adidas scores a goal with Football Academy

Media Release
For Immediate Release
22 March 2010

Vamos a Barcelona: adidas scores a goal with Herbert’s 82 Football Academy

adidas is supporting the 82 Football Academy on the trip of a lifetime to the prestigious Mediterranean International Cup (MIC) tournament in Barcelona at the end of this month.

Nineteen passionate and talented football players aged between 12 and 15 make up the 82 Academy team, travelling to Barcelona with Head Coach Richard Johnson and under the watchful eye of 82 Director and All Whites Coach Ricki Herbert.

Herbert says that the 82 Football Academy is all about excellence and is aimed at developing the football skill base of young players - both boys and girls. “We provide football courses for talented children to work on technical ability, mental approach and physical well being. Our motto; when you believe you can - you can!”

The first Academy courses were held in January, and the selection process for Barcelona was undertaken during that time, and throughout a series of coaching clinics offered up and down New Zealand during the month of February.

The full squad had their final training run in Christchurch last weekend before heading to Spain.

“We are so excited that the 82 Academy has been invited to the MIC tournament in Barcelona, and we are doing everything we can to help,” says adidas Marketing Manager Nadia Scott.

The MIC tournament attracts many of the most prestigious clubs from Europe, which means the 82 Academy players will be exposed to some of the best young players in the world.

The confirmed team for Barcelona is:
Players
Avery Addei - Christchurch
Connor Ceci - Wanaka
Oliver Ceci - Wanaka
Hamish Comber - Hamilton
Hugo Evans - Auckland
Sam Flatt - Tauranga
Nathan Gibb - North Shore, Auckland
Connor Irvine - Tauranga
Marcel Kampman -Queenstown
Bryce McMillen - Christchurch
Carter Milne - Dunedin
Finn Moore - Wanaka
Gabriel Schwarz - Wanaka
Fox Slotemaker - Nelson
Josh Sutherland - Christchurch
Harry Tod-Smith - Nelson
Ella Van der Geest - Queenstown
Harry Waters - Wanaka
Aiden Widdows – North Shore, Auckland

Coaching & Support Staff
Richard Johnson - Head Coach
Chris Acott - Academy Coach
Jaap Van der Geest - Academy Coach
Owen Arnold - Coaching Assistant
Bev Ceci - Tour Organiser
John Widdows - Supporter/Photographer

ENDS