More soccer coaching clinics needed<\/p>\n
By Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nearly 500 boys packed South Jakarta's Soemantri
\nBrodjonegoro stadium wearing colorful soccer costumes. Some even
\nwore colorful shoes.<\/p>\n
They all there for the same reason - Alan Kennedy's soccer
\nclinic.<\/p>\n
Kennedy, a Liverpool player from 1978 to 1985, said \"I see the
\nboys are smiling everyday and it pleases me. Look at them, they
\nare very enthusiastic in joining my school. It makes everything I
\ndo worthwhile.\"<\/p>\n
Kennedy was invited to hold a two-week Coca Cola International
\nFootball School. He is being assisted by Clive Walker, who played
\nfor Chelsea from 1973 to 1984 and David Johnson, who was with
\nLiverpool from 1976 to 1982, and David Fairclough, a Liverpool
\nplayer from 1975 to 1983.<\/p>\n
They are being assisted by 12 local coaches from the Pelita
\nBakrie club.<\/p>\n
Kennedy divides the boys in groups for some basic skill tests.
\nThe tests are for juggling control, shooting, passing, dribbling,
\nheading and lofted passing.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the kids here are very talented, some not so
\ntalented. It's normal. The most important thing is to make them
\nenjoy soccer first,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the first week, Kennedy has coached almost 7,000 boys from
\n270 elementary and junior high schools in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Alan Matthews from Pacific Challenge sports organizers said
\nafter the first week between 500 and 600 boys would be chosen to
\njoin the program's second week.<\/p>\n
Matthews said he hoped to stage the program regularly during
\nschool holidays.<\/p>\n
\"I've talked with Bakrie Pesona Rasuna about inviting Kennedy
\nthree or four times a year to stage the program. It's a long term
\nprogram. If we can do it regularly, I believe in 10 years,
\nIndonesia will have a good pro footballer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Boys are wearing a tag named after top English teams, based on
\ntheir ages. Chelsea is for 10 year olds to 12 year olds,
\nNewcastle (13-14yrs) years and Liverpool (15-16 yrs).<\/p>\n
\"Giving them top team names will motivate them to learn hard,\"
\nMatthews said.<\/p>\n
Each boy has a skill test card hanging around on his neck. If
\nhe is good, the coach will mark the card red. If he is not very
\ngood, the coach will mark it blue. Boys will also receive a
\ncertificate for finishing the program.<\/p>\n
\"When their friends look at the certificate, they will be very
\nkeen to join the program. Moreover, it's signed by me, a former
\nLiverpool player,\" he laughed.<\/p>\n
Kennedy, who started his football school in 1993, has held
\nclinics in Singapore, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Young talents<\/p>\n
\"I believe that in Indonesia the space is limited but it has
\nmany young talents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin, a policeman, had his two sons in the program.<\/p>\n
\"The younger one wanted to join the program after seeing his
\nbig brother playing. Well, they both usually play soccer,
\nsometimes inside the house. There's nothing to lose to join it,
\nit's free anyway,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jimmy, a local coach, said the program was a positive
\ninfluence for boys.<\/p>\n
\"They can learn juggling, heading and dribbling skills which
\nare rarely done when they play with friends,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kennedy said the teams would have a mini world cup competition
\nin the afternoon.<\/p>\n
\"We'll divide them into several groups with names like Brazil,
\nItaly, England or Germany,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kennedy said his program in Indonesia \"is the biggest and
\nlongest program I've ever made.\"<\/p>\n
He said he wanted to return to Indonesia soon to continue the
\nschool.<\/p>\n
The question is this. Why should a foreigner stage a free
\nprogram for Indonesian boys?<\/p>\n
Indonesian coaches can hold such a program with the support
\nfrom major companies as sponsors.<\/p>\n
The government will also have to provide more soccer fields
\ninstead of building malls and shopping centers.<\/p>\n
If Indonesia wants a good national soccer team, the Indonesian
\nSoccer Association will have to hold regular coaching clinics
\nthroughout the country to find young talent.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-soccer-coaching-clinics-needed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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