Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
CCL experience instructive for Alpha United
With just a single game remaining before his team wrap up their 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League sojourn, Alpha United head coach Wayne Dover believes that the experience offered many lessons for the future.
Alpha United (red jersey) in CONCACAF Champions League action against Honduras’ Olimpia on August 5, 2014. (Photo: Adrian Narine)
Thanks to three straight Group 5 defeats, Alpha have already been eliminated from the competition. The Hammer lost both games against Olimpia (1-0 home, 6-0 away) and fell to the visiting Portland Timbers (4-1). It still must make the long trip to Portland for a September 23 fixture. The results have taken their toll on his players, Dover admitted.
“We have lost 3 of the 4 games to date and it has its effect on the team in terms of their confidence,” said Dover. “However, the coaching staff is working diligently with the players to rebuild that confidence going into the final game away on the 23rd of this month.”
The successful local coach is of the view that competing at the CONCACAF level is challenging for non-pro teams.
“There’s a serious disadvantage,” he noted. “The pro teams are better organized, have well-structured leagues, good infrastructure to train and play games, much fitter and tactically disciplined players.”
Dover, though, has identified a number of positives. “I’ve learnt how easily you could be dismantled if you are not organized in your games,” he commented. “I’ve learnt how important it is to take your chances when you create them. I’ve learnt that there’s no room for mistakes at this level. You must be disciplined tactically for more than 90 minutes at this level.” (CONCACAF.com)
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Burnham must be having a good laugh
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Each week, the more Bharrat Jagdeo speaks, the more the lines between party and government... more
Clarifying misconceptions about the Panama Canal
Sir Ronald Sanders (Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS) By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News–... more
Weekend Cartoon
