By JARROD POTTER
BRINGING his mercurial soccer magic to Dandenong, former Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy will play a key part in the city’s soccer future.
Soccer5s Dandenong appointed Kennedy to run the centre’s regional development program (RDP) and also serve as Soccer5s RDP head coach within the coaching department.
Kennedy’s signing is a boon for the region’s talented juniors because he will start to pass on his experience to the next generation of Socceroos.
“It’s absolutely major for us, mate – really big,” Soccer5s centre manager Jack Gillibrand said.
“It’s the next step for us and Josh is coming in to look after the SAP age groups from eight to 12 years old.
“The program coincides with local junior clubs and is down as an extra training program – there’s no kind of conflict in there – and kind of like seen as maybe the bridging gap between grassroots club soccer and obviously NPL to bring on the development of the kids in there as well.”
Based at Brindley Street, Dandenong South, just off Greens Road, the $4 million all-weather centre will also host a Neymar Junior’s Five tournament on Friday 13 May.
The winners of the Victorian leg will earn a ticket to Sydney to battle it out for a chance at the world decider in Brazil and a chance to be trained by Neymar himself in Spain.
“The winner of the national final will go through to Brazil and the winner of that tournament gets to go to a five-day camp with Neymar at the Camp Nou (FC Barcelona’s home ground),” Gillibrand said.
For those who just like a run around, Soccer5s also has social leagues, it’s winter league and holds an after-school program in conjunction with Melbourne City.
Visit www.dandenong.soccer5s.com to find out more about Kennedy’s player pathway program or the Soccer5s Neymar Junior’s Five tournament.
