Rep Team Matchday 3 Report
Rizwan Aboo and his East London team are Street League’s new 11-a-side champions. In the decisive final game East played last seasons winners South and secured the 3-2 victory needed to gain champion status. In triumphant scenes at the final whistle East players soaked their manager; I doubt the Beckham Academy has ever seen such celebrations.
It was all so different six months ago when Aboo rued his failure to prepare as his team crashed to defeat against North and South. Preparation was East’s watch word this season and Aboo oversaw everything from the training regime to player dress codes.
East’s preparations bore fruit on the pitch. A well rehearsed diagonal ball undid South’s defense to release Michek Thompson for the opening goal. Michek got his second just before halftime from a well worked set piece, Joe Najir whipped the ball into the area and Michek claimed the goal with the faintest of headers.
Arguably South played the better football and retained the ball for longer periods but they lacked creativity in the final third, an end product and the heart of East. In the final ten minutes East’s Paul Rivierre out paced South’s defense and dinked the ball over a flailing keeper.
“We did enough to win the game. We didn’t play football to the level I’d like to see but the team did the job required. We capitalised on our opponents weaknesses and got the result” said Aboo after the game.
Aboo singled out Alusine Kai-Samba as his man of the match: “His hunger and desire to win epitomised East’s spirit.” Aboo also praised his Captain Jerry Jaret for his leadership throughout the season on and off the pitch: “He has lead by example and his performances have been outstanding.”
Aboo concluded: “The player’s attitude has been impeccable on and off the field. It has been a pleasure to coach the East team. No one has the right to call East London crap anymore! We’re champions!”