SHANGHAI - A year on from its launch, Inter Academy Yitao Shanghai continues to go from strength to strength as a group of youngsters and coaches prepare to embark on an internship at the first team's summer training camp in Brunico.
The excellent work carried out by the permanent coaching team in Shanghai - the first of three Inter Academies now up and running in China - has seen both improvement in the overall quality of players and coaches and rising numbers, thanks in no small part to the involvement of Nerazzurri trainers Kevin Cauet and Valerio Candido.
Initially run only for primary schools, the project now involves groups from high schools too, offering youngsters the chance to develop their skills in a more sustained and complete way.
Over 75 training sessions have been held at the various Soccer Schools since February and there are now seven Elite Teams - five for boys aged 7-13 and two for girls aged 7-10 - competing in friendly matches and tournaments at a local, national and international level.
Meanwhile the local trainers are furthering their own eduction by practising technical drills and participating in theory lessons, enthusiastically picking up tricks of the trade used in the Nerazzurri youth academy - methods which have enabled Inter to establish itself as one of the most successful youth set-ups in Europe.
Adding to the excitement was a recent visit by vice president Javier Zanetti, who met with young Chinese footballers and coaches in Shanghai for what was a highly memorable occasion.
This evening Inter Academy technical operations senior manager Aldo Montinaro is due to arrive in Shanghai to start planning activities for the coming season and lay the groundwork for the forthcoming internship at Brunico.
In July, 30 kids and 10 coaches from Yitao F.C. will join the first team on their pre-season training camp for a specialisation course run by Inter Academy technical director Marco Monti.
Photo Credits: Li Zili and Wang Jindong
