Navy Blues youngsters have bright future

Words: ACFC Media

Wednesday 6 February 2019

HONG KONG, China - The future is bright for Auckland City FC with youngsters Josh Jones and Jackson Wood bolstering the club's ranks in Hong Kong.

Wood and Jones follow in the footsteps of Maro Bonsu-Maro, David Browne and Yousif Ali, all of whom graduated from the club's youth system into the Junior Navy Blues and the National Youth League and are now ekeing out first team careers.

Browne played a role in the Navy Blues run to a bronze medal at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco five years ago while Bonsu-Maro and Yousif Ali have each played cameos off the bench in the ISPS Handa Premiership.

All three played in the 2-1 defeat to Shandong Luneng Taishan FC on Tuesday.

The club's commitment to fostering talent receives unfair criticism from elsewhere but there is no doubting the statistics that show the Navy Blues is a strong choice for players who have gone on to play professional football.

GALLERY - Auckland City FC v Shandong Luneng Taishan FC

All Whites Thomas Doyle, Michael Boxall, Ben Sigmund, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi are just some of the names that spring to mind as is goalkeeper Oliver Sail.

Auckland City FC established it's Player Development Pathway under Camilo Speranza and Jones in particular knows the Uruguayan's methods and philosophies only too well having played under him during the club's run to the National Youth League title this season.

The Junior Navy Blues won the league with an undefeated run and Jones was a standout, so much so he was called into the first team at the turn of the year.

Now Jones is on the same pathway as some of those names on that list of graduates.

The youngster captained the Junior Navy Blues to the title and was excited to learn he had become part of first team coach Ramon Tribulietx's plans.

"It was a great experience to win the National Youth League undefeated. The only way that could've gone better was if we had won every game.

"It's a major step up to the first team. The training is intense and the quality is very high but it's an opportunity to continue gaining experience and learning from the senior players and Ramon as much as I can.

"I was still training after the National Youth League finished and I was told just before Christmas that I would be kept on after the turn of the year.

"I saw it as a great chance to keep working hard, keep training and keep improving with players of that level," he told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Jones, Jackson Wood and Thomas Drillien have all trained with the first team since and the experience has been an eye-opener for all three of them.

While daunting at the beginning, the trio have helped each other out and had senior players guide them through the transition from age group football to senior men's.

"We talk at the end of training about how amazing the standard is and we help each other out with ideas about how we keep adjusting our game.

"But the senior players coach us as well and they've been very welcoming. They pick up on small things and point it out and that's been a big help.

"Getting selected for the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup squad was a big boost and I'm happy to get an opportunity to be part of the squad," he said.

The Navy Blues missed out on a shot at the final after a late goal by Roger Guedes sealed a 2-1 win for Shandong Luneng Taishan FC and although Jones didn't get a run out he says any young player must persevere if they want to go far in football.

"Work hard, have a good attitude at training and keep believing in yourself if you want to make it.

"One of my favourites was Jan Vertonghen but I also admire the passion of Carlos Puyol, he was great to watch and was an inspirational leader for Barcelona," he said.

Coach Ramon Tribulietx said the youngsters have been good to work with and are in the squad on merit.

"Jackson and Josh have been training with our squad after the National Youth League season with the Junior Navy Blues finished along with Thomas Drillien.

"It's a great opportunity for them to learn at an international tournament so they start understanding what it means to play for Auckland City FC. It's great to be able to give them this chance.

"We are going to use our resources carefully in Hong Kong and take this tournament as a great opportunity for all our players to gain experience but it'll help a lot of our youngsters to grow up," he said.

Auckland City FC's final match of the tournament is the third place match against host side Hong Kong League XI on Thursday 7 February 2019.

The match kicks off at 9pm NZST.

Ends

Auckland City FC Player Development Programme.

ABOUT
The Auckland City FC Player Development Programme is open to all players aged between 6 and 15.

It is designed to be an individual player development programme for all Junior and Youth players.

It is ultimately aimed to produce better footballers and focus on developing and nurturing the player, no matter what level they are at, to become the best version of themselves both on and off the pitch.

Training is delivered in a fun environment and allows the next generation of footballers to play the game and perform to the best of their ability to whatever level they aspire to.

WHERE & WHEN
The PDP is scheduled to kick off on 13 November 2017 at Crum Park, Hilling St, Titirangi. Sessions will be run on both a Monday and a Friday. The PDP is divided into two 6 week phases: Phase 1: 13 November 2017 - 22 December 2018 Phase 2: 2 February 2018 - 12 March 2018 Whilst it is possible to enrol in just Phase1 or Phase 2, the players get the most benefit by enrolling in the programme in its entirety.

STRUCTURE
The PDP will be split into 2 groups this year in order to maximise the training needs for each age group. (Note: Age groups denoted below are for players grade next year ie 2018 playing season).

PDP Skills 6-10th grade: 4.15pm to 5.15pm Monday and Friday PDP
Academy 10th - 15th grade: 5.30pm to 7.00pm Monday and Friday

As you can see there is a crossover in the 10th grade where players can chose between the skills training and the Academy training.

Skills training is a more general training for players to increase their skill levels whilst the academy training has a more focused delivery.

This is really up to the individual to determine what level of training they require.

Players can be moved from Skills to academy or vice versa if the level of training they are in is not suitable for the child.

High level coaches will be provided at all levels of the academy to ensure that the players achieve the best possible training.

The skills players will be trained by the Auckland City 1st team players headed up by our very own Ivan Vicelich (previous All Whites captain, Auckland City captain and professional player and currently assistant coach of the Auckland City first team).

Academy players will have qualified coaches and will include a qualified strength and conditioning trainer to specifically aid in injury prevention and qualified goalkeeper trainers for goalkeepers.

COST
We have endeavoured to try to keep the costs of the programme to a minimum to try and allow as much participation as possible.

PDP Skills 6-10th grade: $150 per 6 week phase (twelve 1 hour sessions as 2 sessions per week)
PDP Academy 10th - 15th grade: $250 per 6 week phase (twelve 1.5 hour session as 2 sessions per week)

Note: This will include a full Auckland City PDP playing kit (Shirt/Shorts/Socks).

COMMUNICATION
All communication for the Auckland City PDP is done through our Facebook group page.

This is a closed group so you will need to request membership to access information.

All updates about training, cancellations, messages from coaches are done through this page so it is important that you sign up.

For any queries about the administration side of the PDP please contact Deanna via email pdp.acfcyouth@gmail.com.

Playing/football queries can be directed to Simon Richards by email simon.acfcyouth@gmail.com

A presentation to parents explaining the programme is currently being finalised.

This is a chance for parents to learn more about the programme.

The date for this will be posted on the Facebook page when it is known, but will occur some time next week.

REGISTRATION
A link to the players registration form can be found on the Facebook page above and this link.