after starting the season with a 5-1 drubbing by Brisbane Strikers and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Olympic.
Bundaberg will be without the tough Jason De Papi, who was red-carded against the Miners, while another key man, Mitch Hodgkinson, will again be missing due to work commitments.
But in a major boost, they will welcome back their 2008 Player of the Year and defensive strongman Andy Wood from an overseas holiday, while Shane Youngberry and Matt Doolan are back from injury.
“Jason is obviously a loss to us but the two nights this week, we’ve worked on our shape and the way we play, and with Woody coming back and the way we have trained, I’m confident,’’ Mitchell said.
The QAS’s galaxy of rising stars includes two Bundaberg products in Josh Brillante and Koh Satake, and Mitchell said they would further inspire his players.
“We will travel with only 14 players, including a reserve keeper, and we are obviously up against it – they (QAS) are a group of boys who are technically very good, but if we can keep possession – that is nine-tenths of the game – we are a chance,’’ he said.
Mitchell and his assistant Brett Hambrecht are both certain that if their side can start as well as they have in their past two games, but this time, sustain the effort, they can win.
They are also pleased that keepers Dayne Rimmington, who will start against QAS, and Daniel Watson, have maintained their highs standards and enthusiasms despite the poundings that they have received.
“There’s nothing worse for a goal-keeper than having to keep picking the ball out of the net, but they have never shirked their responsibility and they are in good shape mentally and physically,’’ Mitchell said.
“We were great in the first 20 minutes against the Miners, but if we can turn that into 70-to-75 minutes, we can do it – no team can be very good for 90 minutes, and the thing I’ve said to the lads is that every player has to have self belief.
“We’ve also got to stop standing behind saying we’re young players up against more experienced teams.
“What separates good from ordinary players are the ones who still go looking for the ball whatever the situation – people like Andy Wood and (captain) Brett Kitching are very boisterous but we have all got to be like them and get people all over the park looking for the ball.
“We have been losing possession too easily, and when we get a goal up, we have to really consolidate – the longer it goes 1-0 up, the more confident we will get and they will get nervous – we also have to be disciplined – 30% of goals come from free kicks, so we have to also keep that in mind.’’
Vince Habermann
