St Pats coach Javi Martinez won't rush development of his side in 2021 AWFA season

Javi Martinez returned for a second stint as coach ahead of the 2020 campaign and knows the side is coming from a long way back.

He spoke to The Border Mail about his goals for the 2021 season.

BEAU GREENWAY: This year was set to provide a lot of your developing players with vital senior experience, was it frustrating you couldn't really do that?

JAVI MARTINEZ: It's probably a little bit different because our senior team is coming from a long way back. I've been at the club the past few years watching from the sidelines and the attitude from this year's group and the effort they put in the first game, there was massive improvement. That's probably the frustrating thing because we couldn't keep developing that.

BG: Can you continue that momentum into 2021?

JM: I think the good thing about us was our younger players were probably a year away from maturing as far as their bodies go. Just in the six or seven months I haven't seen them, they've grown five or six inches. These boys that are 16 to 18 develop quickly, so we're possibly a little more mature heading into next season.

STATE OF PLAY SERIES:

BG: You made a bit of a statement appointing Ben White as the league's youngest captain at just 16 years of age ahead of this season. Do you think he will be better placed to take on the role again next season?

JM: We definitely want Ben to do it again. A lot of his development as far as being a captain was probably done behind the scenes speaking with me and our older players like Andy Stevens and Aaron McGlynn. He learnt a lot from the pre-season training about communicating with the players in a more affirmative way. He already had respect, but the guys were starting to see that develop as a leader and they backed him 100 per cent. Unfortunately we couldn't display that on the field, but I think he's more comfortable with that role.

BG: Are you still looking to attract players from outside the club?

JM: We understand we're probably not the best product to be selling because of our track record, but in saying that we hope to show we're developing. Our kids are very good and hopefully I'm doing the right thing as a coach so we're competitive on the field against other teams. We're probably going to have to play a season with what we have to give people the opportunity to say 'hang on a minute, something's going on at St Pats and I might go have a look at it'.

BG: You'd no doubt be itching to get back into the swing of things next year?

JM: For people's well-being and benefit, it's good to look forward to 2021 and say 'soccer season is going to start, let's get up and about and make the season as good as we possibly can'. AWFA is a community league and I think everyone misses it. Even though they play against other teams, everyone knows everyone and people are friends outside of soccer. For me to miss a soccer season is unfathomable, I don't think I have in my 48 years of living.