National camp for young footballers

Some of the country’s most promising young footballers are to get the chance to experience what it’s like to go into a full-scale training camp thanks to a coaching academy established by All White legend Ricki Herbert.

The Ricki Herbert Football Academy (RHFA) has announced it will run a five-day residential training camp for boys and girls aged 12-17 in Cambridge next April.

The camp is expected to draw players mainly from the North Island but is open to players based in the South Island and overseas too.

The youngsters will participate in sessions run by the academy coaches at Cambridge Football Club during the day and stay overnight in dormitories at the nearby St Peter’s School.

The camp, which runs from April 17-21, will cater for up to 80 players, giving them a taste of what it’s like to focus fully on football, with sessions covering many aspects of the game, on and off the pitch.

Academy founder Ricki Herbert fully understands the importance of training camps, having attended many as an All White coach and player and having been the longest-serving coach of professional club Wellington Phoenix.

Herbert, who is currently the head coach for the Maldives national team, established his academy to share his knowledge and experience as a professional coach which included working as a technical advisor at last year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

His academy has been running courses throughout New Zealand and takes selected teams to overseas tournaments, giving players the opportunity to test themselves against promising players from overseas.

To attend RHFA courses and the national training camp in Cambridge, players and parents make application to attend. The camp provides all transport within the North Island, and course fees of $895 per player cover kit, meals and accommodation.

ENDS

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