August 18, 2010

Setteling in back home

Sorry for not update you earlier but I have been really busy with work and a lot of other things.
I will update you with pictures from our new home when we move in, in a couple of weeks.

We haven’t really settled yet as we are counting the days until we move into our new house. We are getting the keys 28th this month and are looking forward to that.

In Denmark we have had one of the best summers ever measured since 1890 and that’s good as we haven’t had any holidays. Most people have their annual leave in July but we had our around Christmas

Ane stated school this week, studding to become a school teacher and the kids started schools last week.

Camilla is playing Tennis and she got me into is as well. I need some training to be able to play and practice with her. So I will start in the same club and practice one day a week, but to become the new Federer is probably 35 years too late.

Soccer

Chris is getting used to his new life at the Academy. The Academy started last week but training commenced Already 19th July.

It seems that he are enjoying it and are slowly adapting the pace of the game. They know that it takes time to adapt because of all the new things around him. Lots of things such as going to a new school, getting new friends, getting used to manage himself, shopping, washing, home work and training 6-8 times a week, etc.

The first team squad have 25 players inclusive 3 goalkeepers, but the need a squad that big because there will always be injuries throughout the season.

Those players that do not play for the first team in the weekend will play for the 2nd team so they get game time.

The U17 season started last week and they played against Brøndby IF away. Normally Brøndby IF are a top 3 team so everyone was a bit excited. Chris wasn’t selected to start, one of the other goalkeepers was, and I think he was disappointed, but that’s how it is, the coach pick the one he thinks is the best keeper.

He just has to work hard at training and give himself time to adapt to the pace of the game and then he will get the chance.
My opinion, if that counts at all, is that Chris is not far behind, actually I would say that his Goalkeeper technique is better than the other keepers, but he lacks experience and doesn’t have as good goalkick compared to the other keeper.

But I am confident that he will develop as he is new to this environment and I know that he listen and give in at every session. They lost the game at Brøndby 1-0 but did well. Brøndby had possesion most of the time without creating any real big chances but SønderjyskE was dangerous on the counter attack and probably had the best chances in the game.

The goalkeeper couldn’t do anything to stop the goal. It was an free-kick that hit the wall and had a deflection.

Last weekend they went to a youth tournament in Heemskerk, Holland just 30 min outside Amsterdam.
The tournament had teams from Holland, Germany, Denmark, Mexico, Polen, Belgium and I think Norway. Ane and I went there stayed in Haarlem, just 15 min away from the pitches.


On Saturday they played two group stage games. Chris played the first game which they won 3-0 and he played well. The other Goalkeeper played the next game which they drew 1-1 but he got a small injury.

Saturday night the whole group went to Alkmaar stadium to watch the game Alkmaar FC against FC Groningen in the Dutch first league(Æredivisie). Simon Poulsen, a Danish International (The player that scored an Danish own goal against Holland in the world cup, sorry to mention Simon), is playing for Alkmaar FC and original came from SønderjyskE (Chris’s new club) as a youth player.

They played their third group stage game Sunday morning, which they lost 1-0. Chris was in goal and did ok, but couldn’t do anything about the goal. The result qualified them for the semi-finals against the winner in the other group, FC Groningen and that would become their toughest game so far in the tournament.
Chris was playing as the other keeper was injured and could not play so Chris would play the final or the losers final as well.

They drew in the semi and played well, Chris had a good game and a really god save 2 min from full time to hold them for the penalty shoot out. They won the penalty shootout 3-1.
FC Groningen missed the first shot and Chris saved the next one and as SønderjyskE scored on their first two, FC Groningen only scored once in their last 3 shot and missed two. They were in the final.

The final was against a German team and it was an even game that could go both ways. Neither of the teams created any big chances and for Chris there was not much to do. He saved shot on a close free-kick late in the game and it was 0-0 after normal time.

It went into extra time and all the players looked tired after the three games in a day but finally SønderjyskE broke the dead lock and scored. The rest of the game the other team pushed forward with everything they could but SønderjyskE hold them from scoring and they won the game 1-0 and the tournament.

Now it's back to training and try to get in the starting XI this coming Saturday. They play against FC Nordsjælland at home and lets hope they get their first points on the ladder.


/Kaimer