Roar appeal draws in top young players
FOOTBALL: A keen group of young footballers experienced all the Brisbane Roar has to offer at the weekend.
Lacing up their boots during the A-League club’s clinic at Highfields FC – players of all skill levels left the weekend sessions with a lot of knowledge and some new skills.
“It was a fantastic weekend,” Highfields FC coaching co-ordinator Stef Hlaca said.
“We had a number of kids that were completely new to the game, some that want to take their game to the next level and everything in between.
“The beauty of the Roar philosophy is that it is very engaging – it’s about game based skill development.
“It’s important that the kids have fun and enjoy themselves at the same time they are learning and that is exactly what we saw.”
The South West Queensland Thunder’s Italian imports Mirko Crociati and Pasquale De Vita were among the coaching staff involved in the sessions – a massive bonus for players looking to take their game to the next level.
“I have developed a very good work relationship with Mirko and Pasquale,” Hlaca, who speaks fluent Italian, said.
“They are both excellent young men and have played football at the highest level.
“Young players can learn a lot from them – exactly what it takes, the level of dedication needed to take your game to the next level.”
The Soccer Genius ‘team’ were also on board to offer players some fun challenges.
“They (the Soccer Genius program) set up a few challenges for the kids,” Hlaca said.
“Special gates and other equipment that measure how fast the players can run with and without the ball and how hard they can hit it (the ball).”