US Scholarship for brothers
Three Matamata Swifts players will be experiencing a new soccer environment as they all depart for the United States next month.
Brothers Andrew and Lawrence Clothier, and Cameron Horsfall have received scholarships to study at colleges in the USA.
Andrew is returning to ColbySawyer College, New Hampshire to complete his final of a four year academic scholarship, gaining a Bachelors in science and sports management minoring in business.
Lawrence and Cameron leave Matamata next week to begin a two-year scholarship at Murray State College, Oklahoma, with Lawrence sitting an associates degree in health and fitness education, and Cameron an associates degree in science, majoring in health, wellness and human performance.
Andrew is in NZ on summer vacation, completing an apprenticeship as a futsal coach intern with Waikato/BoP futsal development manager Joe Dixon. Both he and his brother were coaching at futsal camp at Matamata College last week and Andrew has spent time at the AIMS games.
Andrew, Lawrence and Cameron are all dedicated Matamata Swifts players, with Lawrence and Cameron playing for the Richardson Racing Stables Matamata Reserves and Andrew the Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts 1st team, but the brothers agree futsal is their real passion.
They were introduced to futsal through the Brazilian Futsal School, with coach Carlos Farias.
Futsal, a variant of football, is played indoors, with two teams of five players, including a goalie. A smaller court and more touches on the ball means players technical abilities are more developed.
‘‘The school opened my world up to futsal’’, says Andrew. ’’It changes the way players think...transitioning from outdoor to indoor is hard, but when you learn indoor you can transition back and forth so much easier and you become a much better player.’’
Andrew plans to return to New Zealand next year after graduation to potentially start his own business, start coaching and possibly even try out for the New Zealand futsal team, The Futsal Whites.
Lawrence, who is just starting is journey says he’s excited and nervous to be heading to college and looking forward to playing soccer in a whole new environment.