Former English players to train local youths

JAKARTA (JP): Four former England soccer players will train young Indonesian players at the Coca Cola International Football School, an official said yesterday.

The players are Alan Kennedy, Clive Walker, David Johnson and David Fairclough.

They have played for English premier soccer clubs Newcastle United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, Ipswich and Manchester United.

PT Bakri Pesona Rasuna's (BPR) Nugraha, who is secretary of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), said yesterday the school aimed to develop soccer in Indonesia.

"We will concentrate on training children between 10 and 16 years of age. The school is temporary and only for 11 days. We expect to get at least 600 children," Nugraha said.

The school will be set up from June 16 to June 27 and be coordinated by BPR with its main sponsor Coca Cola.

BPR will be assisted by the PSSI's Jakarta chapter, the Jakarta administration, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The English coaches will be assisted by 12 coaches from Pelita Bakries and administrative and health officials

The school will be at the South Jakarta Soemantri Brodjonegoro stadium.

The training is divided into two five-day sessions.

The first session will focus on skills like passing, dribbling, shooting, juggling control tests, lofted passes and heading.

The second session will be more theoretical.

Children between 10 and 16 years old are welcome to take part.

"We will accept as many children as possible who are interested in soccer. We will train them to become good players."

Nugraha said although it was a temporary school, BSP expected other schools to be set up.

"We hope other firms have the initiative to set up similar soccer schools. We will assist them if needed."

PT Coca Cola's director, John Brady, said the purpose of the Coca Cola International Football School was to give youngsters an opportunity to improve their soccer skills.

"We expect participants to get many benefits and advantages for their future through this school. We hope to develop international caliber players through the school," Brady said.

He said his company would help improve soccer in Indonesia.

"We have been sponsoring both national international events including the World Cup in France next year and World Youth Cup in Malaysia this year, and the Coca Cola Cup here for the past 10 years," he said. (let)