Our future superstars
11/04 2002 00:00
Den store sydafrikanske avis, Soccer-Laduma, har en helside om F.C. Københavns fodboldskole i Sydafrika. I artiklen bliver der skrevet spalte op og spalte om UPE-FCK, dens spillere, ledere osv.
Vi gengiver her den første tredjedel af artiklen i dens oprindelig form - dvs. engelsk. Anden tredjedel kommer fredag, og den sidste del kommer på mandag:
Something very special is happening in Port Elizabeth. A fountain of soccer youth has sprung up under the guidance of Roald Poulsen, Eddy Velile Dyaloyi and Mark Olckers. The UPE-FCK Soccer School Excellence is a youth development satellite club that is linked to Zuma's FC Copenhagen, the largest and most successful club in Denmark. There are a number youth development programs on the go in South Africa at the moment. Ajax Cape Town has a very successful youth program underway, and so too do Kaizer Chiefs and Hellenic. But UPE-FCK is a little bit different. Find out a more about an organisation that is fast becoming the talent factory for tomorrow's superstars.
How did it start?
UPE-FCK Soccer School of Excellence was established in January of 2000 in Port Elizabeth. The philosophy of the school - identify and recruit young talented players, train and develop them into professional footballers. There is a strong accent on youth from disadvantaged and underprivileged communities. Since its inception, the soccer school has produced 11 players who have represented the nationa U17 side. Their most recent success story was placin one of their talented youngsters with FC Copenhagen on a four-year contract.
What makes UPE-FCK Soccer School so unique?
Most youth development programs seem to have the approach of throwing their net out very wide to catch as many fish as possible. The systematically cutting down their numbers and getting rid of players who they feel are not good enough. Hundreds of kids in different ages are given the opportunity to prove their worth as footballers. UPE-FCK has done it a bit differently. The school has handpicked 19 youngsters. That's right, only 19 players are currently in their development program. In this way, it enhances its status as an elite development structure. Each one of the 19 boys is then strictly monitored for his stay with the program. The players are scrutinized regularly by doctors and qualified physiotherapists. They are screened on a regular basis. Every month sees the players perform relevant scientific based tests within modern football to ensure the peak performance level of the individual.
What about education?
All the boys stay together in a big house in the very affluent area of Summerstrand. The boys have taken it upon themselves to name the house "Copenhagen House". Here, they are overseen by two house guardians, who are both qualified teachers. The guardians are there to make sure that the boys' needs are taken care of. There isn't a single thing the boys could ask for assures acting General Manager of the School of Excellence, Mark Olckers.
"The boys are given all the food and clothing they could possible need. Every single thing they need is paid for by the program. They are taken to the school and fetched. Then, they are picked up for training. The parents of these boys have not had to contribute a single cent to their education. These boys are living, eating, breathing football. Some of these boys are still at school, and some of them are doing Sports Psychology classes at the university. Last year, all nine boys who where doing their matric passed. They now train twice a day and are almost ready for pro football. But it's very important that the boys who don't make it are able to integrate back into the normal world, that's why we put a lot of emphasis on education...
Anden del af artiklen kommer fredag...
Vi gengiver her den første tredjedel af artiklen i dens oprindelig form - dvs. engelsk. Anden tredjedel kommer fredag, og den sidste del kommer på mandag:
Our future superstars
How did it start?
UPE-FCK Soccer School of Excellence was established in January of 2000 in Port Elizabeth. The philosophy of the school - identify and recruit young talented players, train and develop them into professional footballers. There is a strong accent on youth from disadvantaged and underprivileged communities. Since its inception, the soccer school has produced 11 players who have represented the nationa U17 side. Their most recent success story was placin one of their talented youngsters with FC Copenhagen on a four-year contract.
What makes UPE-FCK Soccer School so unique?
Most youth development programs seem to have the approach of throwing their net out very wide to catch as many fish as possible. The systematically cutting down their numbers and getting rid of players who they feel are not good enough. Hundreds of kids in different ages are given the opportunity to prove their worth as footballers. UPE-FCK has done it a bit differently. The school has handpicked 19 youngsters. That's right, only 19 players are currently in their development program. In this way, it enhances its status as an elite development structure. Each one of the 19 boys is then strictly monitored for his stay with the program. The players are scrutinized regularly by doctors and qualified physiotherapists. They are screened on a regular basis. Every month sees the players perform relevant scientific based tests within modern football to ensure the peak performance level of the individual.
What about education?
All the boys stay together in a big house in the very affluent area of Summerstrand. The boys have taken it upon themselves to name the house "Copenhagen House". Here, they are overseen by two house guardians, who are both qualified teachers. The guardians are there to make sure that the boys' needs are taken care of. There isn't a single thing the boys could ask for assures acting General Manager of the School of Excellence, Mark Olckers.
"The boys are given all the food and clothing they could possible need. Every single thing they need is paid for by the program. They are taken to the school and fetched. Then, they are picked up for training. The parents of these boys have not had to contribute a single cent to their education. These boys are living, eating, breathing football. Some of these boys are still at school, and some of them are doing Sports Psychology classes at the university. Last year, all nine boys who where doing their matric passed. They now train twice a day and are almost ready for pro football. But it's very important that the boys who don't make it are able to integrate back into the normal world, that's why we put a lot of emphasis on education...
Anden del af artiklen kommer fredag...
