– There are a lot of people who send me messages, the gods should know that. There are enough mental coaches in Norway, I have discovered that in recent weeks, says sports manager Joacim Jonsson to NRK.
Vålerenga’s men’s team is in crisis and is in danger of being relegated for the first time in 23 years. The club’s foundations are shaking before the fateful meeting against Stabæk on Sunday.
After Sandefjord beat Aalesund, the capital club ended up in direct relegation. Three games remain. Towards Stabæk, HamKam and Tromsø. Every match is like a cup final, as they say.
ALLOWED TO SMILE: Geir Bakke shows off his grin, even if he has no reason to. The VIF boss has to cope with the stress of the relegation battle, but still sleeps well at night.
Photo: Jørn Andre Lien, NRK
Refuse to help
Although there have been a number of setbacks for the Vålerenga men this autumn, they have refused all outside help.
– There are people who want to contribute and who think they have the recipe for this problem. This is often the case, it will be gribbane’s national meeting when the situation turns out to be what it is. Then everyone must join in and solve it. And it doesn’t work, says Jonsson.
Last year the club appointed Ann-Helen Gamlesanne as mental coach. Jonsson states that she is there several times a week, and that the club is well equipped as it is.
– We have the resources we need. We already have a mental coach. We have what it takes to be ready for the final battles. It’s just a matter of going out and doing the job on Sunday, says the sports manager.
– How many inquiries from mental trainers have you received?
– There are many, and there have been many throughout the autumn. They believe in themselves, and that’s a good thing, says Jonsson.
– Don’t run away
NRK is on Valle on Wednesday afternoon. The training is finished. A few are left to do final training. Mohamed Ofkir takes a few runs for himself over the artificial surface at Oslo aust.
A November-pale Geir Bakke is waiting for NRK slumped in a chair. But smiles bravely when he gets up. The coach has not given up hope of survival in Norway’s top division. According to the VIF boss, this is how the club copes with the mental pressure.
– We talk together about the situation. We talk both about subjects and about what it’s like to be in a bit of a pressure situation, and that it’s part of football and sport. And that sometimes you are in that situation, and then you have to work with that as a starting point, and deal with it.
– We must attack the situation and not run away from it.
– Do they make any special moves in the days before the meeting against Stabæk?
– No, we get together and concentrate on subjects and what we are going to try to achieve, he replies dryly.
– How are you doing in this situation?
– I’m doing relatively well. I have been involved in various scenarios over many years. And then it is always more stressful as the table is now, than when you cruise freely and safely. And you can feel it on your body. But everyone does, and that is exactly what we are going to achieve together, says Geir Bakke.
Can’t stand dead time
After the interview, he goes into the dressing room and locks the door. Every second that is left of the season is used to prepare the players for the remaining suffering.
Right-back Christian Borchgrevink says he can’t stand time-out before the wild game against Stabæk. He must also activate himself after training.
– It is tiring and very challenging. I must not be eaten. Don’t let it get you down. For me, it’s about shifting the focus away from the situation as much as possible. I have to keep myself “bizzy” in other ways after I finish here at Valle, he says.
– I have a boyfriend waiting at home with whom I can do things, and friends and family. I have to disappear a bit into other things, says the defender.
ACTIVE: Christian Borchgrevink is having a tough time in the relegation battle and can’t stand the downtime after training at Valle.
Photo: NTB
The supporters are also calm before the storm. The clan has decided to attend the last training session before Sunday’s fateful meeting.
– It is to show that we stand together on this. That the players should not feel that they are alone in the mess. We are probably down that much too, says spokesman Sebastian Hytten to NRK.
– It’s wonderful. They have been good even though we have struggled. And they come in droves and they keep it going. It’s more like “what can we give back to them”. If we can meet and look each other in the eye the day before the match, it’s very nice, says Geir Bakke.
2023-11-09 11:01:27
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