A strong team is good, but team spirit is even better
Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba (right) speaks to Bandari players and officials at their Mbaraki Sports Club training base in Mombasa pn January 23, 2020. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA |
What you need to know:
- Such attitudes and behaviour are not found in teams that lack togetherness. One of the major challenges facing teams is building a feeling of oneness, and dependence on one another.
- Teams can win matches, but the ones that have togetherness win championships and make history. I know folks will argue that a team needs to sign players for the season, but my take has always been that spending big on transfers does not automatically translate to trophies.
Team spirit is integral for building a successful team. Cultivating team spirit helps improve the chemistry of a group and increases the probability of unity, positive reinforcement, focus and sense of urgency in obtaining a specific goal.
Teamwork also creates enthusiasm for the common interest and desire to share in fulfilling responsibilities assigned to the team, apart from promoting a sense of achievement and camaraderie. This also helps to achieve good results.
There are several benefits of team spirit and togetherness, for example, fostering creativity and learning.
This thrives mostly when people work together on a team by blending complementary strengths, building trust, learning conflict resolution skills and promoting a wider sense of ownership, apart from encouraging healthy risk taking.
Why am I saying all these? As you may already be aware, Bandari Football Club have not signed any notable names during this transfer window. On the contrary, they have focused more on other minute details that many may not make sense of yet - that is working on togetherness.
Build each other
The management of Bandari decided to house the players in apartments near their Mbaraki training ground to foster togetherness and team spirit.
I see several benefits from this. By being together, team members will be able to go beyond their call of duty. They can easily encourage and support one another to achieve their full potential.
I believe this will enable team members to think, behave, and make decisions for the team as a whole, for the benefit of the whole unit. In addition, they will go an extra mile to develop their skills for the sake of the team.
Such attitudes and behaviour are not found in teams that lack togetherness. One of the major challenges facing teams is building a feeling of oneness, and dependence on one another.
Teams can win matches, but the ones that have togetherness win championships and make history. I know folks will argue that a team needs to sign players for the season, but my take has always been that spending big on transfers does not automatically translate to trophies.
