Frankfurt/Oder
We arose to breakfast in the restaurant and it is superb. Whatever you want. I start with a bowls of fresh fruit salad and a pot of tea. Then scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.
An early start as we had to be in Frankfurt-Oder at 10 and it was a 2 hour trip. A bit hard to understand as it is only 80 kms away. Although once we start driving I discover that it is through an awful lot of small country villages and narrow roads. Plus the East Germans love their speed cameras must be about 30 of them we see.
We arrive at the training ground but pass through the very 'East German' town on the way. Coffee is on at the ground and it is probably about 32 degrees. We meet some very familiar faces who were at Inverell for the mini World Cup. We discover however that we are to run training when we thought it was their school staff doing so. No need to be up so early!
Following a 1 hr session where we break into the 3 teams and go through tactics etc. we head to the school for lunch and a tour. This is the school in which we have a relationship with and 3 of our boys stayed here in 2014. Lunch is in the school cafeteria and is very nice chicken snitzel.
We then meet the principal ( jeans and sandals) who takes us through a presentation and tour of the school. Hard to see TGS Head doing the same for 2 hours!
The school is one of 30 special sports schools across Germany. They do football, but also track and field, wrestling, weightlifting and cycling to name a few. The indoor velodrome is world class and the German cycling team often trains there. We watch the wrestling boys train and they do some incredible exercises in their necks for strength and flexibility. Mathias, the head football coach, is expected to provide 2 boys each year to go onto the next level. Pressure!
The games are against their 16's and both sides compete well. Our junior boys are outclassed but the seniors do well against them. The games are again on turf so we are going to have to tell the players to pack rubber soled shoes.
Back home for dinner and the players get to bed early as we have games the next day. Getting hard to sleep as the weather is hot and steamy. Very sweaty in rooms with no fans.