Albert Smith is no stranger to challenges.

And after inheriting a diluted Boulevard side last month and failing to advance from the group phase of the Martonmere Cup competition, the former Blazers forward realises he has his work cut out for him.

But that?s exactly what Smith thrives upon ? challenges.

?Things might appear bleak for us at the moment. But in the long run I?m confident we?ll be okay,? reasoned Smith, now fully recovered from leg surgery.

?We just got off to a late start and still have a few matters to sort out. We?re presently rebuilding and the Martonmere Cup provided us an opportunity to have a good look at different players. So our involvement in that tournament did have its positives and negatives,? the coach added.

Smith succeeded interim coach Vernon Symonds in mid-August and is currently at the helm of a squad that bade farewell to the likes of Jah Samuels, Michael Parsons, Robert Wilson, Marvin Belboda, Stanton Lewis and Meshach Wade ? all players any coach would love to have at their disposal.

Then came humiliating defeats against Somerset Trojans and Dandy Town, a porous Blazers? defence missing ?keeper Shejuan (Shabba) Swan conceding 11 goals ? half the total they conceded in league play all last season ? in only two matches.

And while forwards Angelo Simmons and Melchisedec Gibbons welcomed former team captain Shaki Crockwell back in the fold, Blazers? offence has yet to pump fear into opposing defences.

?I think the team?s unity is still there and as far as the game itself is concerned I thought things could have been different for us had we put our chances away,? Smith added.

The former Devonshire Cougars coach was referring to the loses against Trojans and Hornets which saw Blazers squander a plethora of early chances, including a penalty.

?Had we put those chances away then it might have changed the game around and helped build our team morale,? he added.

Another positive, Smith observes, is midfielder Gibbons? new mental approach to the game.

?I think it just boils down to maturity and you have to remember these guys are still young players. And it?s good to see Melchisedec trying to set the tempo for others around him to follow,? Smith added.

In addition to a new coach, Blazers also have a new team leader with Conneko Trott succeeding Gibbons as captain.

Since Boulevard?s 5-2 loss to Hornets on September 17, not surprisingly, Smith has placed emphasis on defence.

?We?ve been putting in a lot of work with our defensive part of the game. And overall I think we have a good group of young players,? he said. ? I also think we aren?t concentrating for the entire 90 minutes. I think we are okay for the first 30 minutes or so and then our concentration level begins to drop. So my task is to get the players mentally prepared.?

After losing several key players to the transfer market, many have already written Blazers off. But Smith wants to prove his team?s critics wrong.

?That?s one of our biggest goals this season . . . silencing our critics. And you must remember the game is played on the field,? he said.

?But our focus isn?t on the critics because we are confident we will overcome them. We just have to stay committed and hang in there. . . this is what it?s all about.?

As for the exiled ?keeper Swan, Smith said: ?He was training with us during the pre-season, but I really can?t comment any further because I haven?t seen him to chat with. But I do believe he has work commitments at the moment.

?But hopefully he will return soon because it?s important in the Premier Division to have your best ?keeper.?

And despite getting off to a rocky start, Smith hopes to see his team?s fortunes quickly turn around.

?I would like to see us be competitive this season,? he added. ?Remain competitive and take things one match at a time. If we can achieve this, then you never know what might happen.?

This philosophy paid off during Smith?s term at Cougars which was cut short just when all the hard work was beginning to bear fruit.

In 2001 Smith ended Cougars? cup jinx by coaching them to a first ever major title (Martonmere Cup) but was then forced to relinquish coaching chores to Andrew Bascome due to leg surgery last season.

?I don?t really think that was a difficult choice for me. Everything at Cougars was already put in place for Andrew to carry on,? Smith explained.

?I really enjoyed my time at Cougars and really there?s no need for me to have any bitter feelings. For me it was time well spent. But then again I have returned home. And there?s no place like home and it?s always good to give back.?

Smith said he very much looks forward to the challenges of coaching.

?It?s great to be back,? he insisted. ?I?m actually excited about it because it presents a newer challenge for me and also my players. And that?s what life is all about ? overcoming challenges.?