MILAN - It's been a very successful term at Inter Academy China. The project has involved around 1,000 kids from Yitao Football Club's network of 27 football schools.
"I'm very pleased with the work we've done," said Nello Russo, one of the Nerazzurri coaches involved in the Shanghai initiative. "The first phase was very intense, beginning with selecting more than 40 youngsters for the three U7, U8 and U9 teams, with the aim of exporting our academy's development methods.
"In contrast to what I was expecting, I was amazed to see Chinese children with some excellent technical skills. Moreover, the local coaches showed great humility, passion and desire in approaching the process with an open mind. Personally, I'm pleased to have discovered a new culture and I really hope that Inter Academy Shanghai is the first of a series of similar projects in China," he concluded.
"Experiences like these allow you to have new adventures and become a more-rounded individual, not just in terms of football but also culturally," added Kevin Cauet, an Inter Academy coach. "When you see the desire the coaches have to learn and the technical ability and enthusiasm of the kids involved, it really drives home what an important role we have to play."
