04/12/2025
Saturday 29th November saw a game for Tiki Taka City U11s full of challenges from the get go.
Playing away, we found ourselves trying to play 9v9 football on a 7v7 standard pitch. As a team that plays in formation and pushes offensively up the wings we were unable to utilise our pace or find the needed space to play at our usual level. Unfortunately, we were definitely victims to the home ground advantage on this occasion.
There were however many positives and the boys still managed to impress. After conceding, we didn't drop our heads. We immediately pushed back and looked for the equaliser, which proves our mental strength is improving drastically.
With familiarity and comfort with the smaller pitch playing a large part, the home team managed to pull one goal ahead however, even with the boys unbelievable work rate we were unable to find the back of the net to equalise before the final whistle.
Walking away from this game with moral still high, despite being very much forced out of our comfort zone, shows the character and resilience we need in the team and I am very proud of my boys.
Myles ⚽️
Well done to this week’s Coaches Player George. Playing in defence, George was unshaken. In such close quarters and against players much larger than him he did not shy out of any challenge or 50/50. He proved he may be small but he is ferocious.
Big shout out to Ollie, this week’s Parent’s Player. Victory really does begin in the heart of the player and Ollie showed the heart of a giant this week. Playing up front whilst being forced to drive through the middle of an overcrowded pitch, Ollie was set on from every direction. Despite some very crunching tackles he stayed strong, showed real bravery and kept pushing forward foul after foul.
Let’s brush ourselves off, move forward and look to playing them again at our home fortress 💪
Tiki Taka Football Academy
