Fermanagh Premier manager Scott Robinson is just looking forward now to the action getting underway at the Super Cup NI next week.
The Premier side will commence with a game against Russian giants Spartak Moscow on Monday and this will be followed by games against Co Antrim and Brazilian outfit GO Audax on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
And with preparations having gone well, Robinson says that the players and management are keen for the games to start.
“The boys are excited now and they can’t wait now to get up and for the games to begin.
“For me personally, what I’m looking forward to most is not playing any team in particular but the first whistle on the first day and the tournament to be started,” he said.
Former Ballinamallard Reserve boss Robinson is a regular to the North Coast for the world renowned tournament but this will be his first as a manager and he is pleased with the efforts that the players have put in during the lead up to next week. And he feels that they are hitting top form at just the right time.
“We have worked hard over the last 10 or 12 weeks and I suppose over the last three weeks or so they have really started to click. That’s what we have been aiming for and I would be very happy with the squad, there is a lot of talent and ability in it and seeing the development of them from the very first trials has been brilliant. The ball skills have got better and their possession and passing has got better so for me that’s the biggest buzz.” he said.
The Premier squad wrapped up their warm up games last week with wins over Sion Swifts U19s and Cavan/Leitrim Development squad.
“We won both games well and the performance against Sion was especially pleasing, we are hitting the right level at the right time,” stated Robinson.
The side face a big test on Monday against Spartak Moscow and the opening three games provides a little bit of everything for Fermanagh with another county side as well as a Brazilian outfit among the opposition.
“With Spartak Moscow and the Brazilian side you’re going into the unknown a bit as you can’t watch them anywhere. We wouldn’t know anything really about them but they know nothing about is either.
“You would obviously expect the Russian team to be big and strong and the Brazilians to be fast and skilful but we will just focus on ourselves and you just want to do as well as we can.
“I don’t think we have anything to fear and we will be going into all our games looking to win.
“We are strong defensively and we have a lot of pace and goal scoring ability going forward,” he said.
All of Fermanagh’s three games will take place at 5pm and Robinson believes that is perfect in terms of preparation.
“It’s perfect as it will allow us to do a session each morning on the grass whether it is set pieces or whatever, then you have recovery time and then the afternoon to prepare for the game,” he explained.
So, what are his hopes for the week?
“The main thing is that we are able to compete and as long as we are competing then we have chance. We have game-plans, things we want to do when we are up there, and we have been putting them into action in our last couple of warm up games. In fairness to the boys, they have been really responsive to it and willing to work hard in whatever we are doing. They have been superb.”