Irwin Hackner. Visual Photography 8593
Coaches of the Manchester City School of Football departed for London impressed with the talent they saw at their coaching clinics at Linksfield-based Mpumalanga Black Aces Youth Academy.
Andy Smith, Manchester City technical director of coaching said, “Your young football players have the core ingredients – desire to play, respect for their coaches and teammates, and the thirst for knowledge to further their careers in football.”
He was impressed with the boys’ improvement over the three days of coaching. He had his eye on three players from the development teams from eMalahleni, whom he felt with the right football education, could have what it takes to play overseas.
“I only feel that an element that is still missing is the ‘how to’ – how to implement the skills. I am looking forward to coming back in July and seeing how the boys have improved and if the coaches have been successful in implementing the clinics’ lessons that we have held with them.”
The Manchester City coaches will complete two more visits to South Africa this year to help Black Aces develop a strong youth development academy.
“We have been so impressed with the skill and experience that the Man City coaches have brought to our young players,” said Mario Morfou, Mpumalanga Black Aces co-chairman and CEO. “We at Black Aces have a strong belief in development football and through this programme we aim not only to develop young players for our first team, but also for our national team.”
More than 300 aspiring young footballers took part in the clinics.
