Saturday, July 31, 2010

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Student Essays

The following is an essay contributed by a UCCI student:

    The Most Important Minutes of a Football Match

    Avery successful season campaign to date, in finishing the National Youth League in second place with only one loss, had all come down to the semifinal encounter to see who would will make it to the FA Cup finals , some two weeks later. Was the might George Town going to topple a rising, and much talked about Cayman Brac, with their vibrant flare of playing were said to be playing the best football in the division?

    Games like this does not come along every day, in fact, games of this importance and level of play are earned through hard work and dedication. Few athletes or teams possess the required mental and physical focus to win important matches. Today’s game would be a testament to this, where every second, minute, and touch of the ball could result in victory and defeat.

    The time was just after ten o’clock on a Saturday morning. The St. Ignatius Catholic School in Grand Cayman that the match would be played. Already the sun were beginning to drench all the spectators who had been arriving, therefore everyone took what few available shade there was under the beautiful trees next to the football field. Very few clouds were evident in the blue sky, and a slight gentle north wind could occasionally be felt, helping cool the radiant heat from our skin.

    Cayman Brac from the start of the game looked very composed, but relentlessly to no avail could they get the first goal. Instead it was George Town who struck the first blow in the 18th minute, and went 1-0 on Cayman Brac. Everyone in attendance was caught by surprise from this result, especially the large Cayman Brac contingent of supporters. Smiles, hand shaking, screams, and overall joyous celebrations erupted when Cayman Brac’s captain, Chase Miller scored with a well-timed header from a Cayman Brac corner kick to equalize the game just before half-time. Out of nowhere Chase sprang into the air well over the George Town defenders to meet a perfectly crossed ball to slot it into the left side of George Town’s goal.

    As the head coach of the Brac team, I decided to institute an immediate substitution before the start of the second half, to inject more attacking flare and hopefully many goal scoring opportunities for the team. This strategy paid off quickly. Cayman Brac only minutes into the second half had scored their second goal and took the lead of the game to 2-1. The Brac’s most prolific striker, Brian Scott had netted the goal by twisting and turning the George Town defense inside-out with an array of skillful dribbling moves and tricks to unperturbedly side-foot the ball into the right top corner of the goal. ‘Let’s tighten up the defense boys, hold the score line and we’ll win this game.” I instantly shouted to the Brac team after they had scored. They understood and would defend for the remaining second half.

    With only four minutes remaining in regulation time, I consulted with my assistant coach before making our last two substitutions. My coaching philosophy has always been to give all players a chance, no matter what the score line or outcome, for developmental purposes. In making the substitutions, I decided to take off my two of my most senior attacking minded players, which included the captain Chase Miller, for they both were looking tired and the team needed fresh legs to help defend. To the horror of the team, spectators, my assistant coach and I, George Town had just scored with only three minutes remaining in regulation time. Poor marking of opponents from the Cayman Brac defenders had resulted in a George Town striker equalizing the game 2-2. George Town had a free-kick just outside the Brac goal area, and quickly passed to ball into Brac’s six-yard box to one of their strikers whom was poorly marked. The George Town striker controlled, turned, and blasted the ball past a diving Brac goalkeeper and into the goal.

    I franticly started questioning myself on what had I done to the team by initiating those last two substitutions, for we now had very little choice in attacking eminence going forward to get another goal. Many thoughts had entered my mind by now, thus I seriously continued to query my coaching decisions. Furthermore I struggled to come up with attacking strategies on how the team could get that vital next goal. It was like my brain was frozen with no ideas and information coming forth. The frustration, anger, pain, and guilt I was feeling all contributed my lack of decision making this time.

    Those last three minutes turned out to be the most important minutes of any football game I had coached or played before. George Town, by this time were feeling very confident of themselves and about there chances of winning the game. Both teams pressed frontward at each other in desperate hope of that winning goal. It was Cayman Brac who regained control of the game and dictated its pace, taking shots from everywhere when given the slightest space and launching an inexorable attack against George Town. It was all out war!

    With only about one minute remaining, and perhaps the last set play of the game, I signaled for everyone to push up field for maximum goal scoring opportunities. Then suddenly; Goal! Goal! Goal! could be heard all over the grounds. The goal came from a precise through-ball on the left wing to Cayman Brac’s striker, Kodie Scott. Kodie faked to his left to off-balance the defender that was marking him, and then he dragged the ball to the right before unleashing a ferocious right footed shot to upper right side of the George Town goal. There was a jubilant, wild celebration and spectators were even entering the field. Tears were beading down my eyes. Hugs were being shared by all the spectators and athletes alike. At last Cayman Brac had made the FA Cup finals by defeating George Town. Many lessons where learnt from that game by the Brac team and myself, moreover we all became much stronger and united and entire community.

    Mitchum Sanford
    June 30th, 2008