Why go train or attend international football academies in Europe or South America?

“The facts and fallacies of International football programs”.

Hi my name is Elvis J. Goes, I grew up in Goa, India ( former territory of Portugal for over 450 years) I did everything what I knew and what I was told to do, on my journey to become a professional footballer in Goa, India. This gave me an opportunity to play at all national and international levels as a footballer... But was I a complete footballer?

 At a young football age (23) I left Indian Football and my lucrative football career at that time to pursue a more challenging dream to play professional soccer abroad in USA and attend college. 

 What looked like an easy transition to the American Pro League (APSL) based on my Athleticism, my football experience and my hardworking attitude was not so easy. In fact to cut the story short I did not make the final cut, and when I was finally made the cut it was too late as I was too busy with other priorities such as raising my sons. 

During the first few years in USA I realized that one needs a comprehensive development as a footballer, in all the components physically, technically, tactically and mentally or more over the knowledge and thorough understanding of the game of football. Which had eluded me growing up as a footballer in India (The quality of coaching education, the art and science of sports training was missing). 

 Well, I began this article to share the facts, fallacies, the misleading information or misleading statements and sometimes out right lies that many international football academies are propagating. This could be interpreted as a self-incriminating article, because I’m running an international football academy in Portugal. However, I wanted to lay it on the line and go on records as to why I started this program or academy in the first place and, that is to offer players and parents something authentic and allow them to make a decision based on facts and realities of this profession...

 So here it is....I came to Portugal with my 10 year old son to attend one of these programs and fell in love with this country because it reminded me of my home and Goa...and two years later I decided to move to Portugal and eventually start my own football training program “International football academy de Portugal” in collaboration with AAC (Associação Academica de Coimbra) is a complete solution for young athletes from 15 years unto 21 years of age...

So let me share some facts and truths with you all parents, players and hopefuls who are looking at International football programs or academies in Europe or South central America’s as an option to send your sons and daughters for countless reasons sometimes misleading or misguiding information which you received... or saw the ads in the social media and such...

First question why should one from USA (North American) or Asia and even African continent go to European countries to learn football. Well, just like why should one go to USA or England to pursue higher more practical educational programs (English Medium), well it’s pretty much the same when it comes to learning football in Europe or South Central America’s. Because, the way the high intensity game is taught, the game is played and because the football ecosystem is most ideal for any young footballer to get the best of what football has to offer. 

The second most important question is what should you look for in deciding which of these top academies you should attend? This is one of the most important question and I want to share with you all clues and things to look out for as you make your decision to join these football programs or academies in Europe or else where. 

• First and foremost ask yourself if the country you are about to visit or stay for a month or two has a good football development program or not? Do your research don’t fall for those fancy ads or fake testimonials it means nothing. 
• Second, does the country have a safe and foreigner friendly environment, are they tolerant towards the coloured or for that matter friendly towards foreigners? research read, and know where you are going? 
• Third, and very important is the kind of weather or the seasonal weather situations the country enjoys throughout the season? How long the season runs? What is the weather like when training or playing your games? And most of all will you able to adapt to it? 
• Fourth and a very critical points to consider are; how does the academy program works? The one you are about to join. Ask? You are going to Pay to be there and you have every reason to know the truth. Here are some questions you should ask?
• What does the day to day training schedule looks like and who will I be training with? Who will train me and what should my expectations be?
• Will I able to train with local football teams? Will I be part of their day to day squad and train with them and able to register or able to play as part of the local team? Or will I only train with other foreigners at the academy? Why is this important: for several reasons and most importantly it’s the only reason you should even consider going abroad to train or play with the locals in that country. "The number one reason any players from the above mentioned continents should come to Europe is for the quality coaching and football education and opportunity to train with local players, and participate in the league system along with the locals not fellow foreigners". I want to p

Most of the parents and players are clueless and misguided, mislead and lied about your sons or daughters development. It’s very unfortunate but true, just because you attended a football academy program in European countries like England or Germany or Italy or Spain or even Portugal you will become a professional footballer. In fact it’s far from it. 

So, I ask the athletes to write about their goals and objectives why they want to come to Portugal for that matter and sometimes I hear this naive answer: I want to play like Ronaldo or I want to play for Benfica or I want to develop and play in the European leagues. Many of these youth players and parents included has no clue about football, leave alone the path to football profession in Europe… especially for a 17 or 18 year old who is currently not even on the national roster for his own country? Like I said, there will be many out there who are looking to feel in their coffers or their numbers with empty promises with misleading information, my advice be aware! 

Why should you really go to Europe or South America and especially to some of the key countries? I want to clarify one thing, which is critical for everyone who is making this decision to go abroad to join an international football program in Europe. Please have realistic goals, know where you are at the moment on the scale of football? Know your goals? And objectives? Because you can certainly gain most valuable feedback, and learning experience in attending one of these international football programs… but choose the right one based on your goals short-term and long-term…

What should you expect in your international training programs: here are some points for your guidance;

• The program must be well organized and delivered with everything a young player needs from practical and educative comprehensive curriculum, by a good professional team of individuals who understands your shortcomings and systematically teach these things to you.(you can ask about this before you join them)
• Make sure you will get to be part of the local teams squad (train with locals) or be part of a local team at least three times per week apart from your academy training which the certified coaches at the academy will teach you and guide you thru this process. If the above is not going to happen, you might as well stay at home and train with your teammates. In some countries the conditions might be really bad, that anything is better than what you have at home. 
• If you really want to get the most out of an International training program it must have an option to integrate you among the local players, why? Because the game of football is mostly about making 1000 decisions and these decisions with and without the ball, about your movements on the field and how you play or pass and move are most critical parts of the game. These key components can only be learned when you are in that group of athletes who are better decision makers and better quality players than you. Or else it’s a waste of money, because football is a collective action game and needs 11 top quality players who understands all the moments of the game actions. 

I hope this article will help you make the decision to find the right fit for you, as you explore the different options and costs involved to get the best outcomes for your investment in learning this game at a higher level. 

 Here is what you can expect in the holistic program IFAPT- AAC have created, simply clean accommodations as most of the athletes experience, good quality high intensity training with certified Uefa Portuguese coaches based on the unique Portuguese long term players development program methodology, local meals, physiotherapy support and constant guidance, ground based football specific fitness, along with fitness training footballers specific and most importantly…Placement of all athletes in local clubs or train with our national div players at AAC and to train and play based on the level of each athlete. 

 There are no false misconceptions, if you are not good enough you will be placed in lower division teams at your age category. Top quality players will be given a fair tryouts at semi professional clubs in Portuguese National League. 

 A few more facts: 

Youth players below the age of eighteen can only be registered to play in the Portuguese league and this is true for most of the FIFA and UEFA associated clubs and federations in European countries.

All 18 year olds and above can Be given a professional or Amature contract or can be represented under guardianship law and registered in the leagues. 

All youth players with a long term visa and guardianship can be registered to play in the official league games or else you will continue to train with the partnership clubs of IFAPT- AAC and play practice and friendly games.

 For any additional information about IFAPT or International football programs contact www.ifapt.com

www.ifapthub.com

 Thank you for reading…

 Yours sincerely, 

Elvis J. Goes

Director & President 

IFAPT-AAC & Excel Sports & Fisio Care, lda. 

Certified-Experienced Professional football coach & Player

Mentor & Educator & Certified Sports conditioning specialist 

Certified Personal Coach, Shipley Communications, Inc.