The Follow up: The Next Step To Take

THE TW↑NS: Env↑ronMENTAL Training™

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EnvironMENTAL Training is for anyone, but not for everyone.

Anyone can do it, but not everyone will.



© C. & D. Okonkwo 2010

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‘The Followup: The Next Step To Take’

written by

Chuka Okonkwo & Dubem Okonkwo




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Dear Reader,

‘The 2010 South Africa World Cup: England’s Preparations’ was written

with the following in mind: the Football Association, Premier League

clubs, England players and their agents.

‘The Followup: The Next Step To Take ’ is intended for them and also the

general public.

After the reaction to England’s performance in South Africa, we feel it is

correct that the public is included.

In writing ‘The Followup: The Next Step To Take’, we have chosen

reason over emotion, relying on our ‘heads’ not our ‘hearts’ to guide our

thinking.

C. & D. Okonkwo New Year’s Eve 2010




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The Followup: The Next Step To Take

Outsiders

In expressing our observations on the inability of English footballers to

concentrate, we will not apologise if our views are considered

unpalatable; nor will we be deterred if our ideas are rejected because

we are considered to be outsiders lacking the necessary accredited

qualifications, having no experience in the sport, and not affiliated to

any official body.

Field of Expertise

Our field of expertise being the science and art of concentration, we are

wise enough to stick to what we know best. We would consider it

foolish to attempt to step into territories that we have little knowledge

of. However, we must direct the reader to our report/proposal* which

was written in January 2010. At the time England had already qualified

for the World Cup and the feeling of success was plain to see.

Correct in Every Detail

We, in our wisdom, did not share the nation’s confidence, and as later

events in South Africa proved, the report/proposal* was correct in

every detail. Anyone doubting us should read what was written and also

study the performances (both good and bad) of teams in the

tournament. They will see that the teams that played better had players

who were able to concentrate and therefore make better use of their

skills and talents, unlike the teams whose star players were unable to

focus.




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The Blame Game

The blame game that followed England’s dismal performance in South

Africa was fuelled by the usual excuses, masquerading as reasons: the

manager’s strict tactics, the long season, the weight of expectation, the

team selection, the outdated 4‐4‐2 system, the manager’s limited

command of English, the nationality of the manager and his staff, the

players were too old, the players were not young enough, the players

didn’t care enough, and lastly, things would have been different if the

manager was English!

Frustrated Reactions

We do not share the above sentiments. Were any of these comments

supposed to be wisdom after the event, or were they simply the

frustrated reactions to England’s triumphant return as champions of the

world not materialising as everyone had hoped?

Fear, Doubts, Anxiety

We strongly believe that England has the right manager and players

who are capable of playing and succeeding at the highest level.

However, their success, as well as their talent, will be forever stifled by

the fear, doubts, anxiety and trepidation rife in the England camp.




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We Challenge Anyone

We challenge anyone to tell us that confidence permeates the hearts of

England players. They lacked it then; they lack it now. Anyone thinking

otherwise is deluded. One doesn’t have to be a qualified coach or a

professional player to recognise the lack of confidence in the stoop and

gait of the players. Observing their body language, it is clear to see that

all is not well in their minds. Are these men who have been trained in

the science and art of concentration? If they are, then what is preventing

them from performing to the best of their abilities?

Poor Attention Span

That few in our society understand the science and art of concentration

is evident by the poor attention span that is the accepted norm today.

This is hardly surprising when so few have taken the trouble to study or

to understand what can be achieved when the mind is trained to

concentrate. There is no mystery to the power of concentration; the

only mystery is why it is not given more consideration.




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Like Any Activity

Football is like any activity in life, in that to perform well, good

concentration is required. When players line up on the pitch, no matter

what distractions may be, all that should matter is the game before

them. And since football does not differ from other activities in life,

there is no reason why the importance of concentration should not be

drilled into the mind of every player regardless of their level.

Our Philosophy

The philosophy of EnvironMENTAL Training is simple: ‘In order to

perform your best at the highest level, you have to be able to

concentrate.’ This is why we recommend that the practice of intensive

concentration exercises should be used as a supplement to every

training regime.

Thinkers, Scientists, and Inventors

If the reader does not understand what we are saying about

concentration, they should do some research on the subject. When they

have done so, they will discover what many, over the centuries, have

discovered about the subject of concentration. The founders of the

various styles of martial arts in the East, the great thinkers, scientists

and inventors in the West provide examples of men and women who

demonstrate the benefits of concentration.




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Up To a Point

Certificates from accredited bodies are good, up to a point, as is

experience in a particular area related to one’s sport. However, none of

these can take the place of innovation. Novel ideas come to those who

search in areas outside their speciality.

They were Able to Concentrate

The successful Brazilian, Dutch, German and Spanish teams, who took

football to another level, did so, by encouraging fresh ideas. ‐ They were

successful because they were able to concentrate. ‐ It didn’t matter where

the ideas came from, so long as they worked and brought success.

Good Training

The science and art of concentration is hardly voodoo. The power to

concentrate is a faculty and part of our make‐up. Successful individuals

make use of this power, consciously or unconsciously. Good training is

essential and will improve the power of concentration in anyone who is

prepared to work at it. Success is gained by practice, like every art in

life.




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They Have a Choice

The Football Association, Premier League clubs, players and their agents

have a choice: they can seek ways to address the poor levels of

concentration affecting the performance of players, or everyone can

pretend that the problem doesn’t exist. The current manager (who, until

events in South Africa, was hailed as a messiah1) has the necessary

qualifications and success to succeed at the job. But his hard work and

effort will be wasted if players are unable to concentrate. How can

players expect to make full use of their talents, or the coaching they

receive, if they are unable to concentrate?

A Serious Problem

Our initial intention in writing the report/proposal* was, and still

remains, to train players to train themselves to concentrate: players

who are truly concerned about the effect of poor concentration on their

game, see it as a serious problem, and are prepared to do something

about it; and players who understand that the development of the

power to concentrate is as important to their game as their salaries and

sponsorship deals.

1Fabio Capello was ranked No.1 in The Times Sport Power 100 March 2010

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/sport_power_100/article9089096.ece




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No Relevance

English footballers should be given the opportunity to read the

report/proposal.* After reading it, who will say that they’re not

interested in improving their power to concentrate, and thinks that the

recommendation to supplement their training regime with the practice

of intensive concentration exercises has no relevance since it doesn’t

come from (a) an accredited body or (b) with glowing testimonials, and

therefore is a waste of their time.

Along Came The Agents!

There was a time when the clubs told players what they (the players)

were worth; then along came the agents and whispered a different

language in their ear ‐ one that resonated with how many players felt ‐

and the modern game has not been the same.

The Time Has Come

No matter what anyone believes they know, no one ‐ and this includes

us ‐ has a monopoly on wisdom or knowledge.

The time has come for today’s players to seek inspiration from sources

outside the game. They should not only be concerned with their salaries

and sponsorship deals; it is also their responsibility to ensure that they

are made aware of better ways to improve their training and

performance on the pitch.

*The 2010 World Cup South Africa: England’s Preparations




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INDEX

Abilities 5 Better 3,9

Accepted 5 Blame Game, The 4

Accredited 3,7,9 Body Language 5

Activity 6 Brazilian 7

Activities 6

Affiliated 3 Centuries 6

Agents 8,9 Certificates 7

Along Came The Agents 9 Challenge 5

Anxiety 4 Champions 4

Apologise 3 Choice 8

Art 3,5,7 Clubs 8,9

Attempt 3 Coach 5

Attention span 5 Coaching 8

Come 7,9

Believes 9 Concerned 8,9

Benefits 6 Concentrate 3,5,6,7,8,9

Best 3,5,6 Concentration 3,5,6,7,8,9




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INDEX

Confidence 3,5 Ear 9

Consciously 7 East, The 6

Consideration 5 England 3, 4,5,9

Correct in Every Detail 3 English 4

English footballers 3,4,9

Deals 8,9 Ensure 9

Deluded 5 EnvironMENTAL … 6

Demonstrate 6 Essential 7

Detail 3 Events 3,8

Deterred 3 Excuses 4

Development 8 Exercises 6,9

Different 4,9 Expectation 4

Discovered 6 Experience 3,7

Dismal 4 Expertise 3

Distractions 6

Drilled 6 Fear, Doubts, Anxiety 4

Dutch 7 Feeling 3




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INDEX

Felt 9 Hearts 5

Field 3 Highest 4,6

Field of Expertise 3

Focus 3 Ideas 3,7

Foolish 3 Important 8

Football 6,7,8 Improve 7,9

Footballers 3,9 Inability 3

Frustrated Reactions 4 Individuals 7

Innovation 7

Gait 5 Inspiration 9

Game 4,6,8,9 Intensive 6,9

German 7 Intention 8

Glowing 9 Interested 9

Good 3,6,7

Good and bad 3 January 2010

Good Training 7

Know best 3

Hailed 8 Knowledge 3,9




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INDEX

Lack, Lacked 5 9 Nationality 4

Language 5,9 Nation’s 3

Level 4,6,7 Necessary 3,8

Levels 8 No matter 9

Life 6,7 No Relevance 9

Like Any Activity 6 Novel 7

Manager 4,8 Observations 3

Martial arts 6 Official body 3

Masquerading 4 Opportunity 9

Materialising 4 Our Philosophy 6

Messiah 8 Outside 7,9

Mind, The 5,6 Outsiders 3

Minds 5

Modern 9 Performance 4,8,9

Monopoly 9 Performances 3

Mystery 5 Performing 5




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INDEX

Permeates 5 Recommend 6

Pitch 6,9 Recommendation 9

Players 3,4,5,6,8,9 Regime 6,9

Poor Attention Span 5 Rejected 3

Poor concentration 8 Relevance 9

Poor levels 8 Report/proposal 3,8,9

Power 5,7,8,9 Required 6

Practice 6,7,9 Resonated 9

Prepared 7,8 Responsibility 9

Problem 8 Rife 4

Professional 5

Salaries 8,9

Qualifications 3,8 Same 9

Qualified 3,5 Science and Art 3,5,7

Search 7

Reader 3,6 Seek 8,9

Reading 9 Selection 4

Reasons 4 Sentiments 3




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INDEX

Serious Problem, A 8 Talent 4

Skills 3 Talents 3,8

Society 5 Teams 3,7

Sources 9 Tell 5

South Africa 3,4,8,9 Territories 3

Spanish 7 Testimonials 9

Sponsorship deals 8,9 They Have A Choice 8

Sport 3,7,8 They Were Able 7

Star players 3 Thinkers, Scientists… 6

Stifled 3 Thinking 5

Stoop 5 Time 3,9

Study 3,5 Time Has Come, The 9

Success 3,4,7,8 Today 5

Successful 7 Today’s 9

Suggestion 9 To Do Something 9

Supplement 6,9 Tournament 3




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INDEX

Train 8 Waste 9

Trained 5 Wasted 8

Training 6,7,9 Ways 8,9

Trepidation 4 We Challenge Anyone 5

Trouble 5 Well 4,5,6

West, The 6

Unconsciously 7 Whispered 9

Understand 5,6,8 Wisdom 3,4,9

Unpalatable 3 Wise 3

Up To A Point 7 Work 7,8

Worked 7

Views 3 World Cup 3,9

Voodoo 7 Writing 8

Sports

The Follow up: The Next Step To Take