Näsby IF is on the way up again – all that's needed is the proper attitude

Kujtim Sokoli and a few others from the junior team are also training. Kujtim is in class eight at Fröknegårdskolan and has been selected for the match.

– I've taken him up from the junior team, the group that makes my job possible. If my players don't do what I tell them, then I take players from the junior team, says Modou Colley.

– Football is what makes Kujtim want to go to school. He's proud of being in Näsby IF's A-team. The other players see that too - ”If we don't keep up to scratch, Modou will take someone from that group”.

– Now other players from other teams want to join us, but we hand-pick players who fit in with our way of working.

Kujtim Sokoli tells his friends excitedly that one of his teachers will be in the opposing team.

– They need me here as an attacker, says Kujtim, whose ambition is to be a professional in PSG, Paris Saint Germain.

In the summer Samir Omar took over as trainer for the junior team.

What does football mean for the youngsters here at Gamlegården?

– A great deal. They're all from Gamlegården. If they're not here training, then they're out getting up to mischief, doing things they shouldn't be doing, bad things.

Two years ago Näsby IF was in division 4. When Näsby IF was 23-0 down to Janstorp the match was called off. Näsby had only six players left on the pitch.

The situation among the players and in the club was chaotic. The directors decided to make a fresh start. For the past two years Modou Colley has been responsible for the A-team.

– There's been a big change. The attitude among the players is better, they behave well on the pitch, it's a tremendous difference, says Janne Persson, who is responsible for the club's economy.

But it's been tough for the club. When KB Mosaik meets the trainer and players they have won just one match and are last in division 6.

– The directors have given me four years to try to turn things around. That's something unique at this level, it's usually only one year, says Modou Colley.

Näsby IF win 4-1 in their match against Skepparslöv IF and a week later they have a 2-1 away win against Balsby SK.

The junior team suffers a backlash. The match against Stehag at the end of August had to be stopped when the score was 2-7 and someone had driven onto the pitch on a moped. There was a threatening atmosphere among the public.

The referee makes a report to the disciplinary committee, who, at the time of writing, have not come to any decision.

Staffan Berlin, sports advisor to RF Sisu Skåne, is just as distressed as the trainers. There is a four-hour-long meeting between some of the directors and the trainers.

– Two of the players were given a red card, and then the club will get a report that the referee was threatened, that the club is unable to ensure safety, says Staffan Berlin.

He says it is difficult with the hangers-on and with the macho culture, with a public who goad the players.

– How can you get at the hangers-on? They're a responsibility for the community, but it's up to the clubs to see to it that every player talks to his friends and family, it's very difficult.

The junior team will get support.

– The A-team has 26 players and seven leaders. Some of the leaders must give support to the junior team which has only two leaders, says Staffan Berlin.

– We have a strategy. We've raised the club three steps, but now they've fallen back one. It's just a hitch on the way up.

The A-team have behaved impeccably. A few years ago they got unfavourable headlines.

– They're terrific people, with a big heart. Now we'll have to give them encouragement so that they don't lose energy.