Alianca CV from Brockton are well on their way to capture their first NELASA Championship. Aliança Board members made it clear in the beginning of the season that Alianca are in it to win it, when they got some of the league best players like Zico, Zorru, Lisandro, Adilson and others young talents to join the team. Aliança CV have one of the leagues best Roster and they have proven so far that they are the best team in NELASA not only on papers but on the field as well. Aliança CV is undefeated after 11 League games so far this year a 10-1-0 record and an impressive 22-6-2 record dating back to last year they lead the league in points with 31 and goal scored with 30, Aliança CV only tie this year came against the team that is chasing them right now Emigrantes in week 7 a 1-1 tie. In a recent interview with Aliança Sports Director and Co Founder João Jose he said that "Alianca goals this year is to continue working hard as a team, preparing every week to win each game and respect each opponent, and face each game as a final” and he feels like that was lacking last year and it is one of the reason why they didn’t actually win anything last year even though they were clearly the best team during the regular season. João Jose also gives a lot of credit to Aliança head coach Betinho he said “The basic keys are the obedience of the players and expertise of coach Betinho. He respect and trust his players and they in return do the same. He was able to introduce respect, orientation and confidence. Being self-oriented and has real knowledge of the game, Betinho, was able to pioneer a new strategies. The tactical, psychological and/or emotional disciplines are playing a big role.” Aliança CV is in a good position to win the Championship and even though there is still a lots of games to be played they could very well go undefeated João Jose said “would be great, possible, but consciously that it is very, very difficult. There is not unbeatable team. We are in the path of growing experience. NELASA has very strong and experienced teams. We respect all of them. I am pretty sure that that’s not our goal." Alianca CV is one of the youngest Clubs in the League and they are starting to become one of the most popular team as well all credited to the Board Members that are doing a exceptional job supporting the team on and off the field, Joao Jose said “Every year Alianca CV is growing, the board and the players are budding and/or growing. We are a better organized association and in the field we have a better behaved and well coordinated squad.”
Here is more of the interview with João Jose
What is the difference between this years’s Alianca and the past years?
--Every year Alianca CV is growing, the board and the players are budding and/or growing. We are a better organized association and in the field we have a better behaved and well coordinated squad.
The basic keys are the obedience of the players and expertise of coach Betinho. He respect and trust his players and they in return do the same. He was able to introduce respect, orientation and confidence. Being self-oriented and has real knowledge of the game, Betinho, was able to pioneer a new strategies. The tactical, psychological and/or emotional disciplines are playing a big role.
These youths now understand who is in charge and that during the work time they are professionals. After the game the coach and the players are all together playing, eating, drinking etc. But during work time everyone has to respect and do the job at its best. As we all know, discipline is the instant willingness and obedience to all orders, respect for authority, self reliance and team work. These players are capable now to understand that. These are the reasons for such success.
Last year, contrarily we had a very strong squad and a good coach as well. But, there were no discipline and some of the players start to take control of the outcome. Most started to believe that they were superstars and that all should play. In addiction, luck played an important role as well.
What are your goals for this year?
Our goal is to continue working hard as a team, preparing every week to win each game. At the end we will do the math. But deliberately, we are a serious candidate for NELASA league and cup, MASS CUP and New England Champions league titles. We know that it’s difficult, and alerted that worse is to come, but we are prepared for the challenges.
Knowing that last year you guys were the best team in the league but didn’t win anything. what did Alianca learn from that that might help you guys go all the way this year?
Respect each opponent, and face each game as a final. But the major concern is to maintain a group compact, tactically and physiologically strong. All NELASA teams (and every year) tend to loose players in the most critical part of the season, because of innumerous issues. The lack of commitment/exhaustion from long season is the key issue and that that we should pay more attention to.
What does it means to go undefeated?
--That would be great, possible, but consciously that it is very, very difficult. There is not unbeatable team. We are in the path of growing experience. NELASA has very strong and experienced teams. We respect all of them. I am pretty sure that that’s not our goal. Our goal is to work continuously fervent week-in and week-out to win the championship and cup, autonomously of being defeated or not. Winning a title can bestow us confidence and experience to maybe in the future to try to go undefeated.
In a recent letter to NELASA Board Member Mario “Betinho” Santos doesn’t want anything to do with the league anymore. Betinho was the First Cape Verdean to serve as the President of the league from 2007-2009 and after his term was done he decide to leave the position do to family issues but promised to remain close to the league and take on a smaller task. He was appointed the League’s Vice President of Disciplinary Committee back in January and now at the mid point of the 2010 season it seems like he had enough. Betinho wrote a letter to NELASA where he said “In my opinion the Executive Committee Chair person is way over her head and unfortunately I do not see enough people around that care to do anything about the situation and I also think that the Appeals Committee is starting to making decisions with no regards to what is actually written in NELASA’s Bylaws, so for these two reasons I hope that you will kindly accept my resignation as the Vice President of NELASA’s Disciplinary Committee.”
