Dreams Do Come True: If you achieve it.

I know this kid who can potentially be a great player, but there's 3 problems to it. He's already 14, secondly, he's rarely playing the sport these days (probably like 3 hrs a month), and the city he lives in is definitely not the best locations to be playing football (mind you, he lives outside of Europe and Americas). The reason why I am talking about him is because quite frankly, in my personal opinion, if he trained daily for at least an hour a day for the next 2 years, I swear he can definitely make it to the U16 or perhaps even the U17 team of the country he currently residences in. (Not really considered a country because of its complex political situation).

Anyway, he possesses raw talent, something that can be transformed into true talent. The only down point is that his school teams use him in the wrong position, and do not recognize the need for a traditional center forward to hold up the ball and stuff. When he was placed at the right position for 2 games, he scored more than 2 goals in the 2 games where he was playing in his natural and most comfortable position. Although he appears to not be very versatile (something I suggested he should work on), he will become a good player if he starts training. I understand from him that he will start training with a club twice per week starting in September. A good thing for him is that he's switching schools anyway, into a school with a slightly (hint: SLIGHTLY) better team, but they do use forwards better.

However, one thing he stands out above all other players of his age. The passion for the game. What he lacks in skills, makes up in passion. I believe the end product of him will turn into a very promising player with great dribbling footwork and an eye for goal.

Well he asked me this that how can he be a good enough player to play in the professional league in the next 8 years? I didn't know how to answer him because that is a hugely ambitious dream, very unrealistic, and most professionals have been playing the trade since they were little kids, although he didn't just learn how to play football. However, there are always exceptions to life, and I believe this is no different. If he believes in himself, and is very determined, then I guess very well so come true.

Anyway, give some tips how he can at least come close into achieving those goals, because mind you, even if he one day is good enough for the pros (let's hope so), he'd still be better off doing business cause he's highly intelligent, but how can he reach those standards within 8 years? What should he do? And how can he even impress let's say a U17 club coach when he gets back to the states? After all, he LOVES the sport and believes he can improve dramatically year after year. Football is his greatest love.

 

Why wouldn't he practice more often if he is able to. There is nowhere to practice, according to him. He says that the public courts are all occupied and dominated by these gangsters and triads, and unfortunately, police have trouble making arrests from these gangsters and triads because of insufficient evidence, therefore, these gangsters and triads usually hang around over that area. It's hard to boot them off the pitches, and when they are not occupying the pitch, he's at school! There's no where else to train on a proper football pitch, because he could just train down the streets, but how's he going to shoot? With cans and a bag as the net? And who's his "teammates" going to be, people who don't have anything better to do but smoke and drink and hangout on the streets.

 

Personally, I think he may stand a chance since his raw talent will be spotted soon. Do you offer any tips for him how to interact with his teammates better and get them to playmake for him. All he needs is a playmaker. No point asking me cause I don't play that position.

 

Well, usually when you refer to the city, you would have a different impression on the city, like when I first did. But, the nearest park that offers football grounds are all occupied by triad members, and other grounsd around the city, he told me last night that usually people all have their own 7-man teams. It is virtually impossible to get his own team and play because the queues are so long to actually start playing a game, and he said that getting a team together is also a huge difficulty because of his time schedule.

Indoor gym? No because there are no goalposts in his school and his school doesn't promote football either.

Backyard? You must be kidding. Only tycoons owe houses over there. For someone to owe a backyard, that person would often end up paying the house+backyard for around $1 million. Those backyards are the standard size in Europe and the US. People there aren't as lucky as us in Europe and US. The real estate values there are skyhigh.

Serious? Yes I must very be. One thing for sure - He is particularly one of the best young players I've played against. Although at times he starts to lose confidence in himself, and doesn't show good lethalness in the air, he always gets the ball and go right at you, and it annoys the hell out of defenders playing against them, often turning into a nightmare. But, I must say is talent is very raw though, he definitely needs to develop it. I guess it looks like he would have to wait until September before playing for a club and getting regular football action. He told me he hasn't played football for a month - ouch. Not good. He better start playing soon or else, he'll lose that exquisite touch of his.

The point I'm trying to say is that football is doing a bad job in less football-developed countries. They are not promoting it across the country, and improving youngsters with huge potentials. It's sick to see potential wasted like that, and players losing confidence not only because of being a misfit with a school team, but also because the entire system is scrwed. Potentially they could be your next Henrys or your next Ronaldinhos, but by not developing them, they'll not even end up in a competitive amateur club. Doesn't everyone agree? After all, players in less football developed countries make up around 3-5% of the entire football spectrum in the elite continent of football, Europe.