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new international soccer alliance - scoring goals for young Australians
In the year that World Cup fever strikes soccer fans around the globe, a Victorian sporting entrepreneur has forged an international alliance aimed at scoring goals for talented young Australian footballers. Melbourne soccer club founder, Daniel Santomil - an Australian football coach of two decades and owner of an elite youth soccer academy - has recently formed an exclusive new partnership with South America's biggest soccer club and is already on the hunt for the next Harry Kewell. The move comes following last year's pilgrimage to his native Argentina where Daniel, 42, met with executives from the country's most prestigious football club - C.A. River Plate - the club he supported all his life Proposing an international affiliation which would create new opportunities to advance the best new talent emerging from his Melbourne-based football academy -Daniel quickly generated interest from the club which once help him to get a scholarship at the Argentinean Institute of Sport as a high performance athlete. Aware powerful links already exist between the internationally recognized club and a string of major European clubs, Daniel persuaded River Plate the time was right for a similar affiliation which would identify and foster new talent from Down-Under.
In the year that World Cup fever strikes soccer fans around the globe, a Victorian sporting entrepreneur has forged an international alliance aimed at scoring goals for talented young Australian footballers. Melbourne soccer club founder, Daniel Santomil - an Australian football coach of two decades and owner of an elite youth soccer academy - has recently formed an exclusive new partnership with South America's biggest soccer club and is already on the hunt for the next Harry Kewell. The move comes following last year's pilgrimage to his native Argentina where Daniel, 42, met with executives from the country's most prestigious football club - C.A. River Plate - the club he supported all his life Proposing an international affiliation which would create new opportunities to advance the best new talent emerging from his Melbourne-based football academy -Daniel quickly generated interest from the club which once help him to get a scholarship at the Argentinean Institute of Sport as a high performance athlete. Aware powerful links already exist between the internationally recognized club and a string of major European clubs, Daniel persuaded River Plate the time was right for a similar affiliation which would identify and foster new talent from Down-Under.
Fostering
new talent
"With just eight full-time professional soccer clubs in the Australian a League there was an obvious need for a link like this with a major overseas club, and I couldn't believe it hadn't already happened given the caliber of young players now involved in the Australian soccer scene," explains Daniel, a qualified teacher who emigrated from Argentina 19 years ago. "As the biggest club in South America, CA River Plate seemed the perfect choice since it has the infrastructure to turn promising young players into top international professionals," he says The largest club in South America, CA River Plate has a track-record of success which has made it the envy of its neighbors. It offers the cream of coaching expertise and elite training programs to assist young players to enhance their skills. And with other vital in-house support systems in place - like counseling, accommodation and links to sporting institutions and universities River Plate also provides the support to turn young footballers into soccer superstars
"With just eight full-time professional soccer clubs in the Australian a League there was an obvious need for a link like this with a major overseas club, and I couldn't believe it hadn't already happened given the caliber of young players now involved in the Australian soccer scene," explains Daniel, a qualified teacher who emigrated from Argentina 19 years ago. "As the biggest club in South America, CA River Plate seemed the perfect choice since it has the infrastructure to turn promising young players into top international professionals," he says The largest club in South America, CA River Plate has a track-record of success which has made it the envy of its neighbors. It offers the cream of coaching expertise and elite training programs to assist young players to enhance their skills. And with other vital in-house support systems in place - like counseling, accommodation and links to sporting institutions and universities River Plate also provides the support to turn young footballers into soccer superstars
Fastest
Growing Australian Sport
After a long social and political struggle to gain acceptance in the Australian culture, soccer has now established itself as the country's fastest growing sports. Traditionally coached by enthusiastic parents and former players and teachers with limited training, many clubs are now emerging with new identities having lost their initial ethnic and political tags. This trend makes the clubs more appealing to new sponsors who are joining investors and advertisers who see soccer as a viable marketing opportunity with a growing overseas appeal. Daniel Santomil now intends to capitalize on the growing interest in the game by allowing his youngsters the chance to improve, and showcase their skills in an arena set to capture the attention of the best international selection coaches in the world. Now, after winning the backing of this major international club, Daniel is back in Australia bearing its prestigious endorsement for the flourishing soccer academy he initially founded in Chadstone in 1996.
After a long social and political struggle to gain acceptance in the Australian culture, soccer has now established itself as the country's fastest growing sports. Traditionally coached by enthusiastic parents and former players and teachers with limited training, many clubs are now emerging with new identities having lost their initial ethnic and political tags. This trend makes the clubs more appealing to new sponsors who are joining investors and advertisers who see soccer as a viable marketing opportunity with a growing overseas appeal. Daniel Santomil now intends to capitalize on the growing interest in the game by allowing his youngsters the chance to improve, and showcase their skills in an arena set to capture the attention of the best international selection coaches in the world. Now, after winning the backing of this major international club, Daniel is back in Australia bearing its prestigious endorsement for the flourishing soccer academy he initially founded in Chadstone in 1996.
A
professional approach to training
Now, with higher club expectations and more money involved in the game, a need has emerged for a more professional approach which can only be provided by highly qualified coaches. "We aim through our Academy and clinic, to improve young players' technical and tactical knowledge of soccer, incorporating skills and fitness tests on a regular basis to monitor improvements," he explains. Now through his powerful new affiliation, The River Plate Academy of Australia's most talented footballers will be given even bigger opportunities to improve and be noticed. "Over the past ten years there has been a tremendous surge in interest in Australian soccer - and overseas clubs like River Plate see Australia as a possible source of quality young players with terrific skills," says Daniel. The growth of soccer has also seen a rise in the numbers of youngsters enrolling for soccer training since Australia's qualification for the World Cup.
Now, with higher club expectations and more money involved in the game, a need has emerged for a more professional approach which can only be provided by highly qualified coaches. "We aim through our Academy and clinic, to improve young players' technical and tactical knowledge of soccer, incorporating skills and fitness tests on a regular basis to monitor improvements," he explains. Now through his powerful new affiliation, The River Plate Academy of Australia's most talented footballers will be given even bigger opportunities to improve and be noticed. "Over the past ten years there has been a tremendous surge in interest in Australian soccer - and overseas clubs like River Plate see Australia as a possible source of quality young players with terrific skills," says Daniel. The growth of soccer has also seen a rise in the numbers of youngsters enrolling for soccer training since Australia's qualification for the World Cup.
Investing
in the new generation of Australian soccer.
"With some of our soccer stars now following great careers at big international overseas clubs we know for a fact that the rest of the world is paying attention to our growing pool of talent," says Daniel. And with his brother, Eduardo, newly appointed as River Plate Football Academy of Australia's new manager in Argentina, plans are already afoot for the visit overseas visit when a group of the most promising Aussie youngsters will get the chance to play against the national youth league. To achieve this next big step, Daniel needs to encourage potential investors and sponsors to back his scheme to foster the next generation of new soccer superstars forging careers around the globe. "This is why we need to expand our Academies across Australia - so we can identify and train the very best young footballers," says Daniel. "It's an investment in the future of Australian soccer." "It's already the talk of soccer circles because most people realize we're the only club in Australia with this fantastic South American affiliation which can help young players fulfill their dreams if they have the talent and are prepared to work hard." "And with Daniel Passarella - the former Argentinean captain of the 1978 World Cup soccer team as our figurehead - and the rights to sell CA River Plate's merchandise throughout Oceania, we believe we're destined for big things."
"With some of our soccer stars now following great careers at big international overseas clubs we know for a fact that the rest of the world is paying attention to our growing pool of talent," says Daniel. And with his brother, Eduardo, newly appointed as River Plate Football Academy of Australia's new manager in Argentina, plans are already afoot for the visit overseas visit when a group of the most promising Aussie youngsters will get the chance to play against the national youth league. To achieve this next big step, Daniel needs to encourage potential investors and sponsors to back his scheme to foster the next generation of new soccer superstars forging careers around the globe. "This is why we need to expand our Academies across Australia - so we can identify and train the very best young footballers," says Daniel. "It's an investment in the future of Australian soccer." "It's already the talk of soccer circles because most people realize we're the only club in Australia with this fantastic South American affiliation which can help young players fulfill their dreams if they have the talent and are prepared to work hard." "And with Daniel Passarella - the former Argentinean captain of the 1978 World Cup soccer team as our figurehead - and the rights to sell CA River Plate's merchandise throughout Oceania, we believe we're destined for big things."
Kicking
off with a new identity
In the past months the coaching academy Daniel originally founded established under the banner - The South Eastern Piranha's Academy of Football - has assumed a new identity. With its new name he is set to expand the training school into other states as the first Australian soccer organization with a South American connection. "We're now called the CA River Plate Football Academy of Australia," says Daniel, who has enlisted top former Argentinean soccer star and national team captain, Daniel Passarella as Patron of his new organization which coaches over 100 Melbourne players. Operating five days a week from Dandenong, the Academy now offers training to youngsters in Chelsea and plans to add another training base closer to the city of Melbourne which will cater for youngsters from the northern suburbs. Daniel is also aiming to expand the training clinics he delivers into local schools across the region. But while the new Argentinean affiliation allows a change of name for the Academy, Victorian Football Federation rules prevent its associated soccer club which Daniel founded, from operating under the name of a recognized international team. "The football club I set up to improve the quality of soccer in the South Eastern region of Melbourne retains the same name - the South Eastern Piranhas," says Daniel whose academy grew from a professional coaching service offered to Victorian players and coaches. "Initially the aim of the service was to improve the standard of soccer in Victorian schools and clubs by delivering structured coaching programs which included clinics, skill tests for players and professional development sessions for coaches," explains Daniel. .
In the past months the coaching academy Daniel originally founded established under the banner - The South Eastern Piranha's Academy of Football - has assumed a new identity. With its new name he is set to expand the training school into other states as the first Australian soccer organization with a South American connection. "We're now called the CA River Plate Football Academy of Australia," says Daniel, who has enlisted top former Argentinean soccer star and national team captain, Daniel Passarella as Patron of his new organization which coaches over 100 Melbourne players. Operating five days a week from Dandenong, the Academy now offers training to youngsters in Chelsea and plans to add another training base closer to the city of Melbourne which will cater for youngsters from the northern suburbs. Daniel is also aiming to expand the training clinics he delivers into local schools across the region. But while the new Argentinean affiliation allows a change of name for the Academy, Victorian Football Federation rules prevent its associated soccer club which Daniel founded, from operating under the name of a recognized international team. "The football club I set up to improve the quality of soccer in the South Eastern region of Melbourne retains the same name - the South Eastern Piranhas," says Daniel whose academy grew from a professional coaching service offered to Victorian players and coaches. "Initially the aim of the service was to improve the standard of soccer in Victorian schools and clubs by delivering structured coaching programs which included clinics, skill tests for players and professional development sessions for coaches," explains Daniel. .