“Fun But Challenging At Times” Says Penybont Head Coach After First Team Experience Ninja Warrior

The Penybont FC players in action at the Ninja Warrior event in Cardiff.

Image Credit: Penybont FC

By Lee Clow

28 February 2020 | Cymru Premier

Welsh football side Penybont FC decided to take its first team to the Ninja Warrior event held Cardiff as a ‘change of scenery’.

The club lay 11thin Cymru Premier with only a point separating them from the safety mark. Penybont FC was promoted to the Cymru Premier last season having finished first in The Welsh Football League Division One.

The players have been working hard in their training sessions all season, so taking part in the Ninja Warrior event was something different for the players allowing them to take it easy and bond as a group.

With the entire squad taking part, it was essentially like another training session, however it more focused on upper body exercises. It was also a fun environment which offered a chance of competitiveness between the players.

First team manager, Rhys Griffiths gave his thoughts stating how the session would benefit his group of players.

He said: “Sometimes you need something a little different. The players have been working really hard in training, but we felt that a change of scenery and a more light-hearted session would benefit the group.”

Griffiths then went to describing how he and the team was involved in a game of ‘Head Tennis’: “Ninja Warrior was good fun, but also physically challenging at times. It also included the most dangerous game of ‘Head Tennis’ that I’ve ever been involved in!!”

Penybont midfielder, James Saddler, also gave his opinions on the one off training session: “It’s been a long and very demanding season to date so it was good to get away from the training pitch and freshen things up ahead of a very important 8 weeks for the club.”

“Getting inside from the cold was a welcomed bonus for the boys and we got to witness a few questionable attempts (myself included) at the warped wall.” joked Saddler.

The Ninja Warrior event in Cardiff is inspired by the hit TV Show, of the same name, that is broadcasted on ITV. The adventure park was opened earlier last year, and it offers members of the public a chance to experience and take on the challenging course.

Having taking part in the Ninja Warrior event, Penybont will hope the experience will inspire them to a much-needed victory in their next game against fifth placed Cardiff Metropolitan University on Friday.