NIKE SOUTH AFRICA ANNOUNCES TOP FOUR FOOTBALLERS TO TRIAL UNDER ARSENE WENGER

Professional football coaches and specialists select four South African young guns for the chance of a lifetime to trial under Arsene Wenger in the UK following 10 months of football trials with over 5,000 aspiring footballers

Following an intense two-day football trial under renowned football coaches and specialists at the Football Training Centre in Soweto, Nike South Africa is proud to announce the top four players who have earned the chance of a lifetime to represent the country at The Chance global trials in London next year.

Joining 96 other footballers from 40 countries are: Jonathan King, right back from Durban; Nazan Klaasens, left wing-back from Cape Town; Reyaad Pieterse, goalkeeper from Johannesburg and Khayalethu Nzimande, defensive midfielder from Durban.

The Nike core team of Eric Tinkler, Shaun Bartlett, Teboho Moloi and Elsa Storm were joined by guest coaches and technical directors including Roger da Sa, Thabo Mngomeni, Muzi Malinga and Mzonzima Xheshisa, who had the challenging task in making the final selection, as the 30 shortlist of youngsters put in a tremendous amount of effort to be noticed and get scouted. The trial included fitness assessments, high level drills, phased and positional play, and small sided games.

“The Chance is an opportunity of a lifetime for these youngsters in helping them realize their dream of playing professional football under the expert guidance of Arsene Wenger. This is a fantastic initiative by Nike to unearth and help nurture young talent,” says Shaun Bartlett.

“What we have seen in the last 10 months alone is testimony that our country is filled with talent – and with this programme we’ve been able to unearth and nurture talented players.”

The four winners will travel to the United Kingdom early next year, where, under the watchful gaze of Arsenal FC coach Arsene Wenger, will vie for a spot in the final eight to be recruited into the Nike Academy – a high performance centre, in the UK – starting in July 2011 for a year.

“We are thrilled with the quality of the players that we are sending to The Chance global trials in the UK to represent the country and we are determined to lend all the support required to these young footballers that will enable them to succeed,” says Seruscka Naidoo, Communications Manager Nike South Africa.

“The Chance is an extension of Nike’s commitment and contribution to youth development in South Africa, and the participation of players in this initiative demonstrates how determined they are to succeed at the highest levels of the game.”

The Nike Academy offers non-contract players unattached to professional clubs a chance to enter the professional game through world-class coaching and games against elite academies and professional reserve teams. Since the academy’s start in 2009, eight players in the UK have received professional contracts.

As members of the Nike Academy, players become full-time participants at a residential training centre in England with access to elite coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and fitness conditioners, along with world class facilities to perform at the highest level.