Cooper call-up boost for Juniors
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The Junior Navy Blues preparations for their National Youth League clash with Hawke's Bay United took on a slightly stranger look this week.
Bubble Football isn't too well known as a groundbreaking approach to prepare for a football match but Junior Navy Blues coach Andy Peat says it was a relaxed way to get the players back to work after a disappointing defeat to the Wellington Phoenix last week.
The Phoenix came to Kiwitea Street and gave the Junior Navy Blues a painful lesson as they bundled over Peat's team 4-2.
"The team has responded positively this week. We got back into training by doing a less football-focused session and more focused on bonding the team together and looking at how we play and why we play," he said.
Mistakes were the order of the day when the Phoenix came from behind to beat the Junior Navy Blues but Peat says perspective is needed.
"This is youth team football and there's going to be individual mistakes made. We're also going to learn from them.
"We've focused more on ourselves than what other teams are going to do and how we can hurt them.
"This is a tough competition with a very intense match environment and our boys give a lot their football because in most cases they've been going since January," he said.
On the injury front Auckland City FC have picked up one or two injuries with Yousif Al-Khalisy still out after picking up a knock.
In a major boost for the Junior Navy Blues, Sean Cooper received a call-up to the first team squad for the Club World Cup.
"Sean Cooper is off to the FIFA Club World Cup and thats what our team is all about pishing players on giving them opportunities with the first team
"This is a great chance for Sean, who is just 18, and thats what we want to have happen in our squad.
"It proves the structure and system we have here at the club is working and we're giving players a pathway to top quality opportunities.
"If that means we're down a player it gives another player in our group an opprunity to have a new experience," he said.
The match with bottom-placed Hawke's Bay United kicks off on Sunday 27 November, 2016.
Ends
Match Details
National Youth League
Sunday 27 November, 2016
Hawke's Bay United v Auckland City FC
Petane War Memorial Domain
Kick-off: 1pm NZST
#HBvAC
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Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AU | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 10 |
| 2 |  | AC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 |
| 3 |  | BU | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 8 |
| 4 |  | ES | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 |  | WS | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 6 |  | BO | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| 7 |  | TC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 8 |  | FE | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| 10 |  | AF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| 11 |  | EC | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| 11 |  | WR | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| 12 |  | MN | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
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