FC Barcelona coach to share secrets with Christchurch United

The players and coaches at Christchurch United FC are in for a special treat when they host FC Barcelona youth coach Oscar Jorquera and Feyenoord Rotterdam’s physical performance expert Mark Onderwater for the coming fortnight.

The visit is part of an expanding partnership between the Christchurch United Academy and TOVO Academy Barcelona, whose Director Todd Beane spent a week in Christchurch recently to work with the club’s coaches.

Jorquera and Onderwater provide their specialist services to the TOVO Academy and Beane said their two coaches have been asked to travel to New Zealand to continue the work he started in May with the Christchurch United coaching staff.

“We are excited to extend our relationship with Christchurch United,” says Beane, adding that the partnership aims to bring modern, advanced training practices and coaching development to Christchurch.

“There is great potential in Christchurch as the sport continues to grow and we are pleased to be part of the development process,” says Beane who has worked on youth development at FC Barcelona as well as Ajax Amsterdam under Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.

Oscar Jorquera is considered one of the best coaches in Spain for the younger age-group players and he currently manages the U10 squad at FC Barcelona. Under Jorquera’s tutelage, that Barcelona team has dominated the Spanish scene in their age-group.

Jorquera has extensive experience as a first team coach with several lower-league clubs in Spain, and is the currently the lead coach at the TOVO Academy along with Todd Beane.

Mark Onderwater is a human movement scientist with extensive expertise in screening, testing and training professional youth soccer players. He has experience working with elite academies at Dutch Eredivisie clubs Ajax Amsterdam, Ado Den Haag and Feyenoord.

At the TOVO Academy, Onderwater is dedicated to improving the players' overall physical performance, providing critical secrets to what it takes to succeed at the highest level of football.

Christchurch United Academy Director Colin Williamson says his coaches are excited about the partnership with the TOVO Academy and hopes this experience will help them become more professional.

“To develop great footballers, you need good coaches. And not just one or two good coaches at the top but right across the board,” says Williamson.

“Developing all our coaches is a top priority for our club and we expect this exchange of ideas will help them and inspire them to take their work with our youngsters to a higher level.”

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