Steve Cotterill sings the praises for Bristol Citys African experience Steve Cotterill labelled Bristol Citys pre-season trip to Botswana the perfect tour after the Robins completed back-to-back victories in southern Africa. Citys first-team squad spent a week in a training camp in Rustenberg in South Africa before relocating to the Botswanan capital Gaborone, playing friendly games against local side Extension Gunners and the national team. The Robins won both fixtures without conceding a goal before flying back to the UK at the weekend. But there was more to the tour than football alone and Cotterill, pictured, spoke in glowing terms of the community work carried out by his players in Botswana. Ive been happy with the whole tour, its been first class, he told the clubs official You Tube channel. I cannot speak any higher of (club owner) Steve Lansdown for bringing us out here, its been absolutely perfect. Weve had a great time. The lads have really enjoyed it – the cultural side of it, the safari side of it, the team bonding. I couldnt have asked for anything better out of this trip. Cotterill described beating the Botswana national team 1-0 as a fitting end to the two-week tour. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored the only goal from the penalty spot five minutes from time as City followed up their 3-0 victory over Botswana Premier League side Extension Gunners with another victory and clean sheet. It was a nailed-on penalty, otherwise it wouldve been a game of basketball, said Cotterill of the games decisive moment. We were disrupted for a little while, about 20 minutes in the second half, because of the substitutions. Then we managed to get into a bit of a rhythm. These are the type of games we want, because these lads can run and they press you hard. Theyre tough boys. We were good all-round tonight and so were they, it was a great game. I was hoping there was going to be a goal in it to win it because we always want to win games. It was a fitting way to end the tour. Citys players were today back in training at the clubs Failand headquarters and they continue the pre-season with a fixture against League Two Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road tomorrow night. By The Bristol Post
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 10:59:33 +0000
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