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Milan to hold its inaugural Milan Junior Camp in Bali
Seven-time EUFA Champions League winner AC Milan of Italy is beginning to acknowledge soccer talents in the Southeast Asia region, especially in Indonesia, through the establishment of its inaugural Milan Junior Camp, in Bali
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even-time EUFA Champions League winner AC Milan of Italy is beginning to acknowledge soccer talents in the Southeast Asia region, especially in Indonesia, through the establishment of its inaugural Milan Junior Camp, in Bali.
"I know football has an increasing popularity in Indonesia. It's necessary to do some investment in the sport here," AC Milan Ambassador Franco Baresi, who between 1977 and 1997 was the team's greatest defender, told media conference on Friday.
"The Milan Junior Camp is a very important initiative for AC Milan. Thus, we are very proud to be opening our very first Milan Junior Camp in Bali. It would be a good opportunity for the boys," said Franco, whose club won the UEFA Champions League in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, and 2007.
Last year, more than 15,000 boys and girls took part in the Milan Junior Camps in 29 countries around the world.
Through a selection at the two-week Milan Junior Camp in Bali, 11 soccer hopefuls will have an opportunity in September to take part in a five-day coaching clinic, watch the AC Milan team train and compete, and play in a friendly game against their peers at the AC Milan Academy in Milan, Italy.
The Asia Sports Development (ASD) initiative, which in 2003 brought Real Madrid to four Asian cities - Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok - will be sponsoring 10 children between 10 and 16 years of age to take part in the Bali camp, which is divided into two groups: June 12-26 and June 26-July 10.
The 10 best candidates from the 700 children expected to take part in the All-Star Team Challenge Competition at Senayan in Jakarta on May 1-2 will receive sponsorship worth US$2,500 (each) to take part in the Bali camp among a total of 300 paying participants in the program.
"The 10 sponsored talents and rest of the participants will undergo the same selection procedure, which includes technique and physical requirements observed by the coaches of AC Milan Academy," ASD managing director Ricky Djoharli said.
Ricky, who expects to hold the Milan Junior Camp annually, said next year he planned to hold the selection competition for sponsored participants in 10 cities nationwide instead of only Jakarta.
"There is a possibility the Indonesian talents will have a chance to actually join the AC Milan Academy, if they are skilled enough, as a talent-scout team from the Academy will also attend the friendly game," Ricky said.
Franco, who is currently the Italian youth team coach, gave some tips to young players hoping to excel in soccer.
"You should have the passion to work hard in training; have the determination to keep improving and the ambition to always make it to the top," said the Italian squad defender who together with his team won the World Cup in 1982.
