By JARROD POTTER
DEVELOPING the next generation is the key reason for Aaron Healey joining the ranks at Dandenong City.
Former Young Socceroo and Melbourne Victory assistant coach Aaron Healey has been appointed Dandenong City’s technical director for 2014 and wants to hit the ground running at the club with new programs designed to produce top-tier footballers into the future.
“Having worked with the club on an intermittent basis over the last couple of years it was enticing to get back into football and hopefully start putting in some good underlying and underpinning programs for Dandenong City,” Healey said.
“The programs will hopefully cultivate and develop players, not only for the senior team in the NPL, but also players that are capable of representing a league teams and the Socceroos long-term.”
As the City of Casey’s only National Premier League Victoria (NPLV) team, Healey said Dandenong City wants to be the benchmark club of the region and help promote players from the surrounding areas including the Yarra Valley, eastern suburbs and further afield in the south east suburbs.
“I had a little bit to do with the club previously and it’s a club that has great ambition and wants to be representative of this area,” Healey said.
“There’s always been a really strong and solid junior program here and now we’re trying to reach out for any players in the City of Greater Dandenong or the City of Casey that think they have the potential to play in the top league for juniors.
“We want to be representative of this region – the south east region – be very inclusive of both males and females and put together programs for these players that fulfil their potential and love for the sport.”
Healey began coaching during an illustrious playing career where he represented Australia’s Under 17 (Joeys) and Under 20 (Young Socceroos) teams, including the 1991 FIFA U17 World Cup in Italy. Healey and the club wanted to thank the City of Greater Dandenong and the City of Casey for their support of Dandenong City and hoped to further develop these ties within both local council areas.
Interested players are welcome to attend the club on training nights, with Tuesday and Thursday for Under 12‐14 and Under 18 and Wednesday/Fridays for Under 15-16, starting 6.30pm at Frank Holohan Reserve, Baden Powell Drive, Endeavour Hills.
Plenty of spots are still open for Under 12s (players born 2002 and 2003) as well at the club, with limited spaces available in the Under 13s and 14s.
For more information on the Dandenong City tryouts contact David at 0401 730 517.
