Newsletter (09) Term 1

Wow nine weeks of training have already passed!

This week was again fueled with the budding excitement of competition being on the horizon! Speaking with the players we can sense their anticipation to show off their skills. Unfortunately with the rain returning they may be waiting a couple more sleeps for this opportunity.

With many new families within the club we ask you take the time to read through the below information to aid in the smooth running of the season.

Kit

– Mongo FC Players should all have the black Mongo Lion kit. Players all have a unique number assigned to them which can be used for the whole season.

– Players should get in the habit of bringing their red shirt to all games, when you play against a Lindfield team, players will need to use the RED shirt as Lindfield’s kit is navy blue. Other teams may have new strips this year. So it’s always good to bring the red shirt in your bag.

Arrival times

– Players are required to arrive to games 30 min prior to kick off (u8, u11)

– Players are required to arrive to games 45 min prior to kick off (u14, u16)

– In the chance a player is running late please communicate this with the manager who can let the coach know for team strategy preparation and line up.

Photos

– We encourage all parents to take photos and videos from the games and email them to us to be included in the weekly newsletter.

Code of behaviour

– It is Mongo Football policy that parents do not coach from the sideline. Let the kids play, encourage them to try their new skills acquired at training in a game situation. Parents are to support from the opposite side of the field to the coach and players.

Looking to the world of football, 29 of the 32 places for the upcoming World Cup have been secured! There have been some extremely nail biting qualifications such as Senegal knocking out Egypt on penalties and Cameroon knocking Algeria out in the final moments of extra time! The Socceroos among the few left fighting for the final 3 places. To see all the teams that are currently qualified see the article below.

Stay safe everyone,

TD

World Cup Qualifiers Wrap

AFC (Asia)

Saudi Arabia topped Australia’s Group B with Japan finishing second, while Iran finished first and South Korea second in Group A.

Qatar needed no qualifying matches to cement their place in the tournament, as they are the host nation.

Qualified teams:

• Japan
• Iran
• Saudi Arabia
• South Korea
• Qatar

Australia will face the UAE in the AFC play-off match on June 7.

UEFA (Europe)

12 out of 13 teams have qualified in Europe after the final round of qualifying this morning, as Portugal beat North Macedonia 2-0 and Poland triumphed over Sweden, 2-0.

The final spot is yet to be decided after Scotland’s match with Ukraine was postponed until June due to the Russian invasion, with Wales awaiting the victor.

Qualified teams:

• Germany
• Denmark
• Belgium
• France
• Croatia
• Spain
• Serbia
• England
• Switzerland
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal

CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean)

Canada booked their first World Cup berth in 36 years after a 4-0 victory over Jamaica earlier this week, and both Mexico and the United States joined them on Thursday.

Costa Rica, who finished fourth in the group, will now go into a play-off with the winner of the Oceania confederation, New Zealand.

Qualified teams:

• Canada
• Mexico
• USA

CONMEBOL (South America)

Four teams have already secured automatic qualification, with Peru earning the region’s sole play-off spot after finishing fifth ahead of Colombia and Chile, who were also in the hunt going into the last round of matches yesterday.

This means Peru will be the Socceroos’ final hurdle to the tournament, provided they can get past the UAE. 

Qualified teams:

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Ecuador
• Uruguay

OFC (Oceania)

New Zealand defeated the Solomon Islands 5-0 on Thursday and will now represent Oceania in the intercontinental play-off against the fourth-placed CONCACAF side, Costa Rica.

CAF (Africa)

Five teams from Africa have now sealed their places in the World Cup following the final round of qualifying on Thursday.

The second leg of five match-ups featured a penalty shootout and two ties decided by away goals. 

Qualified teams: 

• Senegal
• Ghana
• Cameroon
• Morocco
• Tunisia