Jeremiah Kamanzi thinks Brentford’s draw away at high-flying Coventry City on Saturday shows that the Youth Team have what it takes to win the Under 18 Professional Development League Two this season.
The 2-2 draw means that Jeremy Steele’s side have lost only one of their first five league games this season and currently sit fourth in the South Section table, two points behind table toppers Charlton Athletic.
Next up for The Bees is a home game against Crewe Alexandra on Friday and Jeremiah is calling for a winning performance to keep the pressure up at the top of the table.
“Today’s result is pleasing for us,” said Jeremiah.
“It shows that we can win this league and how we can go into the Crewe Alexandra game in good spirits.
“This is definitely a potential league winning side.
“With the players that we have got in the changing room it is exciting to see what the season holds for us.
“Hopefully we can get a couple more wins on the bounce and see us top of the table.”
Jeremiah was speaking after The Bees 2-2 draw away at Coventry City on Saturday morning.
The Bees led twice through Under 16s Joshua Bohui and Danny Parish but the home side responded to ensure a share of the spoils, in a game that saw both sides reduced to ten men.
Jeremiah felt Brentford were well worth their point and could have taken all three.
The 16-year-old thought it was a very pleasing performance and that his side dominated the game for large spells of the second half.
“I think it is a bit of a point gained and a bit of two points dropped,” said Jeremiah.
“In the first-half there were a lot of turnovers and I think we lost the first-half.
“We picked up in the second-half and when they got the man sent off we kept on rolling it around and we did well in the second-half.
“I think we took advantage of having the extra man.
“You could see that they were getting tired and we were creating a load more chances.
“You could tell when their man got sent off we were doing a lot more combinations in and around their box.
“It was a good performance in the second-half considering the man got sent off.
“When Chris got sent off it went back to a game with lots of turnovers.
“It was very pleasing the way we kept playing when Chris got sent off.
“It showed real character in the team and the way that we stick together and play the game properly.
“We did well to stay in the game, keep going and create a lot of chances but we need to be a bit more clinical in the final third.
“We needed to take more advantage when their man got sent off.”
The philosophy of passing football is ingrained all the way through Brentford from the First-Team down to the Youth Team and below.
Jeremiah felt it suited his side when the game became more open after the two sending’s-off as there was more space on the pitch.
With players on the pitch to take advantage of this space Jeremiah admitted it was disappointing that his side couldn’t hang on for the three points.
“The extra space on the pitch suited us quite a lot because we have players out there who want to dictate the game like Zain Westbrooke and Reece Cole,” said Jeremiah.
“We kept on moving it around and you could tell that the game became more in our favour and we started to dominate possession.
“It was disappointing that we couldn’t hang on to the lead.
“Their goal was a bit cheap but we will take it back to the lab and then assess it.”
This is Jeremiah’s first season playing in the Youth Team having signed scholarship forms in the summer.
The 16-year-old is comfortable all across the midfield as well as being able to play at right-back and that versatility was needed on Saturday as his role in the team changed depending on the match situation.
Jeremiah believes that his versatility is one of his big strengths and something he can bring to the Youth Team when he is on the pitch.
Although he has found the step-up to Youth Team football difficult he said he is really enjoying his time in the squad, helped by their fast start to the season.
“It was a versatile game for me today,” said Jeremiah.
“I was trying to cut in from left-midfield and do stuff but then I had to go to right-back and adjust to that.
“I thought I adjusted to it really well and I got suited to it.
“Today just showed that I am versatile and the manager said that as well.
“I will work on it to get a good balance on it.
“I have found the step-up difficult.
“The demands are a lot more.
“However I am enjoying it and I am enjoying the performances so I just need to carry on I think.
“The spirit in the changing room is great and coming out you just have confidence on the pitch to express yourself and hopefully to help the team secure a win.”