Quiet before the Storm

It has been a long time since our last post to talk about the team, mostly because it has been a long time since our last official match! We should have started the second phase against the Happy Dragons (3rd in group B) last Week End but with the poor weather, the full sessions of matches was called off. We will now have to find another date for that match. Instead, our first match will be this Friday (May 1)around noon against Nam Wan. They finished third of the group C. The schedule is supposed to go crescendo as we are supposed to play 3rds of groups B and Cs, then seconds, then firsts. If things go well the last 2 matches could be real crackers that would be decisive for the promotion and the title. Before we get there, there is a big week coming as we have 3 matchs within 7 days. We will need to get back quickly into the rythm to face this crucial week. The AKITA training was pretty disturbed over the last few weeks as we lost the benefit of the Mei Foo court, this combined with people travelling means that we only trained a couple of time with the HK national team in the last few weeks. We hope to get some new slot for the training as soon as possible but if anyone has a suggestion of where to train during a week day evening, we are interested. Also, the current freeze on training makes integration of new players more difficult but we are recruiting and the earlier new players come, the better we can organise next year. Additionnaly, there should be new event (HK cup, beach tournament...) which we can enter AKITA into. Let's hope for a spectacular end of the year

AKITA Marches to the second phase

During March, the AKITA Team was in an off competition month and was waiting for the start of the second phase. The survey on what should keep the team busy gave the following results: Play one friendly match   1 (9%) Play many friendlies 3 (27%) Go the gym to lose the beer belly 0 (0%) Get the germans to take french lessons 2 (18%) Train proper combinations for the TV 0 (0%) Find a beer company to sponsor the team in kind   8 (72%) At least the priorities of the team were clear and this should definitely increase the fear factor for other teams... But the team still managed to get some handball before the easter break. AKITA was honoured to play with the Hong Kong senior and junior national teams. An interesting and not easy experience as the very high and mobile defense of Hong Kong is unusual for players coming from Europe and shows the strong fitness of the Hong Kong team. On the 25th March, the AKITA team met the HK PolyU at the Shaw Sports Complex. A great location for this match against an very strong team. Going forward, the AKITA team will have the chance to play more time against the Hong Kong national team as the height, weight and physical style of the AKITA defense will hopefully help them to face a different style from the traditional Hong Kong style in preparation of the Asian games. We wish all the best to the Hong Kong team and are honoured to play with them. Regarding the second phase, Long Hei the Happy Dragons (龍禧) managed 2 wins in the last 2 matches to get to 15 points and the third place. in Group C Chun Yuen (駿源) should go through with 12 points following Yan Ching (仁青) forfeit.