Looking for Talent In The Right Places

Further to the point I made about the lack of enthusiasm of tennis and cricket to venture out of the their middle class comfort zones and look for rough diamonds here is an example of the hunger of the kid with the competitive attitude.

One of Anthony's team mates at Arsenal Development is Kia Napa, the son of former British and European Bantamweight Champion Ian Napa, and just like dad "Dappa"; little Kia's the midget of the squad (just a bit smaller than my little fella) but what a competitor ~ and assertive too.

They played a warm up game today in preparation for games against a District Team and their own Academy Under 9s in the next two weeks, and whilst their opponents were far too easily out passed, out thought and out classed; they did present a problem to overcome in that they stuck in there and fought for every ball....................maybe a bit like Torquay playing Chelsea's youngsters last summer.

Now one strapping great lad decided he's had enough of being made to look second rate and started throwing his weight around and leaving his foot in. Who was it who took it upon himself to sort him out? That's right, the son of a fighter man; a player of exceptional skill flair and individuality but still streetwise enough to show the big lad on the other side who was going to be boss out there; and that's the type of mentality that only comes from the harder edge of life and fortunately for young Kia he has his dad's immense personal discipline to go with it.

To see young Kia taking it upon himself to organise those around him, assert himself and showboat those talented feet always brings a smile to my face just as it does when my Anthony plays the "Jackdaw" and swoops from nowhere to steal the ball off an opponent (he also found time to crack a couple of impressive goals away from his "free defender role" this morning too) always brings a smile to my face.

Stay in and watch the Ashes or pay stupid money to watch Premiership football when it starts? No thanks I love to get out on a Saturday morning and watch these little guys strutting their stuff!