Future soccer stars learn from the best

By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on July 13, 2017

YOUNG aspiring soccer stars had their dreams come true last week with a J & J Football Training clinic featuring international football powerhouse Branko Jelic and UEFA pro-diploma accredited coach Adi Juric.

Set over three days, the clinic saw 60 soccer fanatics ranging from five to 16 years of age developing basic soccer techniques, agility and leadership qualities.

Juric said the training clinic had been brought to Albany simply by local interest and support.

“We ran a clinic at Easter with about 30 kids which was successful, so we put out an expression of interest three weeks ago to see whether people would be interested in another clinic,” he said.

“We had 60 boys and girls express their interest, hence we are here today.”

J & J Football Training clinics are being asked to come back to Albany in September, and are also looking at the possibility of a clinic at Christmas time.

“We have been told by locals that we have become part of Albany, we aren’t just visitors,” Juric said.

With nine 45-minute sessions over the course of the clinic, Juric said the key to football training was intensity.

“We are very intense. There is no point in being light. International training is tough and we want to give the children a hint of what training is like at a national and international level,” Juric said.