NZ football star shines at The Chance Pacific Finals

Thursday 5th June 2012

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New Zealand football star shines at The Chance Pacific Finals

Young Auckland footballer to represent the Pacific at Global finals in Spain

Stephen Carmichael from Manurewa, Auckland has secured a place in Nike’s The Chance finals in Barcelona, lining up against the best young footballers from 55 countries across five continents.

The Chance is a global football talent search, giving amateur footballers the opportunity to prove themselves on an elite stage and take their game to the highest level.

Carmichael is one of three finalists selected at the Chance Pacific Finals in Canberra this week, fending off 35 other hopefuls from Australia and New Zealand. The final two places were awarded to Devante Clut and Matthew Bilic from Australia.

Held at the AIS, the three day event incorporated SPARQ, AIS and skill sessions and 11 v 11 matches in front of Nike scouts, coaches and athletes.

Also watching from the sidelines was newly named Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic who visited the AIS yesterday to scope out the young talent.

Stephen Carmichael was thrilled with the announcement and excited for the Barcelona challenge.

“I’m excited for Barcelona and keen to work hard. Everyone is going to be trying to impress. There’s a lot of good talent going over so I’ll just be trying my hardest,”

Carmichael now has the chance to follow in the footsteps of Tom Rogic, Australian football prodigy who was discovered in the first series of The Chance in 2010.

Rogic continues to shine as one of the nation’s most promising footballers and currently plays in the A-League.

Carmichael will join 100 other finalists from around the world competing at the Global Finals, which takes place at Barcelona FC’s famed youth academy from August 19-26.

These players will vie for the ultimate opportunity to become one of 16 finalists selected by Nike coaches and scouts to experience a four-week training tour, travelling the world and facing some of the most prestigious youth academy teams in world football.

From the 16 finalists selected at the Global Finals, four players will then be go on to train and play with the Nike Academy, now in its second year in partnership with the Premier League, based in the United Kingdom. This will form the last leg of the tour.

One player with then be selected to join the Nike Academy in 2012/13 full time for three months and will play with the team to showcase their talent to professional scouts and coaches.

Since The Chance first launched in 2010, six of the original eight winners who trained full time at the Nike Academy have secured professional playing contracts.

For more information on The Chance, please visit www.nike.com/en_au/football/the-chance

ENDS

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