Asia Pacific Football Academy, Lincoln
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
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Just want to celebrate a Canterbury football success story amidst the earthquake carnage.
Big Pete 652012-04-03 14:18:33
The Asia Pacific Football Academy at Lincoln, just outside of Christchurch opened in Feb. 2010
as a fulltime residential academy for players aged 13- 17.
It was started and is financially backed by British immigrant Andy Smith, who settled in Christchurch in 2004, formerly CEO of the Asia Pacific investment
division for Prudential in Hong Kong.
Mention of the academy is timely now with its graduate Cameron Howieson garnering much media interest after his exploits in the FA Youth Cup with Burnley in England and signing a full contract last week to forestall interest from Premier League clubs.
Several others have signed for professional clubs overseas.
Eight of its 2011 Scholarhip players are now playing for teams in the ASB Premiership or ASB Youth League.
Howieson went to Burnley because he was recommended by a Burnley scout living in Christchurch and also because he'd spent a year at NZ's top private football academy, the Asia Pacific Football Academy, here in Christchurch.
"The Academy system in the UK casts a wide net" is certainly true when you consider the Asia Pacific Academy is affiliated with Chelsea (they supervise the coaching and send their own people out every year to scout players).
ASIA PACIFIC FOOTBALL ACADEMY
Asia Pacific Football Academy is a football (soccer) school, operating in association with Chelsea Football Club, which focuses on the individual development of young players from various countries. The Academy looks to maximise each player's potential and increase their exposure in the football world. Players attending the Academy can choose from a range of intensive short-term programs (see Camps/Programs) or the unique full-time residential football academy that combines daily training with a full high school program.
Asia Pacific Football Academy now has a clear track record in developing elite football players. In 2011 alone 5 APFA Scholars have represented their country at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico and 8 Players have graduated from APFA's full-time program to play football at professional clubs or to move into overseas football development programs, including soccer scholarships at US Universities. 8 of APFA's 2011 Scholarship Players are playing at the highest domestic football level, in the New Zealand ASB Premiership and ASB Youth League and you can check their progress on our Facebook Page.
Also see:
ACADEMY FOSTERS TOMORROW'S STARS
Tony Smith, The Press 10/12/11
...Most students are on full scholarships � they do not pay a cent. Yet they get the best gear, expert coaching and video analysis, paid trips overseas for trials and extra school tuition if they need help to pass NCEA exams. The minority of part-time scholarships cover only homestay costs.
... there are "private investors". Chelsea has no financial involvement � that would scupper students' chances of an American college scholarship due to strict amateurism rules. But the former European Champions League winners have helped supply kit and equipment and sent a coach out to Lincoln and Smith says, "we've sent three boys to Chelsea this year".
Chelsea doesn't have first right of refusal on APFA players as such, but the academy undertakes to make the club aware of any talent with premier league potential.
Talk about an overnight success. APFA alumni have already gone on to bigger things. New Zealand under-17 international Cameron Howieson has signed for English professional club Burnley. Bill Tuiloma is training with Beckham's American Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy and Swiss champions FC Basel have snapped up Cantabrian Francis De Vries.
Diego Martinez, a Mexican who trained at APFA for almost a year, is now on loan from respected Spanish club Celta Vigo to lower division Rapido de Bouzas.
Christchurch's Hamish Murphy has appeared in a national junior college final in the United States for Monroe College...
American university coaches are beating a path to APFA's door. Brazilian first division club Figueirense sent two of its top under-17 players to train there and the Gold Coast Academy of Sport squad visited for matches against the APFA squad and Canterbury United's youth team.
...the academy's own amenities are jaw-droppingly impressive... Downstairs, is a players' lounge where students can relax between training sessions or watch football match re-runs on a big screen TV. Adjacent is a physiotherapy room area. Beyond, is a boot room modelled on Chelsea's and a commercial laundry where kit is washed and dried. Boys clean their own boots at a trough outside their dressing room.
APFA has two fully-fitted dressing rooms and room for two more. One of the spare rooms is used as a classroom for NCEA revision work or preparation for SAT tests for US colleges. Outside, are two full-sized pitches and a smaller training ground.
Upstairs at APFA, the coaches and management staff have their offices with the nerve centre a video analysis suite equipped with a Sports Code Elite system.
A visiting player from the Gold Coast Academy commented on that organisation's website that "what stood out [at APFA] was the professionalism, the incredible facilities and resources the academy has, and the pitch at ASB Football Park in Christchurch was amazing".
United States-educated Brazilian Giovani Fernandes is now head coach, coming to Christchurch after eight years running a major football academy in Florida. Jess Ibrom, of Britain, is high-performance coach.
Fernandes' philosophy is geared around developing players capable of playing any position. "We take great pride in that." He calls it the "Barcelona model" a nod to the supremely skilled Spanish and European champions. .
Cameron Howieson, who's now at Burnley, was an attacking midfielder or central midfielder at the academy. He trialled at Tottenham Hotspur as a left wing and left back. Bill Tuiloma was a right back or centreback here, but played as a central striker for a LA Galaxy youth team which won the annual MLS Showcase tournament in the United States. Tuiloma has now spent several months at Galaxy and has trained with English superstar Beckham.
Closer to home, Calvin Opperman can play on both midfield flanks for Canterbury United.
Fellow Aucklander Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi is a natural central midfielder but operates on the left wing for the Canterbury youth team.
Shane Rufer, who played over 10 years in the Swiss first division, ...says APFA is "the best thing for developing footballers that's ever existed in this country".
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
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[QUOTE=Big Pete 65]
But the former European Champions League winners
Did I miss something?
I work out at Lincoln and see the apfa kids and staff around all the time. Been to watch a couple training sessions too, the quality of the players is superb. Like the article says extremely professional and very well drilled students of the game.
But the former European Champions League winners
Did I miss something?
I work out at Lincoln and see the apfa kids and staff around all the time. Been to watch a couple training sessions too, the quality of the players is superb. Like the article says extremely professional and very well drilled students of the game.
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APFA now offering programs for girls.
Kotahitanga. We are one.
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Just came across this similar sort of private academy started a few years ago in Australia with strong connections to Italian clubs like AS Roma. Former NZ u-20 international Liam Graham attended it in Australia and has now spent two seasons in Italy's top youth league playing for Vicenza against AC Milan u-20, Inter Milan, Brescia, Chievo etc.:
http://www.issgenova.com/au/index.php
September 15 2010: Vicenza signings « September 18 September newsletter »
Three Genova International players have signed contracts with Vicenza Calcio: left, Theo Markelis (GISS Australia), coach Rino Lavezzini, Steven Domenici (GISS Australia), and right, Liam Graham (GISS New Zealand).
In an interview published in Goal Weekly, Theo Markelis discusses his move from Valencia to Vicenza.
In an interview published in Goal Weekly, Theo Markelis discusses his move from Valencia to Vicenza.
About Genova International School of Soccer
The Genova International School of Soccer provides opportunities for outstanding young soccer players in Europe, North and South America, and Australia to develop a soccer career to international standard.
The school is based in Ovada, in Piedmonte, northern Italy, in a recently built fully equipped sports complex, and offers the right balance of an elite training regime and a healthy lifestyle. The complex includes indoor tennis courts, a basketball stadium, and a gym, and can accommodate up to 60 people at any one time. Detailed images of the centre can be viewed here.
GISS operates in an autonomous capacity as it is not controlled by any official organisation or governing body. GISS maintains close relationships with key clubs and personnel across Europe.
The Genova International Academy currently trains players five days per week in Melbourne, Australia, with the purpose of developing professional players for the European market and in future to feed into the Australian A-league. In the past eighteen months GISS has held five AS Roma clinics in Melbourne, establishing the brand in Australia and generating much publicity in Europe.
In 2007, Genova International director Morris Pagniello arranged for Australian players to particiapte in games against top Italian clubs and saw four teams travel to Italy to play games against seria A and B teams interested in talented young Australian players. Of these Australians, seven players have been successfully signed to professional clubs.
Activities for 2008 included three Australian AS Roma campuses in the early part of the year, two AS Roma campuses in Asia, three coaching courses and overseas coaching tours, and four Australian team tours. Morris is also negotiating major events in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia for Italian serie A teams to come to Australia and Asia for exhibition games against the Hyundai A-league Teams. Morris has also negotiated the exclusive distribution rights to AS Roma merchandising for Australasia.
As of September 2008, Morris Pagniello and the famous Gigi Maifredi - Juventus 1st team coach in the 80's and 90s' - are to jointly open a new football academy. Gigi Maifredi is one of Italy's major icons in the football world. The Maifredi family management group will also be GISS's Fifa agents for Italy. Christian Maifredi visited Australia in January, 2008 and met with Gabriela Priolo (GISS Australian Administrative Director) and Joe De Martino (Head Coach, GISS) to discuss future plans for the Australian academy.
An agreement has also been formalised between Morris Pagniello and AS Roma's famous 1st team player Alessandro Mancini, for Genova International School of Soccer to be represented by the Mancini family in Brazil. This will allow the exchange of players between Brazil, Italy & Australia.
GISS has operations in Holland, France, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, Singapore, Mexico and Australia.
In order to enhance players' competitive standards, Genova International established Melbourne Phoenix FC, officially affiliated with AS Roma Calcio, to compete in the Victorian Football Federation state competition from 2008. In the 2008 competition, each Melbourne Phoenix team won its league by a convincing margin. For 2009, Melbourne Phoenix is fielding 4 junior boys teams - under 12, under 13, under 15, and under 18.
Genova International will also field junior teams in European and Asian competitions as Melbourne Phoenix FC.
Aims of GISS
- To provide a professional approach to training
- To provide professional standard technical knowledge
- To raise the standards of players to compete at an elite or professional level
- To create a bridge for Australian soccer players to access European teams
- To place players in professional or semi-professional teams throughout Europe
GISS TV includes some video of Genova International activities, conversations with signed players, and other
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
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From The Press today.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/7048358/Champ-in-two-countries
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