Hopes are high on the eve of the most anticipated Balaga Tongo Season in years. Opinion is divided about the fate of the club which had so much potential, in Autumn 2006, when it arrived on the football arena.
Since that first turbulent season of astro.ie Balaga struggled to come to terms with the 6-a-side game. With second and third seasons coming in late 2007 and early 2008 the team failed to shine and battled at the bottom of the table in both competitions.
Despite having to rely heavily on part-time appearances, FC Balaga Tongo built a solid base of players. With Broderick and O'Callaghan the only remaining players from the 2006 season. Signings Webz Kennedy, Phil O'Driscoll and Graham Deane all played a huge part and stuck with their club during this time. Youth team star Damien Kennedy who showed great promise during his first team call ups has been given a contract and will be guarding the Tongelese goal for the new season. Blake Shine and Alan O'Flynn who palyed a vital part in these Seasons for Balaga have now moved on in their careers. Shine signed for the Vancouver Whitecaps in October 2008, while O'Flynn decided to follow a management career.
Shine, now goaltender in Canadian Leagues.
With Broderick and O'Callagahan gaining some experience in the footy.ie league over the summer 2008 Club management decided a switch was needed, astro.ie was left behind and Balaga Tongo was entered into the footy.ie 7-a-side league system.
The player base of 6 left the club short 1 of a team and 3 of a good squad, which was their aim. A rigirous recruitment campaign was put into place to get the right balance.
The first good news was an oppurtunity to sign Rory Browne, a close colleague of O'Driscolls and a vastly experinced player, who would give Balaga the stability it was lacking. The deal was done quickly. It wasn't all plain sailing from there though. Shane Deane, a player who had occasionaly put in reliable shifts in the Balaga shirt was unavailable. With other part-time players injured, such has Neil Tully, Management had to go look further afield.
O'Callaghan had spotted Stephen Parker in a St.Lukes/Ashton exhibiton game and had gotten reports of fantastic performances in a 2008 summer league. After another friendly game over the festive period which, Parker, O'Driscoll and O'Callaghan played in, the concensus was clear. Parker would be the clubs main transfer target. Contact was made and an offer was put on the table. The player was frank with his desire to play for FC Balaga Tongo and negotiations with his Agent began. Although talks were slightly prolonged a deal was hammered out and Parker joined the club.
The last piece of the puzzle came from a Damo Kennedy brainwave. John Duggan would be available. A friend of many Balaga players, through Cork Harlequins, Duggan was approached by Kennedy and the reply was positive. The young sensation had become a Balaga player.
Some big name players freshen up Tongo team.
With the 3 new and the 6 present players the club have a great squad to mount a good campaign this season. Although new to the league and in some cases each other the mood is of excitement rather than fear. Crowd sizes will hopefully be up with the team now playing in Garryduff, but its the team on the pitch that will have to gel quickly if they are to get a good start. We have seen poor starts from the Tongonese club before but this seems to be the most settled squad Balaga has had and confidence seems to be on an all time high.
Details on formations and selection decisions have not been released. Club management seem to be keeping their cards close to their chests in that regard, but it should be interesting to see how the players will line out on Wednesday night
If you are unable to travel to the games, there is only one way to find out how the team fairs over the next 14 games, and that is by following FC Balaga Tongo here.
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