Alpha United Head coach Wayne Dover says that while he expects a very competitive Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer knockout tournament, his side will do everything in their power to reclaim the title when the event commences on Saturday.
Unable to defend their inaugural 2011 triumph following their absence in the second tournament due to the impasse between the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the GFA, Dover stated: “I am taking the tournament very seriously because every team has the same aim and that is to win. “Because of that fact,
we know it won’t be an easy tournament and we have to perform to win.
“We would want to be the team lifting the trophy once again and will do everything in our power to be there again as we are the leading national club. However football is played on the day and it’s not names and faces that give you the result, its performances,” added Dover.
Questioned about the status of the team’s preparation, Dover said: “It’s the same kind of work; we are trying to maintain the group by working on the four pillars of football which are the mental, technical, tactical and physical. If we don’t manage it properly, they can decline in fitness and that will affect their performances.
“Training is the key and good team organization both offensively and defensively is needed. We tailor our sessions according to the game we have to play. Doing this gives us the edge because it allows us to focus on the opponent,” added Dover.
Currently sporting an undefeated 2013 record, Dover declared: “Our approach to every tournament is to come out as the champion even though we take it one day at a time. We focus on what is in front of us; we look at our opponents, their strengths and their weaknesses. With this approach we are able to maintain a level of dominance.
“Always we do expect to win. We know it’s a challenge and that the other teams are aiming for the same objective but we will focus on what we have to do,” he added.
Dover was cognizant of the fact that they team might not always play to its potential.
“Now and again we will have performances that are not up to par but largely I am pleased with our performances for the year. We have a deep squad with everyone performing and competing for places.
“We always want to improve our performances and we hope to delight the fans with good team football as well as individual plays of skill, which sometimes you need to win a match” noted Dover.
Alpha United will open their campaign against Grove Hi-Tech on November 27 at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda.
