The friendly against Ambassadors Men sees them with most of the ball for the opening minutes. The boys are organised and press forward.
This is a good test for Kisasa, playing against an experienced side, though the younger boys’ stamina is a plus. A good pass from Taaj to the middle sees the first shot on goal by five minutes, and Ambassadors follow up with a chance of their own. Soon after, Taaj on the left wing cuts in sharply, loses his defender, and curls it past the keeper. His next attempt a few minutes later goes wide.
After a 20-minute half, both sides get a brief chance to regroup and drink some water.
Holding possession well and passing the ball around, a series of saves and a solid defensive effort keep Ambassadors out into the second half, but a lack of decisive chances sees Kisasa FC remain goalless as well. That is until two quick goals from Calvin: the first assisted by Ye Seoung, finished from the right into the bottom-left corner with a shot that thunders past the keeper’s outstretched glove.
Play continues. Number 72 picks up an injury and is attended to off the pitch, leaving Kisasa FC playing with 10 men, but it’s only a knock and he’s back on shortly. A sustained press from Ambassadors gives them a goal back soon after.
Calvin’s celebration: a relaxed, easy walk back to his half. The definition of calm, cool, collected.
Calvin’s second, a few minutes later, is a screamer from outside the keeper’s box, a right-footed shot which tears past the keeper’s attempted save. His celebration: a relaxed, easy walk back to his half.
Kisasa FC continue to defend well, and a corner sees the boys score from the resulting set piece. A right-footed shot flies into the top right corner of the goal. Some plays break down, but the boys play freely and fluidly, bravely trying passes and dribbles.
Then: Rosslyn Varsity Boys
After another half, the boys are up against the Rosslyn Varsity Boys for two more halves. They hold the ball well, not conceding but forcing saves out of the keeper, and allowing Rosslyn Varsity to dominate possession and hold the ball in our half.
A few tired legs result in poor passes, and Kisasa FC continue to narrowly avoid scoring. Success comes from a brilliant pass through the middle from Asher. Our forward, small and beared down on by larger players, shows extreme composure to drill it up and over the keeper. The scorer’s teammates surround him and congratulate him with high-fives and accolades.
The boys regain composure and the passing play looks solid as they hold the ball in our own half. Good. Room for improvement remains in the final third, where passes through midfield don’t come off as often. This hurts us when Rosslyn Varsity get one back at the start of the last half, with a shot from deep whizzing past the keeper.
Soon after, we get the chance to cancel it out. A penalty. The boys look to their coach for permission to take it. It’s Tremendous who eventually steps up, blasting it confidently into the roof of the goal. He has a striking performance, dribbling past defenders and creating chances. One of them is an impressive run that narrowly misses, bouncing off the post and back into play.
This is some of the last action of the game. Rosslyn Varsity miss a few chances, and the score ends in favour of Kisasa FC.
Real grit. Still becoming comfortable playing with each other. Letting passion for football lead them.
Today’s performance shows the boys demonstrate real grit, still becoming comfortable playing with each other, allowing the passion for football to lead them. Some players are still new but play with ambition that matches the calibre of the growing squad. Link-up play is improving, as is pressing and moving as a team. A staggering amount of offside calls shows there is more to be done in that regard.