Urban Connection (NZ)’s Post

🎉 WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM SPAIN'S VICTORY IN EURO 2024 🎉 First and foremost, a big congratulations to Spain Men's National Football Team for being crowned Champions of Europe! 🏆 It's been a remarkable journey, with Spain conquering European giants like France, Germany and ultimately England. 🇪🇸 This success is highly attributable to LA ROJA's coach, Luis de LA FUENTE, and his hybrid formula of combining young and seasoned players. ⚽ This blend of maturity and experience with talent and flexibility proved to be a winning strategy. The leadership displayed by LA FUENTE, along with experienced players like RODRI, CARVAJAL, and MORATA, helped maximize the potential of their young talents, notably Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. These young players rose to the occasion and met expectations brilliantly. 🌟 This victory showcases how well young players can perform when given the platform to develop their talents and trusted to deliver on the field during national and international competitions. 🌍 Spain's youth academies, notably La MASIA, and many others working behind the scenes, have played a crucial role in this success. 🏅 Their consistent output of young talent is an important investment for their nation's success, both now and in the future. Spain's success in this tournament didn’t come as a surprise to me, considering the incredible young talents they produce each year. I believe this is just the beginning, and more success awaits them if they continue down this path. 🚀 From Spain's journey, we learn that investing in youth is not only a future investment but also a present one when they are trusted and given opportunities. 🌱 At CAFO-FOOTBALL ACADEMY ( Republic of Bénin, West Africa), we are implementing this philosophy in West Africa. 🌍 Our academy specializes not only in talent development but also in personal development. If you want to play a part in helping young West African talents on their journey to professional football success, reach out to me via inbox to discuss how we can collaborate. 🤝 Now, tell me in the comments below: What do you think most helped Spain secure the UEFA Euro champion title this year? The floor is yours! 🗣️

Poor quality rugby fields hinder the development of rugby in the Eastern Cape (EC), posing challenges to the Grand Challenge: *Impact on Player Development:* 1. Increased injuries: Substandard fields lead to injuries, hindering player growth. 2. Limited skills development: Poor surfaces restrict players' ability to practice and master skills. 3. Reduced competitiveness: EC teams struggle to compete against teams from regions with better facilities. *Challenges for the Grand Challenge:* 1. Hosting matches: Subpar fields compromise the EC's ability to host high-profile matches. 2. Attracting talent: Poor facilities deter top players and coaches from joining EC teams. 3. Sponsorship and funding: Inferior infrastructure discourages sponsors and investors. *Consequences for Rugby Growth:* 1. Stunted grassroots growth: Poor fields discourage participation, especially among youth. 2. Brain drain: Talented players seek better opportunities elsewhere. 3. Limited national representation: EC teams' competitiveness suffers, reducing national team selections. *Potential Solutions:* 1. Infrastructure investment: Upgrade existing fields and build new ones. 2. Maintenance and upkeep: Regularly maintain fields to ensure safety and playability. 3. Partnerships and collaborations: Engage with local authorities, sponsors, and rugby bodies to support development. The Eastern Cape's rugby growth and Grand Challenge success depend on addressing these infrastructure challenges.

Who here watched the Euros 2024 yesterday? ⚽ 🇪🇸 🏆⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣I had always a soft spot for Spain ever since my previous trips to Barcelona and Madrid. So I couldn't resist cheering on Spain! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But during that nail-biting second half, watching the Spanish team, I remember a quote I once heard ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ "You can go fast by yourself, but together we can go further." ⁣⁣ Here are my key learning points about Spain's winning campaign: 1. Spain did not have a team of established superstars, summed up by the fact its winners didn’t have a single player on the 30-man shortlist for the previous year’s Ballon d’Or. ⁣⁣Every player in the team played for one another. There was no ego or Star player mentality! In our business development do we tend to go solo because we often think we are the star player? More often its wiser to work in a strong team as it means having a support system to celebrate wins and pick you up after setbacks.⁣⁣ 2. A great coach. Luis de la Fuente was essentially an internal appointment. He won European Championships for Spain with the under-19 and under-21 sides before being handed the full national team job following the 2022 World Cup. He was a father figure as much as a tactician. He built a family with the Spanish National players who respected him. Decisive in his team selection and substitutions, he made an importance difference to the team. Do we have a coach/mentor who can help us see our blind spots and also unlock your hidden potential? A great coach also can help you see your strengths when you can't and help maximise it to guide you to your goal. Finding a right coach and mentor is imperative to your success! 3. Spain has evolved to be a much more versatile team than in the past. Instead of only focusing on possession play, they build a new strength in counter-pressing after losing the ball and guarding against counter-attacks. They are much more direct going forward unlike the old spanish tiki taka style. Instead of playing it safe, they took risks in their attacks and its players had the complete freedom to express themselves. Do we always rely on past strategies and tactics? Or do we constantly evolve and make changes to adapt to the new environment? Old solutions may need to be tweaked or over-hauled to maintain success in an ever changing buisness environment. Change is the only constant! So just like Spain who was not the favourite to win the tournament, most of us here aren't favourites to succeed in our chosen field. Everyone loves an underdog story. Lets play the best games in our lives to succeed! Hope this inspires you and please share your comments! #lessonsfromeuro2024 #buisnessleadership

Interesting that Slovenia, New Zealand and Ireland have such relatively high representation. Europe is generally high, which makes sense given the nexus of the Olympics, the type of sports, the access, facilities and general lifestyle. Note that smaller nations will appear higher on this table because each nation can only send a limited number per event. And different nations have different priorities and sporting preferences.

#DidYouKnow? Many talented newcomers have become Olympians and professional athletes representing Canada on the international stage. Read about why #ImmigrationMatters in sports: https://ow.ly/sVgU50SJxSY Get inspired by Canada’s top athletes & learn how Sport Canada programs help them shine: https://ow.ly/mjnq50SJxSX

**Title: Proud Volunteer for UEFA European U17 Championship – A Journey of Growth and Learning** I am thrilled to share my incredible experience as a volunteer for the UEFA European U17 Championship. Being part of this prestigious event was not only a privilege but also an enriching journey filled with valuable lessons and key takeaways that transcend the world of sports and resonate deeply with my professional life, especially in sales. **Highlights of the Experience:** 1. **Teamwork and Collaboration:** Working with a diverse group of passionate volunteers, organizers, and young athletes taught me the power of teamwork. The seamless coordination and collective effort were instrumental in ensuring the event's success. This experience reinforced my belief that collaboration and mutual support are pivotal in achieving any goal, a principle that holds true in sales. 2. **Communication Skills:** Effective communication was the backbone of our operations. From assisting spectators to coordinating with team officials, clear and concise communication was essential. This has sharpened my ability to convey ideas and information effectively, a crucial skill in engaging and persuading clients in sales. 3. **Adaptability and Problem-Solving:** Live events often come with unexpected challenges. The ability to think on my feet and adapt to changing circumstances was tested and honed. This experience has made me more resilient and resourceful, qualities that are invaluable when navigating the dynamic landscape of sales. 4. **Customer Service Excellence:** Ensuring a positive experience for all attendees required a high level of customer service. This reinforced the importance of understanding and anticipating customer needs, a mindset that is directly applicable to building and maintaining strong client relationships in sales. Volunteering at the UEFA European U17 Championship was more than just an event; it was a learning experience that has enriched both my personal and professional life. The skills and lessons gained are invaluable, and I am excited to apply them in my journey in sales. #VolunteerExperience #UEFAU17 #SalesSuccess #Teamwork #Communication #Adaptability #CustomerService #ProfessionalGrowth UEFA @u17europeanchampionshipq

My take away from the Euros 1) The sum total as a whole is greater than the sum of individuals , nothing explains it better than Spain vs England , on paper when you add up the experience and level of all England players they add up to much more than Spain players but Spain played much better as a team and not just collection of individual players 2) A winning team is an ideal combination of youth and experience and they need to recognise the strength of each other and work together 3) if you dont give youth the chance to play and perform at the big stage then you will see the difference and that may be the difference between winning and losing 4) At times you need to take that risk and be fearless of the consequences and go all out , Spain did it and England tried to play it safe and were outplayed 5) On the big stage reputations count for little, the most celebrated players can be ineffective 6) it’s difficult to explain at times what national pride can do and be the X factor that propels a team to victory In the end the winning formula was a combination of individual brilliance and perfect teamwork Yes all this analysis could have gone in the dustbin if England would have won but it was not be Lets all celebrate some great football and a wonderful tournament that showed how great this beautiful game is and thats exactly what Spain did played a “beautiful game” , England can hold their heads high for having made it to the final despite being written off time and again and finding a way out everytime till they ran into Spain, but in the end there is only one winner , aint that cruel P.S : just a coincidence that a 21 year old Alcaraz destroyed an invincible player like Djokovic , Spain is producing champions all the way , anyone knows their secret recipe ? #euros #england #spain #champions #teamwork #youth #beautifulgame