Camden Sports - STEVE BARNETT Published: 8 January 2009
Diogo Da Silva shows his passing accuracy, with Wesley Ragan looking on in the background
Pro Touch kicks off search for stars
SCORES of promising young footballers from across Camden and Islington turned out at Market Road on Sunday for the chance to earn a place within a professional training academy. More than 80 youngsters took part in a two-hour open session held by the Pro Touch Soccer Academy (PTSA), an organisation aimed at helping disadvantaged players fulfill their dreams of making it as pro footballers.
Hopefuls aged between eight and 15 were put through their paces in a series of intense matches and gruelling training drills.
Coaches then selected 40 players, who will return to the Astroturf pitches this Sunday as the Academy looks to finalise a squad of elite players.
The final squad, which is expected to be just 18 players, will now start working with a team of qualified coaches where they will be helped to understand every aspect within the beautiful game, from training and dietary advice to preparing for big matches and handling the media.
Afterwards PTSA director Ash Rahman couldn’t hide his delight. He said: “The turnout was overwhelming. To attract so many talented footballers on such a cold and frosty morning was the perfect way to celebrate the Academy’s third anniversary.”
Head of coaching Taff Islam was also impressed with the quality on show: “Each year the players continue to get better and better, and selecting a final squad becomes a tougher challenge. We have an extremely high standard within the Academy, and for the third year running we have managed to attract talented footballers who match that standard. We are aiming to repeat the success we had last year and produce another four or five players who will go on to sign schoolboy contracts with professional clubs.”