Local
Coach and Pro Footballer Join Nike’s Search for the Most Relentless Players to
Showcase Their Football Skills
Nike
South Africa yesterday launched ‘The Chance’ South Africa Trials 2012 at the
Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto, and announced legendary football coach
Johan Neeskens, and professional footballer Benni McCarthy as the official
local scouts.
Neeskens,
head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns FC, and McCarthy, who is the all-time-top-goal
scorer for South Africa, will be tasked with identifying the top three players
who demonstrate unparalleled talent and determination to participate in the
global event in Barcelona in August.
The
nationwide search will commence in early June, and includes five major cities:
Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. These
regional trials, which aim to see over 5,000 young, aspiring footballers show
off their skill, will be directed by football legends Shaun Bartlett and Tebogo
Moloi.
A
final shortlist comprising of 50 players identified at the regionals trials
will attend a football camp in Johannesburg in July with Neeskens and McCarthy.
The
Chance’ 2012 is a unique global football talent search that gives young
amateur, unsigned footballers from around the world the chance to prove
themselves on an elite stage and take their game to the highest level.
South
African goalkeeper, Reyaad Pieterse, who won a one-in-eight spot in The Chance
2011, and joined the Nike Academy in the UK, recently signed a professional
contract with Ireland-based Shamrock Rovers FC.
Created
to support talented youngsters who are not currently in the professional game,
‘The Chance’ will allow the best young footballers (over 16 years old on March
1st 2012) to train and play at the leading facilities in world
football, showcase their skills in front of elite coaches and mentors, and
develop and improve their talent, with one aim; to get noticed.
Players
from 55 countries around the world will take part in ‘The Chance’ trials in
2012. The best 100 players from these trials, watched by top Nike
coaches, will then travel to a global final in Spain, to be held at FC
Barcelona’s famed youth academy. There, they will experience world class
facilities, elite coaching, and input from nutritionists, psychologists and
fitness conditioners as they progress in the programme.
‘The
Chance’ was first launched in 2010, and has since seen thousands of talented
footballers participate in coaching at the very best level. And this
year’s programme promises to be the most global and competitive
yet.
The
final 100 players will take part in an intense training and competition
schedule in Barcelona, while being evaluated by a world-class team of coaches
and scouts. Players will be assessed through training drills including Nike
SPARQ, a training and conditioning system that helps build better athletes.
The
best 16 footballers from the global finals will be chosen by Nike to experience
the ultimate training tour as their reward; facing some of the most renowned
academy teams in world football, including Manchester United, Juventus FC and a
U.S. Youth National Team during a once-in-a-lifetime four week tour.
From
this group of 16 players, four players will be selected to train and play with
the Nike Academy, now in its second year in partnership with the Premier
League, based in the United Kingdom. This will form the last leg of the
tour.
One
player will join the Nike Academy 2012/13 full time for two months and play
with the team to showcase their talent to professional scouts and
coaches.
Players
will live the life of an elite footballer and train at the best facilities
under the watchful eyes of club coaches and scouts. A golden chance to get
noticed and potentially win a professional contract.
Players
can register on www.facebook.com/nikefootballza
