Use the Force Brendan!

It's like a scene from Star Wars, Pirate coach Brendan Keyes being the master, Thiago Costa Reis, the apprentice. Not quite sure who yoda is yet!

Brendan Keyes coached and developed a young Thiago from the age of 10 years old for seven years and for a further seven, employed him as a coach at his own soccer academy, Brendan Keyes soccer academy. Thiago has taken the knowledge handed down to him and now hopes to turn it on his old mentor as he tries to guide his Club America Academy side to victory on Saturday in their first ever SPSL match.

Coach Keyes was keen to play down the relationship between the two, instead trying to focus on getting his side prepared for the Pirate double header over the weekend with special focus on his sides first ever competitive match in the city of Galveston at Courville Stadium on Sunday.

But there was a twinkle in the eye of the well liked Irishman.

He couldn't hide the fact that he wanted to get one over on his ex apprentice and also three ex Pirates in the form of Justin Santibanez, Juan Carreon and Jorge Orturo who all now ply their trade with the Club America side. Come Saturday evening, should the Pirates have won the match, I am sure that Mr Keyes will be gracious in victory over his ex young padowan but he will be beaming with delight at the same time.

Brendan said "Club America are one of the largest clubs in Mexico and pull in 105'000 fans on a regular basis so it's a big big club. Their Academy side have only just joined our league but that won't give me any false illusions about them, this match will be tough."

Carrying on, "It's been around a month since out last league game and in that time we have played a couple of friendlies. Club America on the other hand haven't played yet in this league so they are a bit of an unknown quality but I know their manager and three of their players so have a slight tactical advantage over them with the knowledge of how these guys think and play, I taught them after all."

Never one to mince his words, Brendan pointed out the greatest difference between Club America and others in the league, " Club America are huge, their resources are enormous and because of this, they have a great set up. Their players have been training almost every day in preparation for this match on Saturday and they will be fired up for it. As for me, well, there's no substitute for experience and my experience will tell over that young whippersnapper Thiago!" he said with a wry smile.

Sunday sees the visit of Corpus Christi who have yet to win a match in five attempts so far in the SPSL but have a much improved side and as each game passes, they get better.

Brendan and his players are pumped for this match, it's their first at home after all and will be hoping for a large crowd to turn out at Courville stadium to cheer them on to victory.

Galveston's main worry is the absent Roy Hernandez, who is injured and although one player doesn't make a team, this one player does score the majority of the Pirate SC goals.

It could maybe be the opportunity for others to step up to the plate to show what they can do, they have a good teacher after all, and a team mate that scores barrow loads of goals. If they've been watching Roy, they'll know the route to goal!

All in all, a big weekend coming up for the Galveston soccer side which by 4.45pm Sunday could see them back on top of the league.

Go Go Pirates!