FINAL REPORT – MAY 31^ST – 2009

MOROKA SWALLOWS FOOTBALL CLUB

JOHANNESBURG – SOUTH AFRICA

I – PURPOSE

        To report the details of all the work done in the period since June 1^st of      

        2008 up to May 31^st, 2009, basic preparation Camp at Port Elizabeth, MTN    

        CUP, TOP 8 CUP, the League 2008-2009 and NEDBANK CUP 2009.

II – OBJECTIVE

To present the preparation, evaluate the results and observations, and recommend improvements to the next season to obtain the better results as Moroka Swallows deserves.

III – DEVELOPMENT

1. We have completed:

52 weeks

365 days

MATCH TRAININGS – Swallows FC x Swallows Youth, Swallows FC x Corinthians, Swallows FC x Port Elizabeth Selection, Swallows FC x Swallows Castle Team

FRIENDLY GAMES – Swallows 3 x 0 Port Elizabeth, Swallows 3 x 0 Nelson Mandela Bay 11, Swallows x Stars of Africa, Swallows x Portuguesa, Swallows x Spring, Swallows x Stars of Africa TO BE COMPLETED

CUP GAMES 05: Swallows 0 x 1 Supersport, Swallows 0 x 2 K. Chiefs, Swallows 1 x 0 K. Chiefs (K. Chiefs qualified for final by goal average), Swallows 0 x 3Wits, Swallows 1 x 0 Platinum Stars (Swallows 3^rd position) TO BE COMPLETED

LEAGUE GAMES 30:

Swallows 1 x 1 Bay United, Swallows 2 x 4 Ajax, Swallows 3 x 0 Santos, Swallows 2 x 0 K. Chiefs

Position: 11^th

List of players worked during this time:

  GK – Etafia, Pato, Allan, Tyron, Ryan (5)

  RB – Vincent, Meshack, Quinton, Beckham, right back u.20, Ghana (6)

  CB – Bevan, Davi, Vinicius, Malinga, Ivan, Fabian, Evert, Paul Jr, Ghana,    

  Uganda, Thato, Ewert (12)

  LB – James, Joel (Ghana), Mbesuma, Keegan, Sydney (6)

  MF – Lefa, Mark, Goodman, Morgan, Kagiso Denge

         Oersen, Ryan, Sipho, Temba Shorthy, Daniel,

      Siphamandla, Mokoro, Igor, Pihri, Daniel, Zizo, mvol, Kg., Chics, Jr –    

 ex chiefs, Tebello, Mandla Skuru (21)

AT – Sandile Ndlouvu, Alton, Ace, Elton, Shawn, David Radebe, Shakka,   

Erwin, Uganda, Aziz (Ghana), Edwin, U 17 fast, Freddie (12)

SQUAD NOW:

GK – Etafia, Pato, Allan, Tyron (4)

RB – Vincent, Siphamandla (2)

CB – Davi, Vinicius, Malinga, Ivan, Fabian, Quinton, Thato (7)

LB – Sidney, Mbesuma, Keegan (3)

MF – Lefa, Mark, Goodman, Morgan, Kagiso Denge, Cecil Oersen, Ryan, Sipho, Temba Shorty, KG, Mandla Skuru, Tebello (12)

AT – Sandile Ndlouvu, Alton, Ace, Elton, Shawn, David Radebe, Shakka, Shamon Peterson (8)

Tryalist: Mandla Skuru and Tebello

Youth: Freddie

Medical Department: Malinga

Selection of Players:

Bafana Bafana: Bevan and Lefa

Second Team: Lefa, James, Radebe, Quinton, Shakka

Youth Team: Quinton, Shakka, Ace, Mbesuma, Thato

Nigeria National Team: Greg

Malawi National Team: Sydney

Evaluation of the Squad:

GOOD

There were at least 7 squads technically stronger than our in the League: Supersport, Sundowns, Kaiser Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Golden Arrows, Ajax and Free States

BASIC 11:

GREG

VINCENT – VINICIUS – DAVI – SYDNEY

DENGE – LEFA – CECIL – MARK

IGOR – SANDILE

RESERV 11:

TYRON

QUINTON – THATO – FABIAN – MBESUMA

MORGAN – KG – TEMBA – RYAN

  SHAKKA – RADEBE

I recommend to staying:

Greg – Vincent – Vinicius – Davi – Mbesuma

Denge – Lefa – Mark – Igor

Radebe – Shakka

Tyron – Siphamandla – Quinton – Thato – Keegan

Morgan – Skuru – Themba – Ryan

Ace – Shaun

Not to renew the contract: Pato, Cecil, Sandile, Meiring, Sipho, Sydney, 

To be released:

To put on loan for improvement: Morelatto, Peterson, Tebello, Allan,

To renew for moral purposes: Malinga

To be used as Coach or Manager after a Bye Bye Party: Goodman

Our Basic Team and Squad are good but it is necessary to re-enforce to achieve superior level and results.

The commitment was good allowing results to happen.

CUP BLOEMFONTAIN – One lost – one won

CUP TELKON – quarter final

CUP MTN – semi-final. Lost to the champions, Kaizer Chiefs

CUP WITS – One lost – one won

CUP NEDBANK – CHAMPIONS. Five won: GOALS FOR – , GOALS AGAINST

LEAGUE – 11^th POSITION (same as the first round). WON – , DRAW – , LOST – , GOALS FOR – , GOALS AGAINST –

FRIENDLIES LOCALS

FRIENDLIES INTERNATIONALS: 2

Young 12: Ace, Keegan, Alan, Elton Morelatto, Shakka, Quinton, Mbesuma, Igor, KG, Peterson, Siphamandla and Freddie

Young not registered: Freddie and Keegan,

Tryalist: Mandla Skuru (   ) and Tebello (   )

Medical Department:

Malinga – leg broken against O. Pirates

Shaun – muscle tear

Positions to be re-enforced: Goalkeeper, right back, left back, central back, striker (2), play-maker, holding middle field

Priorities:

I – Striker

II – Left Back

III – Right Back

IV – Central Back

V – Mobile Striker

VI – Goalkeeper

VII – Holding Middle field

The recommended players should be evaluated considering the recent past as well, injuries, caps, behaviour, and discipline. Compulsory the exam them and test before signing.

They must be of National Team’s Level.

Activities:

Moroka Swallows Clinic – Moroka Swallows run a Clinic in Port Elizabeth on July 11^th 2008

Visit to Volkswagen Plant – on July 10^th, 2008

Bingo –

Several others –

• We used to practice
  at 9h30 and 15h00. Whenever playing night games we trained in the same time
• We use to control
  the weight of the players on a daily basis, before and after session, even at
  the games.
• Also using to
  evaluate the percentage of fat and IPC every 2 weeks
• We tested the
  players in the Excellence Centre of the Pretoria University, also our proper tests
  and evaluation (Lactate Test indeed) and re-tested them with Mr. Zac and the
  Wits University  

IV – CAMPING

             The camp at Port Elizabeth was very good and important allowing implementing the foundations of the Methodology, Philosophy and Style

   We started using to camp before matches, sometimes 2 days before games but the Squad complaint as well as the Club´s Management and we did camp just one day before matches.

V – EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

It is not good enough the supplement of material and equipment. Bad, in fact.

Very often the uniforms arrive in the moment of the game, with wrong sizes.

For many months we used very old and spoiled bibs.

Zeca worked for months and never got the Staff´s uniform, using the ones he bought for training and games.

I and Zeca bought from our pockets uniforms for players registered later.

We must have at least 30 new balls, extra 10 for goalkeepers, five new for Match Trainings and Friendly, and 2 or 3 new Official of the Competition to be played (never done, except when PSL provided). We never had that recommended amount.

VI – DIET / NUTRICION

         We introduced and are using:

2 different fruits after trainings and games

Supplements during the week, before and after games

Light meals before go to rooms in camp (to be improved)

Meal after games (needs adjustments)

Meals between sessions at full day training (improved a lot, it was bad)

Some times during the year I needed to buy from my pocket the supplements

In the two last weeks before NEDBANK final I needed to buy form my pocket the needed supplements.

VII – TECHNICAL STAFF

         Technical Advisor – Eddie Lewis

         Team Manager – Mr. Bennett Mikhail

         Head Coach – Julio Leal

         Assistant Coach – Zeca Marques

         Assistant Coach – Daniel (could not re-start in January due to be ill)

         Assistant Coach – Denys Lota (arrived late about April)

         Fitness Coach – Japhet Borges

         Goalkeeper Coach – Shadreck Biemba

         Technical Observer and Scout – no

         Doctor – Ephraim

         Masseur Therapist – Sarah

         Physiotherapist –

         Equipment Manager – Junior

         Equipment Manager – Sunny Boy II (Masbulelo) and Chris (from April)

– We coordinated the Program, the Training Plan and the Team’s Preparation for the League as well as the Cup.

– Match Trainings with the Youth Teams and with the Castle Team was played being very useful for both sides

– The Philosophy and Methodology was introduced in Swallows since the very beginning and discussing every single topic with the Assistants, paying respect to the Club’s tradition, but at the mean time building the NEW SWALLOWS on and out of the field as well.

– At the beginning we used to meet every day to discuss the week program and the daily one, after once a week, preparing month program and the week programme, to distribute the jobs, to evaluate the following game, with every point being discussed and all members participating. 

It was necessary at least one formal meeting per week with the Directors (recommended in the beginning of every week) but it was not possible due to the circumstances (CEO leaves in Cape Town and does not come often to Joburg).

– The Staff showed very big commitment and unity

– All members are well qualified for their jobs.

STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR – Japhet Borges

The ideal Staff was never completed: Doctor present at the trainings, Physiotherapist, Technical Observer, support of Psychologist and Nutritionist.

VIII – MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

The Medical department plays an important role in the Club, preventing first, and curing whenever it is necessary.

In this very beginning it is compulsory to check the players up – urine, blood, heart, eyes, joints – specially the new comers, but not only.

Physical evaluation was made at Pretoria University, and the results were not good, hard work was necessary.

It is recommended to check up before signing new players.

Only a Masseur Therapist, Sarah, is available. One Physio is necessary to complete the Medical Staff, one being at the Office, the other on the field, one travelling, and one staying with the remaining players.

Besides to bring a Physiotherapist on board it necessary to build a clinic with basic stuffs and electrotherapy machines to work properly.

Also important to build a GYM in Germiston, with basic machines, so the players could do necessary activities before or after sessions.

And start to built our proper Centre of Excellence to test our players (seniors and juniors), and Community.

We used the service of Dr Adams sometimes in Cape Town when our Doctor could not travel, he was very efficient and good, besides kind and positive. I recommend him.

We used the service of a Physio (     ) when Sarah could not do the job, he was very useful and efficient. I recommend him.

It is very important to have a Medical Department well organized, attending all practices, acting preventively, working on recovering, and giving support if problem big happens Coaches and Players feel more confident. The way the Medical Department operates is against the best performances.

A case of first aid should be always available during the practices and a defibrillator has to be bought.

The recommended anti flu vaccine was applied late in the year

Psychology support – never

Nutritionist support – never

IX – FIELDS, STADIUM AND TRAINING CENTER – CLUB´S OFFICES

TRAINING FIELDS

In the beginning we used Corinthians, two fields, one big and one small, only     

average quality, but we had problems there, due to the use of the grounds by   

their teams, needing to release the fields very early, being not possible to  

complete the job.

Then, gradually we started test and change to Germiston. The training fields  

in Germiston were not good enough, but improved during the season due to atmospherically reasons and because I started pay from my pocket some extra to the responsible for the care of the grounds. The field at the bottom in Germiston, used mainly for Hockey was good and we used it very consistently. It is recommended to support the owners of Germiston to treat them properly to put them in more playable conditions. Our training and game’s field should be perfect as a snooker table and soft to prevent injuries and pain. Regarding the size, FIFA´s official: 105m x 68m.

We prepared an office in Germiston, inaugurated on May, after waiting for so long. I bought the table and others staffs. The Office in the Club is very good but very seldom we could use it because of the work at the field on a daily basis, and because the office closes at 4 o’clock, when we are still training. At certain point time happened a robber in the office´s house and TV and other staffs stolen.

We never had the Gym done in Germiston, as expected and recommended several times to improve the quality of our work.

In the case of continuing there it is necessary to build a basic Gym at Germiston, a sand box, a wall, a better movable wall, and 2 new official goal posts with nets.

Being possible we recommend rent a house closed to Germiston for players staying to have rest when we practice full time.

TRAINING CENTER

The new area the club intended to get was very beautiful and where the Club born and a good Training Centre for Swallows might be the final boost for big results in the near future. It is necessary to have own place and organize things as well organized Offices to the Coaches and Staff, a Gym, Youth and etc.

I think this plans unfortunately were abandoned.

STADIUM

We suffered a lot this season for not having our own stadium, only rented. Among the ones we used for home games, Germiston is the best, as well as Rand where we played the Nedbank’s Final.

GERMISTON – Nice, the field is big and good. When I’ve been there 2 year ago, the best in the Country, but it is not very good any more due to be used for Rugby and Athletics. The cut of the grass must be in according to the style of football we intend to implement. We recommended cutting in the middle of the week to come green at the moment of the game. Do not cut very short. This season we used it very seldom.

It was not possible due to other commitments to be used as home ground the whole season as should be.

RUSTENBURG – Good conditions but very far and little support. We started having good performances, but the sequence of trips upset the Squad and they started getting bored, despite we try to motivate them. When the Committee got Germiston to play again in the end of the season, all celebrated and improved.

ORLANDO – We played one game there, fantastic construction and atmosphere, but bad field.

RAND – We played the Nedbank’s final over there. It is a beautiful place (as the Beautiful Birds deserves), nice construction, great atmosphere. Everyone thinks it should be Swallows’ Home Ground.

CLUB´S OFFICE

It is very good and beautiful.

I recommend to put a computer and a data show in the Coaches’ Office.

Very seldom used due to the work is run at Germiston, mostly full time.

X – YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

The Senior Staff had a good relation with the Youth Department, very supportive to each other, but we did not do the co-ordination as expected due to the Committee not to have given an answer, a signal of ok to go ahead with proper investments.

A Programme presented established the necessity of such co-ordination, but it never came out of the paper.

Even so we meet sometimes and supported each other well

XI – LADIES TEAM

The Manager had with us good relation but we think the Clubs does not pay enough attention to this Department. We think it should be integrated as well as the Youth, but to improve, more investments are needed and the Club does not look like to be able to. Even gloves the goalkeepers do not have (one day our goalkeeper Allan needed to loan his to the ladies’ team that was going to play a friendly international and the keeper had no gloves).

XII – TRANSPORT

Usually good, but not always we could use our own bus. The bus is not ideal for long trips or comfortable enough and started to show signs of exhaustion.

Transport of players is not good enough, only one car with one driver to collect players in several different places. Jeff is good but cannot always be on time.

The way the club uses to fill cars and bus with petrol is primary and many times I needed to put money from my pocket, other times we lost time going to Joburg’s garage during the trip increasing the time of trip in about 40 minutes.

Many times I needed to pay for the toll gates.

XIII – SUGESTIONS:

– Good pre-season next in a Football’s Country (pre-season in Brazil)

– Inter-Season before second round;

– Meeting with the Coach at least once week;

– To complete the Technical Staff with a Technical Observer and Physiotherapist; Psychologist and Nutritionist support

– To firm a deal with Mr Zac as our Consultant regarding Physiology and Fitness aspects

– Consistent study of the Squad and Scouting policy to find out players before the opponents, in the needed positions and release the ones not useful anymore. Just talented players should be part of the Squad, and at the National Teams’ level.

– Get in touch with an University (other than Wits, mainly Johannesburg) to implement a Scientific Project, because Science is important in Sports nowadays;

– To maintain the services of AMISCO, recording all Swallows’ games and some important sessions. Study the opponent teams and players, and prepare DVD of all players.

– Improve the Video Library and a Library in the Club specialized in Sport, Football and Culture;

– To form a Council of Notables to be used in important and decisive moments, as well as recognizing their importance in the Club’s History;

– Form a Professional Scouting Team to scout trough out the region, all the Country and abroad.

– All Technical Staff full time professionals;

– Daily Press Release of the main activities of the Club;

– To buy a video camera to record games and practices.

– To improve the policy of bonus possible paying the bonuses 2 useful days after winning the game.

XI – CONCLUSION

         It was a good season, despite the position attained in the League, but at the mean time winning the Nedbank Cup, putting 2 players in the National Team (Lefa and Bevan), 5 in the National B Team (Lefa, Radebe, James, Quinton and Shakka) 5 in the Youth Team qualified for the World under 20 Championship (Quinton – the Captian, Shakka, Mbesuma, Thato and Ace).

         I am very happy of being here and wishing to do a good job in the way to put Swallows in its deserved position, the top 4 as told by Leon Prins in a meeting with me, Ryan Peterson and Nadime when we first meet in Johannesburg. Then in the third season fight for Championship.

         In the space of 365 days we have done a lot of work and is visible a big the improvement in all areas, the Methodology was implemented, the Philosophy and Style are there, the Club is United (Management except the CEO, Staff, Squad and Supporters).

I am sure we are in the way to improve even more, win games and competitions. Still a lot to do, God give us health to work hard and succeed!

Brazilian regards,         

One for all, all for one!                                              

Julio Leal