By Esther Lauaki
Hoppers Crossing’s Jesse Cop is chasing A-League soccer dreams.
The 17-year-old striker returned last month from a five week training camp with the Genova Academy in Madrid where he learnt from some of the game’s best.
“I trained every day, we played games in Madrid against other teams and academies,” Jesse said.
“Our Genova team played against the Club Deportivo Leganes C-division team.
“We were down 5-2 in the first half … I came on in the second half and kicked four goals and we won 7-6.”
Of 55 young Australian players who attended the camp, Jesse was one of the few invited back to Madrid to trial for Spanish team Leganes La Liga next September when he finishes VCE at Emmanuel College.
“I was coached by top La Liga coaches, there were scouts there three times a week,” he said.
“The scout called us aside a couple of times and asked me to come back when I am 19 years old.”
Jesse said that playing abroad would be “a dream come true”.
“I’ve been playing club [soccer] since 2008 but I started with my dad from the age of four,” he said.
“I want to play professionally for a European club and represent my country.
“I would move to Madrid in a heartbeat.”
