Guyanese-American Stan Harmon, a seasoned soccer coach, and one of three directors of the Central Brooklyn Soccer Club, (CBSC) told Caribbean Life, that the New York City Champion club — a brand ambassador for Nike — is sharpening its skills to participate in the 2017 Mundialito Youth Soccer Tournament, from April 7 – 17, in Costa Dorado, Taragona, Spain.
The players, drawn from Crown Heights, East Flatbush, East New York, Canarsie and Bedford Stuyvesant will play against some of the biggest youth teams in the world, such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Benfica, Porto, Ajax, PSG, AC Milán, Juventus, Inter de Milan, Liverpool, FC Shalke 04, and Borussia Dortmund.
This is the third year that the Central Brooklyn Soccer Club will be participating in this tournament, prior to 2013 and 2016, tournaments.
Harmon said the talented young players are coached on the fields of Old Boys High and South Shore High School and have played in US Club Soccer League during the September to November season, with breaks for the winter season, before returning to play from April – June.
The club is geared to players under the age 14 and for the first time, Central Brooklyn will have teams participating in three age groups – U-10, U-12, and U-14.
“In earlier years, our teams have performed creditable against top international competition, and this year, we are expecting outstanding performances especially from our much vaunted U-10 who are the U-10 champion in our New York Youth Soccer League,” said Harmon, adding that the league fields seven age-group teams in competitions Under 8 – 18, and have a developmental program with more than 100 players.
Mundialito, the biggest international soccer tournament for children in the world, with more than 300 teams and 5,000 participants from 50 countries of the five continents, will welcome the Central Brooklyn Soccer Club, established in 2012 with a vision to allow youth to Focus on education and personal development.
“Our first graduating class would be this year and a few of the players have been actively courted by colleges throughout the US. But now we also have two players with professional teams and 6 in soccer academies,” who, according to Harmon, participates in NY Club Soccer League in the U-8 to U-18 divisions.
Central Brooklyn Soccer Club also fields older age groups U-16 and U-18. The U-16s participated in the Dubai Super Cup Tournament in 2014, and the Manchester Super Cup in England in 2016. This year, the U-18s will participate in the Disney International Soccer Tournament in Orlando, Florida.
In addition, the club runs a year-round developmental program for beginners.
“We are in the process of establishing a linkage with the New York City Football Club (NYCFC) to develop its community footballing program,” said Harmon
The club participates in NY Club Soccer League in the U-8 to U-18 divisions. Additionally, the club runs a year-round developmental program for beginners. The team also played unofficial games with DC United Academy and several games with the NY Red Bulls Academy.
“Eight of our players are on the New York High school championship team at Martin Luther King High School in Manhattan,” added Harmon.
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