North Companions' new coach, Jackson Zifodya, has been impressed with the speed at which his charges have adopted his "possessional" style of play.
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It is a style inspired by the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool - and it will get another airing when Northies play Moore Creek in an opening-round Johnson Cup clash at Johnson Field on Sunday.
Zifodya said implementing his preference for keeping possession and producing "quick movement of the ball and quick counterattacking" had gone smoother because "about half" his side had played under him when he coached Northies' under-16 side.
The players who were not in that side were "quickly" adapting to his methods, he said, adding that he had a "very young" squad, with an average age of "18 or 19"
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"As with any change with coaches, you find it takes time for some players to fully understand your message and to carry that message on to the football pitch," he said.
He added: "The majority have played with me before in under-16 and they know the way I want to play. The others are clever players and quickly adapt."
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