Norman Garbett still absent with the flu as Potenza Primavera lose 2-0 away at Catanzaro (6th). Potenza still second on the ladder after 20 games, with two matches remaining in the regular season.
Another goal for Lee Ho-Jae. Comes off the bench in the 88th minute and scores in the 91st to salvage a point. Looks like this could be a breakout season for the guy. Awesome for him but a double edged sword, as every goal he scores likely brings him a step closer to the South Korean national team. 28283C74-E540-4CE3-B101-9C4DFD13E06F.jpeg437.98 KB
He is playing Serie C correct - same level as Pennington did?
Perhaps he is someone the NIX should be looking at, although with stats like that, I imagine there maybe a couple suitors in Italy as well.
Nah although Potenza are Serie C, Norman plays for their U19 Primavera side.
Correct. It's the U19 third tier. Still, they're on track to be promoted and those leagues are highly scouted. Given how well he's been doing, I'd be surprised of he was still at Potenza next season
Potenza finished the regular season in 3rd place and qualified for the play offs. On the weekend they travelled away to Gubbio 3rd vs 4th and won 1-0. Garbett subbed off at 76 mins (1-0). Potenza host Gubbio this weekend in the return leg.
Potenza were at home to Foggia (*not Gubbio) in the 2nd leg of the play offs winning 2-1 with Garbett subbed off at 84mins (2-1). Potenza progress to the semi finals to play Bari away in the first leg.
Potenza lose away to Bari 3-1 and are knocked out of the Serie C U19 play offs. Potenza go down 1-0 after 1 minute. Garbett gets the equaliser in the 29th minute but it’s not enough. Garbett finishes the season with 20 games, 7 goals and 7 assists.
Potenza lose away to Bari 3-1 and are knocked out of the Serie C U19 play offs. Potenza go down 1-0 after 1 minute. Garbett gets the equaliser in the 29th minute but it’s not enough. Garbett finishes the season with 20 games, 7 goals and 7 assists.
Off to join the U20s in camp now I guess.
I thought Garbett was a bit of a surprise selection. I can only assume Darren rates this U19 3rd tier league as better than other U19 leagues in other countries, including the NZ leagues which are against men, as I’ve heard that playing against men was thought to be one of his main criteria.
Potenza lose away to Bari 3-1 and are knocked out of the Serie C U19 play offs. Potenza go down 1-0 after 1 minute. Garbett gets the equaliser in the 29th minute but it’s not enough. Garbett finishes the season with 20 games, 7 goals and 7 assists.
Off to join the U20s in camp now I guess.
I thought Garbett was a bit of a surprise selection. I can only assume Darren rates this U19 3rd tier league as better than other U19 leagues in other countries, including the NZ leagues which are against men, as I’ve heard that playing against men was thought to be one of his main criteria.
I've been told (and NZP can correct me on this), that unless you are an exceptional world class teenager in Italy you go through the 19s program. Italy do not have a U21 or U23 program so it’s 19s then senior football. Primavera 1 which is mainly Serie A U19 teams, have increased the age allowing U20 players to play next year.
I guess we will find out how good Garbett is in a few weeks. Herdman & Linder are also basically playing in an age group comp. The MLS Next Pro being a specific development league for the MLS. Older non MLS players are in the USL comp.
Potenza lose away to Bari 3-1 and are knocked out of the Serie C U19 play offs. Potenza go down 1-0 after 1 minute. Garbett gets the equaliser in the 29th minute but it’s not enough. Garbett finishes the season with 20 games, 7 goals and 7 assists.
Off to join the U20s in camp now I guess.
I thought Garbett was a bit of a surprise selection. I can only assume Darren rates this U19 3rd tier league as better than other U19 leagues in other countries, including the NZ leagues which are against men, as I’ve heard that playing against men was thought to be one of his main criteria.
I've been told (and NZP can correct me on this), that unless you are an exceptional world class teenager in Italy you go through the 19s program. Italy do not have a U21 or U23 program so it’s 19s then senior football. Primavera 1 which is mainly Serie A U19 teams, have increased the age allowing U20 players to play next year.
I guess we will find out how good Garbett is in a few weeks. Herdman & Linder are also basically playing in an age group comp. The MLS Next Pro being a specific development league for the MLS. Older non MLS players are in the USL comp.
Yes, I surpose time will tell. I just feel sorry for those boys who were overlooked who were playing in the men’s league
Has there ever been concrete proof of this... emails between coaches etc?
Originally it was you had to be based in Auckland, then Ole, now the Nix. It's an ongoing complaint/concern... and then there is the North Island to Sth Island bias.
Perception is reality - and in football, where ability is all perception based, no one is ever going to get it right.
Yes, it is a minefield but having dedicated NZF coaches not aligned to any academy or club will be a good start
That would be the ideal situation but just not sure how you achieve that with the resources NZF has at its disposal. All the best coaches are aligned to a club or academy and even the few that are in fulltime employment with NZF were historically linked to a club, academy or federation so probably are not as objective as they could be.
You are right that the Primavera league is U19/20, though each team can usually field a number of over 20s who are usually first teamers needing game time. Most youngsters will then get a loan move to the lower divisions and move up from there if they are good enough. Primavera 3 is pretty average but Potenza have a good coach and set up and he's shown good promise...so I can understand why he's being called in to have a look.
With his performances this year, I'd be surprised if he doesn't get a move to another Primavera team (in a higher division) or even a senior deal somewhere
Re Norman Garbett - Antonio Nocerino is no longer the Potenza Primavera coach. I'd be surprised if Norman is still there next season too. Now that he's been to the U20 world cup, surely third tier youth football in Italy won't be enough anymore
Going off his IG Riley Peach currently training in some form at Atletico Madrid.
He trained with Atletico's Juvenil A squad (their U19s, top youth team at the club), currently coached by Fernando Torres - no small feat.
He and his agent are very close with the Ñíguez brothers, Aaron and Saul (Atletico, Chelsea, Spain et al), so to put a damper on things, wouldn't be surprised if this is simply a favour or an experience they've set up for him and his club (Club Costa City, ran by the bros).
Still very young (16 in December) and would be very disappointed if NZF didn't extend an invite to U17 training camps. Peach is also eligible for England and Bermuda.
Edit: Wow, so from the investigation I've done, looks like it indeed was a one-week training session with an eye to a deal. Great for the kid, fingers crossed it goes well
NZ U17 rep Konstantino Gorgiovski has moved from the Makedonija Gjorce Petrov youth setup to FK Belasica Strumica who play in the North Macedonia 2nd tier.
Presumably will be involved at the U17WC in 🇮🇩 later this year too.#KiwisAbroad
— YoungHeart - 🇳🇿🏴 (@YoungHeartHM) July 8, 2023
Potenza Calcio just released the names of the players that will be involved in the yearly pre-season camp and Norman Garbett isn't on that list. He's still young and all, but after his latest performances with his youth team and with the NZ U20s I half expected him to be given a look in preseason.
Sounds like they've just gone fulltime professional at U23 level as well, so will be a good environment for him to be learning in and training in. Beautiful looking home ground too (see attached).
Hopefully can crack the first team down the line. It would represent a very decent level given the Austrian Bundesliga has a co-efficient ranking of 11 (Some great clubs in there too!)
I messaged him on Insta because I wanted to confirm direct from the source (and also I have no shame 😅). I also wanted to clear up those tenuous links.
Auckland born and raised to South Korean parents and he is a NZ citizen so no worries there. Bit of a route he's taken to get to where he is today, as I don't recall too many kids in the game from down here who have gone exclusively through the schooling system, yet fail to be listed for a senior club side, but then embarked on a professional career overseas!
Alas, I've asked him for clarification on this too, so hopefully I'll hear back from him overnight.
I messaged him on Insta because I wanted to confirm direct from the source (and also I have no shame 😅). I also wanted to clear up those tenuous links.
Auckland born and raised to South Korean parents and he is a NZ citizen so no worries there. Bit of a route he's taken to get to where he is today, as I don't recall too many kids in the game from down here who have gone exclusively through the schooling system, yet fail to be listed for a senior club side, but then embarked on a professional career overseas!
Alas, I've asked him for clarification on this too, so hopefully I'll hear back from him overnight.
Spent a bitta time at TKU and Central while at Mt Roskill. No clue what he did between that and late 2021, when he headed to Spain
He trained with Santos FC in Brazil when he was 12 for four weeks (in their futsal department). A bit later when he was around 15-16 he trained at O'Higgins in Chile for 3 months. The club would have signed him but couldn't due to FIFA rule
After Covid he signed for Ponferradina in La Liga 2 and played for their U19s for a season. Then went to Germany and now in Austria.
He wasn't involved in club football or even football early on, because he was doing 100% futsal from age 9-12. Then he played 1st 11 football at MRGS from Year 9 onwards. But I think he was registered to Central and played a few games when his friend's team was short.
Interesting journey. Him (and presumably with his parents at age 12 in Brazil), ain't afraid to put in some air miles. Will have some nice touches you'd think with that Futsal background.
