The pilot introduction of three Perry Foundation National Talent Centres centralised in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will be the first step in that process, identifying and nurturing talented young players from as early as 12 years old in preparation for age-group FIFA World Cups at U-17 and U-20 level.
In the last two years, the collective progress of New Zealand teams has been rapid, with 13 points collected from six age group and senior FIFA events in 2008 and 2009 after picking up just one point in the four tournaments immediately following Australia’s departure from Oceania for the Asian Football Confederation.
But despite breakthrough performances like wins at 2008 U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups, draws at Olympic games, a second round appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the All Whites dramatic qualification to the finals of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, NZF is aiming to spin the wheels of progress even faster.
“We’re looking at talent younger and we’re looking wider,” says NZF Director of Football Development John Herdman “to track, monitor, train and inspire young players on to success at a FIFA U-17 World Cup and beyond.”
Herdman says New Zealand teams punch above their weight in a global game and but that size can’t be ignored when planning for even better results.
“The New Zealand situation is characterised by a comparatively small talent pool so a key to future success will be casting the net wider than has been done previously and to catch more potential stars.
“We’ll also keep the door open for those that initially missed out, allowing them to force their way in to a national centre through federation programmes.
“People talk about more milk making more cream but equally more quality milk makes more quality cream.”
For the first intake in January, a network of national and federation scouts have identified players at the Perry Foundation national age-grade tournament with numbers boosted by a local talent selected by federation coaching staff.
Future intakes will be drawn from ongoing federation development programmes with investment and support the national body, and while NZF will support, in principle, the continuance of a national tournament it will be not used for indentifying players.
Around 300 players aged between 12 and 16, will get their first taste of the level of preparation required to represent New Zealand and reach U-17 squads and be exposed to internationally-focussed tactical and technical instruction with national and federation coaches.
The intake of players will be geared around FIFA’s two-year age-group World Cup cycles, with boys building towards the 2011 and 2013 U-17 World Cups and girls towards equivalent events in 2012 and 2014.
Perry Foundation National Talent Centres – Initial Camps
Northern
Boys: 11-15 Jan
Girls: 18-22 Jan
Venue: Auckland Grammar School
Central
18-22 Jan
Venue: St Patrick’s College (Silverstream), Wellington
Southern
11-15 Jan
Venue: St Bede’s College, Christchurch
Story courtesy NZF Media
Photo courtesy Action Images