We have now a very talented American boy. Ajax USA:Yes, John O'Brien. Zwamborn: No no no, another one. Probably he is coming now. Because he has been in Amsterdam from his eighth year. Every day to us, training, and stayed with one of the coaches. And now I think he is 12 or 13. Ajax USA: So his Dutch is good? Zwamborn: No no no, he is here for two weeks every year. But we are intending to bring him, because he wants it so badly, and he is getting older, and he is aware that the program in America -- you said yourself -- is very bad. So, he's very good, very good. And a very nice boy. Ajax USA: Can we know his name? Zwamborn: Well, you'll have to wait. (Smiles) Ajax USA: What part of the States? Los Angeles? Zwamborn: Yes, I think so. Think Link for the article is here... http://www.ajax-usa.com/ajax/youth/kees_interview042601.html Does anybody know about him? We knew about Freddy Adu but I think this is bigger because he is get the best training in the world...since 8
Thanks for the article--this is fascinating. But starting a facility in Ghana and not the US? This seems like pure Euro neo-colonialism. Can you imagine the teeming thousands that would try to get into an Ajax school here? And all with decent educations, good nutrition, etc. They're missing the sheer numbers, the raw talent to be had.
Ajax believes that anyone with good touch and speed can become great through their youth development system. They're more likely to find Ghanian youths that fit that bill and at a much cheaper price. Here they'd have to fork out a lot more dough to get players who probably aren't as athletic. Also, they definitely don't like the coaching our players receive from very young ages on the whole. Also consider that our soccer population is completely spread out in pockets across this vast land. Ajax doesn't have huge $$ like ManUre and Real. aPoonU--this is old news. About a year or so this was sprung IIRC.
How many Euros do you think the land for such an academy would cost in California? How much in Ghana? I rest my case.
You wouldn't get thousands here. You'd get interest from some, and a lot of "what is A-JAX? Do they play in the Big Ten?" from puzzled soccer moms.
Inter Milan's youth coaches held camps in Atlanta last month in conjunction with the Silverbacks, perhaps we will see some youngsters (other than Freddy) in the Inter youth system??
I sit here and think about this and then I realize we have the system in place to develop football (from midget, to Freshman, Varsity, and then College), basketball (AAU) , and baseball players(little league, Legions). It's only a matter of time till we get a good soccer system in place.
It almost seems as if the interviewer knew who the American kid is, by the way he correctly guessed Los Angeles.
12? how young can these kids get and they can still really tell that they have talent enough to maybe go pro?
I'm sure we can make a helluva list of players that Ajax found from a young age. Out of the vast landscape of American players they somehow found JOB........do you really doubt them this time?