Boys varsity soccer player Muhammed Delane, a junior, rests his head on a soccer ball as he lays on the field of the Billy Henderson Stadium. Soccer has been Delane’s passion since he can remember. “This is my home. I love the way I feel when I am out here and the lights are shining down on the field and the crowd is roaring,” Delane said. Photo by Julie Alpaugh.
By ADRIENNE LUMPKIN – Public Relations Manager
With over half of the team being newcomers, junior Muhammed DeLane talks about what the team is doing to kick off the 2017 Clarke Central High School boys varsity soccer team season right.
ODYSSEY Media Group Public Relations Manager Adrienne Lumpkin: Has the soccer team had a meeting for the season?
Clarke Central High School boys varsity soccer player Muhammed Delane, a junior: We have different workouts like during GLAD time and after-school practices. We have started tryouts, as well. Right now, we are focusing more on conditioning and endurance, but next week we actually bring out the soccer balls and that is when the games really begin.
AL: What do you all do during those workouts?
MD: We do different drills. We talk about the upcoming season and basically get together and play. It helps to play together more and more because by doing that, we learn each other’s tendencies and strong suits.
AL: How do you get prepared for the season?
MD: I get prepared months beforehand by starting my individual training, which contains doing drills, watching soccer games, getting my mental ready and things like that. It really allows me to better myself before I get out there with my team, so I can be a better teammate.
AL: What are the team’s plans this year?
MD: (Coach) Aiken has talked to us individually and talked about our formation, which is basically the position that the team is going to be in. Our goal is always to be better than we were the previous year, so we are basically just striving for our best.
AL: What things that you have to work on from the previous season?
MD: From the previous season, I think we need to work on just developing our defense because we lost a lot of seniors last year. So, getting to know each other and working together to do good this year and get better next year.
AL: How do you think this season is going to go?
MD: I think we are going to make it to the playoffs, but I am just kind of ready for next year because this year is kind of like a practice year, you know getting to know everybody, it is a new team (with) new kids coming up.
AL: Who do you think your biggest competition is for the season?
MD: It depends because our region changed and a bunch of the teams we had last year are not the ones we are playing against this year. But, I guess the main team I am trying to beat is Cedar because a lot of my friends go there from my Club team, Athens United, so that is the main team I am looking forward to playing.
