It might well still be early days in the Hollywoodbets Third Division campaign, but Seaside Spurs are proving to be a tough nut to crack thus far – and it is all down to the experience and expertise of the former Bafana Bafana striker Gerald Stober.
Stober might be new to this league, but it is clear that his football philosophy is coming to the fore and doing the talking. Stober pointed out that it is a process that is slowly but surely starting to take shape.
“If you asked me before the season started if we’d be eight games on the trot unbeaten then I would have said ‘no’,” Stober told No Bones with Jones. “A few players understood what we were building in terms of football structure and organizational structure on the field, you know. You can’t just go out there and play. You need to have some sort of plan and then slowly build on the different departments,” said Stober.
Seaside’s only loss thus far came at Greenwood Athletic in the opening game of the season, since then they have been eight games unbeaten which includes three wins and five draws.
Some will say it’s average stats, but for a club that’s only two years in existence and debuting in the Third Division, it is not too shabby at all.
So, besides Stober’s influence, what is Seaside doing differently that seasoned campaigners such as neighbours Ocean View and FC Hout Bay doesn’t?
Perhaps it is the work done behind the scenes by the owner Earl Cloete that has enhanced them in a short space of time. Perhaps it is also the financial backing and sponsors which allows them to incentivise players, as well as lure talented players to the club.
Perhaps it is Cloete’s ability to stay in his lane and allow his coaching staff to do what they have been appointed to do. Whatever factors it comes down to, the fact remains that they are setting the pace from the Two Oceans LFA’s perspective to ensure that football remains competitive and on a high level.
This is exactly the vision of Stober who made it clear from the outset that he wants his team to play an attractive brand of football that will be pleasing to the eye.
Therefore the former Santos and Hellenic player will leave no stone unturned during the festive break as he has decided that it will be in their best interest to not break for the festivities.
“You’ve got to work when other people are not working,” Stober further explained. “And especially to draw the comparison between the professional players and players living in the community who are easily influenced when nothing is happening and I just need to keep a handle on that.
“We got a small little program, for the guys to stay active, let me put it that way. It is all about cultivating a professional mindset and attitude for the future so that people can see. I want people in the community to see that these guys should be on a break but they are still doing something and staying active. And if you get that lazy attitude and that happens easily, you know. (Bad) habits are formed so easily and we don’t want to start from scratch again,” Stober concluded.
