We are currently recruiting players for the academy starting from the 27th November, 2021 till February 2022.
Every professional footballer was, at one time or another, spotted by a talent scout – usually working for or on behalf of a professional club. So, what we looking for from youth players are attributes, personality traits and raw skills.
Technical Aptitude:
The most important characteristic to look for in a young footballer is technique. The ability to take a ball under control instinctively is usually a skill that is developed at a very young age, but technique means so much more than that.
The best youngsters will know exactly what they are going to do before they even receive the ball. Looking for the next pass, controlling the ball under pressure and decision-making are all vital components of a technically gifted player, and they are the first things we will want to see. Unfortunately, due to the lack of school football being played in the North West Region of Cameroon, and the crisis youth football development is rapidly wiping out.
We are trying to give the youngsters the opportunity to develop the intricate tricks and juggling skills, ball control and being able to apply to real games in pressurised situations. These are the rare qualities that differentiate promising young players from future superstars.
Pace:
The modern game is quicker than ever, and it is very difficult for youngster who lack pace to make it in the professional game – regardless of how talented they are. Pace gets players out of trouble, puts pressure on the opposition and gives teams an immediate competitive edge. We understand that pace develops throughout childhood, but kids who can demonstrate their pace at an early age will always catch our eye if they have the technical skills to accompany their speed. We are on the look of those youngsters who show quality in speed and pace so we can enhance thier growth and make them professionals of world class standard.
Movement And Mental Skills
Particularly for offensive-minded players, movement is critical, and we are looking for a natural desire from kids to find space and look for opportunities to get the ball. Much like a game of chess, we also want to see evidence of youngsters thinking three or four moves in advance. The ability to read the game and show a natural intelligence for football are often characteristics that cannot be taught. Whether they have the ball or not, kids who are constantly thinking about movement and the flow of the game will impress us.
Temperament:
History is strewn with the failed careers of exceptional players who simply didn’t have the mental strength or discipline to make it big in the game. Similarly, players like Bryan Robson, Robbie Savage and David Batty who really had to work hard at making the best of their talents were able to succeed because of their ability to work hard and stay mentally strong in the heat of battle. We will watch kids closely during the course of the recruitment. We will want to see how those kids communicate with their teammates, and we will be looking for evidence of a positive attitude towards authority. We will try to develop an understanding of a player’s character and personality traits.
Very few kids will make it through the ACHICO academy and achieve a professional contract. The simple truth is that thousands of gifted players fail to make it every year because they simply don’t have the drive, determination and mental strength to succeed. We are keen to see raw talent, but the sign of a truly great player is the ability to perform on the field of play in the midst of competition. Being talented alone is not enough to impress us; young players must demonstrate all the desirable traits of a footballer on the field of play – otherwise they will simply blend into the background.