From Freyberg HS to Juventus

A team of multicultural Freyberg High School students will be getting coached by some of the world’s best football brains in Palmerston North next year

Sports turf supplier Polytan has given the team a grant to assist them in attending the Juventus football camp on January 15-19 at the Arena.

Seven of the team of 11 are refugees and migrants.

Of those seven students, one is Thai, two are of Myanmar descent and born in a refugee camp in Thailand, one is Afghani, and three are Bhutanese (born in a refugee camp in Nepal).

The players will join about 80 other players aged between 7 and 17 for a week of training and development from some of the highest qualified coaches to come to Palmerston North. It will be the second trip to Palmerston North by the famous Italian club.

There are a small number of places left in the camp for late enrolments.

The first three coaches confirmed are Miha Rojina, Sebastiano Disco and Andrea Mantini, who have coached all over the world.

They will be joined by returning coaches Kenny Sante, who is coaching in the Belgian women’s first division and Silvio Feri, who has experience with both AC Milan and Juventus coaching programmes.

More coaches will be announced closer to the time.

The players are treated like the elite stars, being coached all week and doing things like nutrition plans.

The camp is run by International Football Camps (IFC), who bring football camps to New Zealand, and they have worked with Palmerston North Marist chairman Jason Flynn to get the club to Manawatu.