Some of the Limestone Coast Football Association’s stars of tomorrow are given a chance to shine this week.
Five girls and 13 boys from the region have been handpicked to showcase their skills at the Football SA Regional Training Camp, which is a key part of the player pathway.
Across the three-day camp which begins today, the LCFA players will be put through their paces at the state-of-the-art State Centre in Adelaide.
Ashlyn Cornolo, Sophie Hole, Rose Fry, Louise O’Callaghan and Czara Kumbhare are the girls representing the region at the statewide camp, while Leo Skeer, Mustafa Akbari, Will Dower, Sebastian Morello, Noah Corfield, Josh Kumbhare, Ethan Harleigh, Flynn Gray, Jai Hillstone, Thomas Damhuis, Liam Bidese, Joe McCrorie and Bailey Vorwerk are the boys on show.
LCFA women’s director Brian Corfield said it was a great chance for players to put their names forward for bigger opportunities down the track.
“Essentially it’s an opportunity for regional talent to get seen by the state coaches,” he said.
“The Football SA skill acquisition trainer Richie Alagich and the technical director for girls Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues are in charge of the state teams and will both be there.
“They do not often get a chance to see the country kids, so this is Football SA’s way of seeing who is amongst them.
“There is the potential for some of these kids to get selected for state regional teams from this.”
Corfield has not only played a big part in this for the LCFA, but his son Noah is one of the kids at the camp and is full of excitement.
“It will be Noah’s first time, as it will be for some others as well and they are all very excited,” Brian Corfield said.
“The chance to play at the $30m centre for football at Gepps Cross is really cool.
“It will take them away from the grass pitches we have to the synthetic and indoor pitches, so they will get a great exposure to a wide range of different ways of playing.
“The ball bounces differently, the play is quicker, so their decision making has to be sharp.
“They will complete training sessions and will also have some guest speakers from Adelaide United and maybe the Junior Matilda’s.”
Corfield said there was no pressure on the kids to climb up the ranks, with the program benefiting the individual and the association as a whole.
“Even if they do not get selected, it is just an opportunity to be there, experience the coaches and facilities at the centre for football,” he said.
“It will get them thinking what they could do differently as a player and the feedback could make a world of difference.
“We are trying to open up opportunities for kids to see the pathways and it is only going to benefit the clubs when they come back.”
