After last season's success in lifting the Under-18 Premier League South trophy, our Under-18s head coach Hassan Sulaiman is keen to start the new campaign on a positive note.

As the 2024/25 season begins, a fresh group of players are stepping up to the Under-18s age group, eager to make an impression. Sulaiman expressed his excitement about the first competitive test for the team after a promising pre-season.

'I’m really looking forward to starting the league again,' smiled the head coach. 'It’s a massive opportunity, and I don’t take these opportunities lightly.

'Over the course of pre-season, we’ve been working extremely hard, so Saturday will be a good chance to see what the boys have learned and how they apply it in a matchday setting.

'We always focus on performance, ensuring that everything we’ve done in training prepares us for the game. We’ve addressed every aspect of the players' development, whether it’s technical, tactical or psychological.

'I treat matchdays as if they’re an exam. Throughout the week, we’ve been putting in the work and revising what we want to see on the pitch. Then, on Saturday, we’ll see the evidence of that learning.

'The squad is much younger this season than last, but that’s exciting! The players will be exposed to new challenges and will need to learn from their performances and situations. However, throughout pre-season, they’ve shown promise and maturity, so I have no doubt they’ll continue to grow.'

Reflecting on last season's accomplishments, Sulaiman has taken valuable lessons into this campaign to help continue the squad's success.

'The biggest thing I learned last season is the importance of adapting in a game and dealing with pressure. Pressure comes with the job. If you want to succeed, you have to be able to work well under those intense emotions.'

The Under-18s boss understands the development and journey of an Academy player, recognising that the players are still learning and improving their performance. Many of his talents are only 16-years-old, so Sulaiman is focused on drawing lessons from each performance to enhance their knowledge both on and off the pitch.

'While we are in the development game, where the pitch is a playground for the players to make mistakes and express themselves, we also want to perform at the highest standard possible.

'Ultimately, we understand that learning is a continuous process, and our goal is to minimise mistakes. When mistakes do happen, we focus on adapting and learning from them to prevent their recurrence.

'This approach is key to progress and success. Winning naturally follows from having the right mentality and the willingness to reflect and improve.'

Sulaiman also highlights one key factor that he believes drives the team to excel - teamwork. Throughout his training sessions, he has seen his new squad develop a strong bond, which he is confident will positively impact the performance.

'We’re fortunate to have a strong team. The boys want to fight for each other. They want to challenge each other. They want to make training competitive. That’s all you can ask for. We have to keep pushing and progressing if we want to win.

'Brighton are a strong team, this will be a big first test, but personally I'm looking forward to seeing the performance. If the boys work well as a team and focus on their individual performance, I can't ask for anything more.'