Category: Youth Soccer Reporter
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“The tests will start today and continue throughout the competition, because it’s important to make sure that no player is over 17. The results will be transparent; we have no reason to hide them.”

— FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke on the random use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) wrist scans to check players’ ages at the Under-17 World Cup. Before the tournament, host Nigeria dropped 15 players following its own MRI testing. Gambia’s Baby Scorpions had 11 players from their 2009 African championship team not continue with team after MRI tests were conducted. (fifa.com)

Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter

U.S. U-17s to watch

by Paul Kennedy

It’s a long way from Bradenton, Fla., and the U.S. U-17 residency camp to Kano, Nigeria — 36 hours, five airports, four plane rides and two bus rides — but that’s path Wilmer Cabrera‘s boys took to get to the 2009 Under-17 World Cup. Despite the absence of several highly touted players, the USA has one its deepest teams ever. Several players have been with the program since the beginning of the cycle, while others were late additions. Here’s a look at five players to watch …

Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter

SCOUTING REPORT: Spain’s U-17s

by Soccer America

The USA opens play at the U-17 World Cup in Kano, Nigeria, on Monday against mighty Spain. Perhaps no national team has produced more stars from its under-17 program than Spain, whose youth graduates include Iker Casillas and Xavi (1997), Pepe Reina (1999), Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres (2001), David Silva and Cesc Fabregas (2003) and Bojan Krkic (2007).

Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter

Young goalie trains with the big boys

by Soccer America

What do you do when you’ve got 11 missed calls on your phone and you realize the message on your phone was that you’ve been called up to train with the U.S. national team? What’s it like to be a teenager and train with the big boys? Goalie Bill Hamid, one of the first players to graduate from the U.S. Development Academy to MLS, just got a taste …

Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“This is a wonderful historic event for Africa. Now Africans can believe in themselves that they can do it. We’ve shown them the way. Africa will surely have a lot of hope and confidence that they can do it like we did here.”

— Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh after the Black Satellites won the Under-20 World Cup on penalty kicks over Brazil, saying that their success will inspire other African teams to do well at the World Cup next year in South Africa. (AP)

Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“Tree-sitting? I said never, but I’m getting desperate. They’re using the need for soccer fields as a rallying cry to go ahead and destroy this beautiful park, and we have to do something.”

— Piedmont, Calif., resident Sandra Pohutsky, who opposes plans to turn Blair Park, a 5-acre strip of open space, into soccer fields for local players who have inadequate space for games and practice. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter

Houston club off to fast start

by Soccer America

Texas SC DTH, the product of the merger of the Texas Soccer Club (TSC Texans) and Dallas Texans Houston Division academy programs, is off to a great start in the 2009-10 U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The U-17/18s are in first place in the Texas Division with a pair of wins and the U/15-16s are tied with Andromeda for the top spot with a win and tie.

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