Under-14 boss reflects on crucial team bonding session last summer, which helped shape their season

Manor Youth manager Hafiz Ahmed has backed the squad to keep getting better if they remain together and to continue to fly the flag for Newham football.

The under-14s are currently enjoying time off after a long, but successful season, which ended with the team winning the Newham Youth League and a cup double.

Although Manor Youth finished runners up in a showcase event and the Passmore Edwards Cup, they have made their manager proud.

Ahmed believes a team bonding session last summer put the wheels in motion for a campaign to remember for the teenagers.

“We didn’t get to have a pre-season so what I thought would be best was to get these boys together and a few of their parents and go on a fishing trip,” said Ahmed.

“At first everyone was like why is he taking us fishing? But it was my idea of getting the boys to work as a team more.

“Most of the boys are from Newham however some come from Tower Hamlets and Redbridge and I wanted these boys to come and get together a bit more and know about one another.

“I thought if there had no mobiles or food, if they were hungry they would have to go get their rod and fish together and if they was thirsty, they would have to go get their flask and bottle and go to the lake, so obviously this allowed the players to naturally speak to each other.”

Ahmed felt the team bonded brilliantly during the fishing trip and it also allowed the squad to share ideas about their philosophy.

He added: “The boys really enjoyed that day, and we had so many laughs along the way, I think it was at that point we had a lot of discussions about our philosophy, aims and goals as a team.

“We discussed how we can work together and achieve them, mainly we spoke about our philosophy and how we can motivate one another in believing in our philosophy and system.”

The Manor Youth boss has been impressed with how quickly the team gelled together and followed through the one and two touch football tactic.

“I have never seen young people ever come together so fast and take a strong interest in our teaching, these boys all share the same vision and goal and that’s evident on the pitch, along with that they help, support and motivate each other so much which is great to see,” said Ahmed.

“We have become a side which attacks with so much intensity and most of that’s is done with our ability to pass and move the ball around fast, we coach these boys with leadership and discipline and make sure these boys had a deeper understanding of our system.”

Manor Youth are currently on a five week break and will return for pre-season training on Monday 26th June.

Hafiz added: “If these boys stay together for the coming years we will be the most unstoppable force in the east end.

“Already we have showed our values and our team spirit, so now it’s all about us believing in how far we can go.

“The future is bright and I have no doubt with the way we got together and the backing we had from the community we will go far.”