Written by “In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time.” – Robert Collier
Melbourne Victory FC were fortunate to have the massively talented Adama Traora on board and the Spanish born superstar was equally pleased to have re-signed with the club for the 2020/21 A-League season.
Head Coach Grant Brebner stated; “We are thrilled to have Adama re-commit to the club for this season” … “Adama is not only the ultimate professional and a fierce competitor, but he understands the Victory culture, our standards, our expectations and the way we want to play. “Not only is Adama a reliable defender, he has an incredible work rate and provides us with the ability to quickly transition from defence to attack.”
Unfortunately, however, an incident during a match against Melbourne City on Saturday April 17 involving Traora’s inappropriate contact with referee Chris Beath’s arm as he argued a decision, has resulted in his being red-carded and sent off. In the aftermath of the incident, it has been determined that Traore had committed the offence of “Unsporting conduct toward a Match Official” and the matter has been referred on to the Independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee to decide whether the offence warrants an additional punishment to the mandatory match suspension.
This is an indication of how important it is to have strong leadership, to guide the players and help them channel their energies into the game and not to let them feed their frustrations and tempers. An important factor in establishing a healthy dynamic in the team is recruiting for more than just ability. Certainly, a team is mighty and poised for victory if it’s powered by super-star players, but there are other skills worth looking for. As in any recruitment process, management has to examine a candidate’s ability to ‘fit’ into the team and into the culture.
Sport coaching is a multifaceted role that will have a profound effect on athletes and this effect can easily be a negative one. What kind of atmosphere or culture is being driven? How much guidance and support is offered to the players? Is the emphasis purely on winning or is ‘the sport’ more important? Coaches are the heart of the team and have the ability to motivate athletes, increase their self-esteem, and help them achieve their optimum potential. A bad coach however will drive a bad culture and an unsuccessful team.
At the end of the day its these attitudinal and behavioral skills that a coach possesses and passes on to the players that will create a cohesive winning team.
Adama Traore extends contract for 2020/21 | Melbourne Victory
Victory’s Traore facing long A-League ban | The West Australian