Darts coach has high hopes for teenage goalkeeper Ibrahim

HOME GROWN goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim will excel in Dartford’s first-team this season, when given the chance, according to his coach John Macrae, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ibrahim, who has just turned seventeen, made his first-team debut during last night’s 4-0 win at East Thurrock United, the Darts’ third pre-season friendly.

And Macrae, who coaches Dartford’s - and other local sides- goalkeeper’s has high hopes for the teenager, who has progressed through the North Kent club’s youth ranks.

“I think he’s got absolutely superb potential,” Macrae told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight. “Nothing seems to phase him at all and this year he’s going to be the reserve goalkeeper and cover in FA Cup and FA Trophy games.

“It’s tremendous, it’s just not me, it’s the way he’s been coached since he’s grown up at Dartford. I’ve added one or two things, not just technique, but physiological.”

Dartford’s under 18’s enjoyed a two-week training camp in Italy and Macrae believes this has made the youngsters hungry to succeed.

“Two weeks serious high altitude pre-season training,” he said. “It was an outstanding two weeks for the 24 players we took.

“The coaches were obviously myself, coaching the keepers, Jamie Coyle and Simon Copley, the team manager for the Dartford academy.

“Both Simon and Jamie are UEFA A licence holders and as you can imagine the training was top class.

“All the boys responded to it, which was great.

“We had five games out there, against Stalybridge Celtic, Chesham United, Thurrock and then we played, we were chosen to play the San Marino League champions a week before they were playing Gothenburg for a Champions League qualifier - and we only lost 1-0.

“Everybody got something out of it, playing and acting like professionals for two whole weeks and the icing on the cake was the first player from the academy, played for the first team Tuesday night, goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim.

“Hopefully he’ll be the first of many to filter through as we’re running two academy teams this season.”

Macrae believes there are many more players waiting to follow in Ibrahim’s footsteps.

He said : “Jamie Coyle (who also plays right-back for the first team) is a tutor in sports studies at north west Kent college and we’ve two teams with more potential for players to come through.”

Dartford, meanwhile, warmed up to their Ryman Premier League campaign with a convincing 4-0 win at East Thurrock United, a side that were relegated from that division at the end of last season.

The nature of the performance has given first team manager Tony Burman positive selection headaches.

“Ten minutes we were just settling in, they hit the bar with a header and once we settled down, it was us all the way,” recalled Macrae, in the technical area for the first time this season.

“We went 3-0 up, then we changed the team completely in the second half and although we scored only scored one goal, it was equally impressive.

“Put it this way, I’m glad I’m not the manager and I only have to deal with goalkeepers, meaning Tony’s got decisions to make and I’m glad I’ve not got to make them myself.”

Dartford play two games this Saturday, 26^th July, with the first team travelling to Ryman League Division One South outfit Whitstable Town, whilst the community pitch at Princes Park Stadium sees Dartford’s second string playing their Thurrock counterparts.

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk