26 Jan KDUL Select Side Prepare For Kennedy Cup in Portugal
This week on the DB Sports blog we have some great news about the Kildare and District Underage League’s preparations for the upcoming Kennedy Cup. The KDUL select side has just returned from a warm weather training trip organised in Alfamar, Portugal.
The week-long training program has become a part of the schedule devised for the Kennedy Cup squad, which brings together the very elite of Irish youth soccer each year.
“It is a great time for both players and coaches – during the period we have 11 training sessions equivalent to three months work at home” said Pat McNally, Secretary of the KDUL.
The trip coincides with the winter break implemented throughout Europe, allowing players to bond and to see what the life of a professional footballer is like, albeit only for a week.
The KDUL outfit also play one friendly game against Portimao the local opposition; each year providing a stern and valuable test for the group. This year the KDUL were beaten 3-0; however it is notable that they lost to a team which has remained unbeaten for three years in Portugal.
As it has been mentioned it is a period of break in Europe, giving the players the opportunity to go and see Ajax take on RB Leipzig, who were staying in the vicinity and had arranged a friendly game. Although it was a friendly by name it remained a competitive affair, with it being broadcast live on Ajax TV.
Also staying in the same hotel were the Ajax women’s team, and the players were able to see their training schedule which was not all that different than ours.
A typical day involved rising at 8am, then breakfast at 8.30. The first training session was from 10 to 12.00 with the midday meal at 13.00.
A rest period from 14.00 to 15.30 was followed by a second training session from 16.00 to 18.00.
Training was followed by a swim and a dip in the plunge pool. Evening
meal was from 19.30 with either a quiz, team meeting or video analysis leaving the players fit for an early night.
The KDUL would like to thank Darren Scully from DB Sports tours for his assistance in organising the trip and we already look forward to returning next year.
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