Casey’s young soccer players are about to get a unique opportunity to develop their skills in a way that could game-change their future.
Students are enrolling in a new government-sponsored program that will give them access to training by soccer players who played professionally in Brazil, some of whom have relocated to the city of Casey for this task.
Beginning this Saturday 20 July, Hope Australia Soccer Academy (HASA) will launch its program at Waratah Reserve in Doveton.
The program teaches Brazil’s “Joga Bonito” style of soccer which translates to “playing the game beautifully”.
Targeted at youth aged 7 to 18, the not-for-profit training involves all aspects of soccer coaching currently used in the training of professional players in Brazil, with additional support through mentoring for the development of life skills.
Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon, who recently hosted a reception for HASA, underlined the importance of an active, engaged community and the social benefits a program like HASA provides across the municipality.
“The City of Casey is home to 140 different cultures, each of which bring unique elements to our collective identity,” she said. “More than a quarter of the people who live in Casey were born in another country, creating a diverse mix of languages, traditions and faiths across our community. (With HASA), through the common language of soccer, we can bring communities together.”
HASA was made possible through the lobbying of MP for LaTrobe Jason Wood, who announced A$1 million in funding that would see the program supported for at least the first two years.
“This is a collaboration between several not-for-profit organisations and former professional
Brazilian soccer players who are FIFA certified coaches,” said Wood. “They have a strong desire to give hope and improve the lives of young people through the impartation of skills, discipline and resilience”.
Meantime two coaches have arrived from Brazil to start training sessions in Waratah Reserve, bringing with them a wealth of experience from training in different cultures. Head coach Lamartine da Silva has played for clubs like Brazil’s Portuguesa, Hong Kong’s Golden FC and Thailand’s Bectero Sasana, and has coached internationally in Thailand, Malaysia, China and the Philippines.
Second coach Joaquim Santos Silva’s career has seen him play for Brazilian clubs like Corinthians Alagoano, Bom Jesus and Dinamo, before coaching in India and being a youth leader for war refugees in Cape Town, South Africa.
HASA students will also have access to some of Brazil’s most prominent players, including World Cup alumni when they arrive in Melbourne in October as part of the annual charity event Tour of Hope. These include Mineiro (Chelsea, Sao Paulo, Hertha Berlin), Silas Pereira (Sao Paulo, Sporting Libson), And Paulo Sergio (Bayern Munich, AS Roma, Champions League).
In August, students will also receive training from visiting ex-professional Antonio Da Silva, who was Bundesliga Champion with VFB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund, and also played for FC Basel and Flamengo.
“What the HASA collective offers is unique,” says HASA chairman Larry Sebastian. “By introducing virtues such as hope, honour, kindness and respect through a virtues psychology model, we are able to encourage early intervention towards behavioural change. Carefully screened and trained mentors will meet with kids to provide an avenue for course corrections to be implemented towards a life well lived.”
HASA is supported by Football Victoria and the City of Casey. It also works with other partners including Sports Chaplaincy Australia, Berwick Churches Soccer Club and Kids Hope Australia.
For more information about HASA visit www.hasa.soccer or call 03 8592 0173.
