Komla: We’re good prepared and aiming for knockout stage

• Mali won a CAF Africa U-17 Cup of Nations Gabon 2017
• Les Aiglonnets have been drawn in a same organisation as Paraguay, New Zealand and Turkey
  
• Chile 2015 runners-up are fervent for another successful tournament

Of all a mixture that spell success during U-17 level, few representation a pendulum like coaching imagination – and few U-17 coaches exaggerate a status of Mali’s Jonas Komla. A youth-team dilettante and one of Africa’s many reputable government figures, his record speaks for itself, with Les Aiglonnets (the Eaglets) engagement their place during a FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 by winning a final book of a CAF Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

That delight combined serve glaze to Komla’s reputation, and FIFA.com spoke with a Mali manager about his side’s subsequent vital plea – yet not before a brief summation of his career so far. “I’ve worked with several girl teams,” he explained. “I had a possibility to work in a United Arab Emirates for 3 years and we got my education during some of Europe’s biggest clubs, like Manchester City, Valencia and Real Madrid. I’m now putting all that knowledge to good use for Malian football, with a idea of assisting a immature players swell and do good during a U-17 World Cup.”

Group theatre goal
The pull for a final contest has placed Mali in a sincerely even organisation with Paraguay, Turkey and New Zealand, though Komla believes his side has each possibility of subordinate for a knockout phase. “The Paraguayans adore football,” he said. “They have a good organisation and lots of talent, generally during girl level. we got a possibility to take on Mexico in Japan and a dual teams are utterly similar, with a concentration on technique and fast movement.”

Komla is further heedful of an softened Turkey team. “The Turks have been concentrating on girl development. They’re putting their concentration on technique and power, so I’m awaiting a earthy diversion opposite them, generally deliberation a distance of their players. In terms of tactics, we’ll have to be adult to a charge on a day.”

As for associate organisation hopefuls New Zealand, a Mali manager believes a Oceanian contenders are a weakest side in a territory – notwithstanding gearing adult for their sixth U-17 World Cup in period and eighth overall. “New Zealand will be putting their faith in a new era of players,” he said. “They always validate for a U-17 World Cup and we’ll take them really seriously. You have to provide each diversion like a final. We’ll take each compare as it comes, but removing forward of ourselves. Our opponents will fear us given we’re a African champions, and it’ll be adult to us to live adult to a standing.”

Mali will also start a contest as runners-up from dual years ago in Chile, and as such they will be among a favourites to lift a trophy. Despite that pedigree, Komla is gripping his feet on a ground. “You wish to go as distant as probable in each competition. Our initial idea is to get over a organisation stage, and for that to occur we’ll need to be totally focused on a initial 3 matches. Once that’s achieved, we’ll proceed a knockout games one by one.”

Positive preparations
Mali will positively start their bid in tip form, in contrariety to several sides who have endured formidable durations as a finals approach. “We’ve prepared well, with training camps in Japan and Qatar,” pronounced Komla. “We still have 7 matches to go before we leave for India, and we know what to design over there.”

His charges have also only finished their debate during a Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophone Games), an knowledge that Komla feels was hugely positive. “The Malian organisation done a good preference to take partial in a Games,” he said. “We were advantageous adequate to be means to take on some good-quality U-23 teams, like Cameroon, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo and Congo DR. Those matches taught us a lot. When we get behind to Bamako, we’ll scold a mistakes that we identified in Côte d’Ivoire.”

Mali’s mental toughness
One aspect that should shun inspection is Mali’s considerable mental strength. As Komla explained, a coaching staff have been addressing a psychological side of a diversion with players for a series of years. “Compared to other African countries, Mali are a step forward when it comes to mental preparation. We’ve been operative with these players given they started during U-13 level, and we’ve put a lot of importance on a mental aspect. You mustn’t forget that they come from really bad families and that football is a approach out for them. We learn them to play each diversion with a same cold and a same focus.

“I’ve reminded my players that each compare during a World Cup will be a final for us,” he added. “If we win one, it’ll be like winning a World Cup. And if we remove one, it’ll be like losing a World Cup. That’s my approach of enlivening them to give all on a pitch. we keep revelation them that this World Cup won’t be easy. That’s because we need to work on a fitness, technique and mentality. My organisation isn’t only clever in terms of tactics; it also has immeasurable pot of mental strength.”

Mali’s U-17 World Cup schedule:
Paraguay-Mali (6 October)
Turkey-Mali (9 October)
Mali-New Zealand (12 October)

Full Time .. Mali are a Champions of #TotalCAFU17 pic.twitter.com/bFieZ3XMdY

— CAF (@CAF_Online) May 28, 2017

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/y=2017/m=7/news=komla-we-re-well-prepared-and-aiming-for-knockout-stage-2902681.html