Football Special Report: Ambidextrous players – An addition to the Barcelona squad
Ambidextrous players have always been an advantage to any team that they have played for. Imagine, shooting from both the feet with the exact same amount of power and skill? Well, that is definitely something that a team would look for in a player. The Brazilian player Juninho was a famous ambidextrous player, who actually could shoot a free-kick with both his feet. With new talent shining in the recent history of football, new “ambidextrous” players are coming forward and are trying to make their name in the world.
The current Spanish League champions, Barcelona, have signed 2 new ambidextrous players; David Villa of Valencia and Adriano of Sevilla. Both these players along with the Barcelona man, Pedro, are able to shoot with both their feet and score goals from either foot. With such players included in their squad, there are definitely new tactics that can be brought on to the field by the coach, as they are now about to start the pre-season, right before La-Liga.
There have been other players in Barcelona, who were ambidextrous. One of them was the recent player Sergi Barjuan. He used to shoot from his right foot and even cross the ball from the right foot even though he was a left-footed player. He once said:
“I was left-footed, but from very young my father made me use my right foot. I think ambidextrous players are created. It’s great for a team to have players that can do that. They are better than other in terms of tactics, anticipation, passing and positioning”.
This highlights the fact that ambidextrous players are definitely people to “look out for” as the defenders don’t really know what is coming at them, a left-footed shot or a right-footed shot. The goalkeepers are also troubled with such players, as they can shoot at anytime with any foot.
The FIFA agent and the former player of Barcelona, Tente Sanchez, Marical Pina was the best ambidextrous player of all times. He said that coaches and teams don’t really go on and look for ambidextrous players; they just go out and look for players that are specialized in certain positions. For example, a centre forward who is only right footed would do just the job that the team requires, just like Wayne Rooney or even Ruud van Nistelroy of Manchester United. They both are right footed players but one of the best goal scorers as well. However, if the player is ambidextrous, then it adds a little more to the amount of opportunities that he can create. A legend that was ambidextrous was definitely the French international, Zinedine Zidanne. He could pass with both his feet and even shoot with both his feet, which was actually an amazing sight to watch.
Even though ambidextrous players are an “extraordinary” talent, but many of the big names do not have it. These names include the current player of the year Lionel Messi along with, Ricardo Kaka and even Xavi Hernandez.
Most of the experts believe that a pure left-footer finds it hard to become an ambidextrous player and players like Rivaldo, Hagi, Stoichov and even Lionel Messi are pure left-footers; but these names are so famous in the world at the moment that they shouldn’t really care about it. Experts like Victor Munoz believe that there are different theories to this matter. He said that it is all about the way a player trains when he was a child. If someone learns from one foot throughout his time, then he will only play good with that particular stronger foot, but if the child learns to play with both the feet, he will definitely become an ambidextrous player.
It does not really matter whether you are an ambidextrous player or not, but such players find it easier to fit in any position that they want. Just like David Villa, Adriano and Pedro. However, a few relate this matter to the Barcelona player Lionel Messi and say:
“Messi can play anywhere in attack … if you are as good as the Argentinean is, being ambidextrous is not important”.
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