NIKE THE CHANCE – SOUTH AFRICA NOTICED 2
At the Chance trials, South Africa, hundreds of aspiring footballers had the opportunity to prove their ability to the watching scouts. (We have already had a look at Phathi Sacolo here:)
When the competition is relentless as it was at the trials, it’s vital to keep a cool head to perform. Simanga Mthembu’s football brain and close control ensured he kept his.
To find out more about The Chance check out the feature TRW did here: or visit: http://go.nike.com/TheNoticed
NIKE THE CHANCE – SOUTH AFRICA NOTICED
At the Chance trials, South Africa, hundreds of aspiring footballers had the opportunity to prove their ability to the watching scouts.
Phathi Sacolo’s creativity and clever positional play consistently impressed and earned him the right to play at the final trial.
To find out more about The Chance check out the feature TRW did here: or visit: http://go.nike.com/TheNoticed
NIKE ‘THE CHANCE’ – CAPE TOWN
Nike Continues Local Search of ‘The Chance’ for Talented Footballers
Nike visits Cape Town to search for undiscovered football talent to join the Nike Academy and play for a pro contract in the UK
Following the launch of The Chance with Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal FC, in Soweto in June, Nike will activate its second trial event on Sunday, 22 August at the Tableview Football Club, Cape Town.
Following the first round of successful trials in Johannesburg last week, Nike will host trials for 150 aspiring Cape Town footballers providing them with the opportunity to shine. Clubs and academies in Cape Town were invited to select their best young players to represent the region. Just five places are up for grabs and the footballers who display the most skill and football prowess on the day will be given the opportunity to progress to the final Elite Training programme and trials in September.
Ahead of ‘The Chance’ trials taking place on Sunday, Nike will also host an Elite Training Programme on Saturday at Royal Road, Maitland as well as a coach-to-coach skills programme. This falls in line with Nike’s sustained commitment to youth development by educating coaches in order to ensure continued development in the future.
Football legends Shaun Bartlett and Eric Tinkler, who are both involved in the coaching of Nike’s Elite Training proramme, will facilitate the scouting, along with support from renowned local coaches and former professional players. Bartlett started his professional career in Cape Town in a successful spell with Cape Town Spurs before leaving South Africa to pursue his career abroad where he featured prominently for clubs in the United States, Switzerland and England.
“Although this is an international competition, The Chance is also helping us identify talent we should consider to fast track in our development structures”, said Shaun Bartlett. “Programmes such as these being rolled out by Nike and our core team, demonstrates our commitment to unearthing talent to further boost football development in South Africa.”
Just under 300 footballers from Soweto and greater Johannesburg have already been presented with an opportunity to get scouted as they underwent trials in Johannesburg on Saturday 14 August at the Nike Football Training Centre and 11 footballers were short listed for the final Nike Elite Training Programme that will be held in September.
During the final Elite Training Programme and The Chance trials, only four footballers will be selected as part of the 100 players from around world for a final trial in England, where they will compete for one of eight international places in the Nike Academy. These eight will have all their expenses paid to live in the UK for a year starting in July 2011 and be a full time member of the Nike Academy.
The Nike Academy is a high performance training programme supported by the Premier League in England. Since the Academy’s start in 2009, eight players in the UK have received professional contracts.
As members of the Nike Academy, players become full-time participants at a residential training centre in England with access to elite coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and fitness conditioners, along with world class facilities to perform at the highest level.
NIKE UNVEIL: THE CHANCE
Nike and Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal FC, today launch “The Chance” a global search for talented footballers to join the Nike Academy, a high performance training program, supported by the Premier League in England.
The Nike Academy offers non-contract players unattached to professional clubs a chance to enter the professional game through world-class coaching and games against elite academies and professional reserve teams. Since the academy’s start in 2009, eight players in the UK have received professional contracts.
“The Chance” marks the next stage of Nike’s “Write the Future” campaign, where some of the world’s best players including Ronaldo, Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney feature in a short film about iconic game moments where headlines are written from a single pass, or one strike can bring a nation eternal happiness, while bringing others to their knees.
Players can register for “The Chance” at nikefootball.com, where they can use digital assets to create custom campaign materials that build on the inspiration behind “Write the Future.” To support their bid, prospects can insert their image into a video that shows what their future might look like if they won “The Chance” complete with celebrity style pop culture moments. Entrants will also create a Facebook fan page to generate awareness and campaign support to get noticed.
The best 100 players from around the world are selected by Nike through Nike Elite Training events, the Nike City Cup, happening in 32 cities, as well as exposure through the digital platform. They will then be invited to a final trial in England, where they will compete for one of eight international places in the Nike Academy. These eight will have all their expenses paid to live in the UK for a year starting in July 2011 and be a full-time member of the Nike Academy.
“Providing young players from around the world with the opportunity of elite coaching and state-of-the-art facilities to reach their full potential is a very powerful proposition,” said Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal FC, in launching “The Chance” from the Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto, which provides high performance training facilities and HIV / AIDS Life Skills for the local community. “I look forward to actively participating in the scouting and review of exciting young players as they compete in “The Chance.”
As members of the Nike Academy, players become full-time participants at a residential training centre in England with access to elite coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and fitness conditioners, along with world class facilities to perform at the highest level.
“Nike is passionate about giving footballers insider access to the best coaching and training in the world to improve their game and fulfill their potential,” said Trevor Edwards, VP of Global Brand & Category Management. ‘The Chance’ is a unique opportunity for players to prove themselves on the global stage, take their game to the next level and even get a shot at a professional contract.”
“The Nike Academy has a number of success stories with players that have entered the professional game, helped by the superb environment that has been created,” said Ged Roddy, Director of Youth at the Premier League. “The Chance is a great opportunity to identify talented young players to show their skills, get noticed and win a place at the academy.”
For more information or to register for “The Chance,” visit nikefootball.com. Players can register from 6pm GMT today.