Combine a school rich in soccer success with a high-calibre program and it’s easy to envisage success.
Keilor Downs College is that school, and next year it will launch its own soccer academy.
The ‘soccer school’ will guide 25 year 7 students through two on-campus training sessions a week and provide them with other playing and coaching opportunities.
Program co-ordinator Josip Loncaric said it was an exciting time for the school and students.
He will run the program with fellow teacher George Katiforis.
“Over the past 30 years of the school existing in this area, we have always had really strong soccer sides and a lot of players have gone on to play at higher levels,” Loncaric said.
“Kids in general are embracing the game as the success of the A-League and the Socceroos has grown.”
Based on the school’s soccer history, it is hard to see the program being anything but successful.
Previous students at Keilor Downs include Australian representative Jason Culina, Melbourne City player Nicholas Kalmar and Spanish league player Theo Markelis.
Loncaric said the program would aim to mirror the best in the world.
“We are trying to model it a little bit on what Arsenal and Barcelona do,” he said.
“We are very fortunate that George has a friend who works at Arsenal.”
He said Arsenal had provided the college with material and support from its school kids program.
After budgeting for 25 students in the program’s first year, Keilor Downs has received requests from 18 players to be a part of the first intake.
While having students reach a professional level is the ultimate goal, Loncaric said there were a number of other possible career outcomes for students.
“The chances of kids becoming professional, like every sport, aren’t high,” he said.
“But the chances of them staying involved in the sport through playing, coaching or working in sporting organisations is a lot higher.
“We want to give them the practical side of things but also give them basic coaching modules.
“At the same time, if we can develop a player that will play in the NPL or the A-League, then that’s fantastic.”
