Post by jaygee20gensaya on Dec 17, 2013 23:41:29 GMT 8
Pinoy kid trains in Arsenal youth program
By Edward Lao, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 12/17/2013 8:06 PM | Updated as of 12/17/2013 8:06 PM
HERTFORDSHIRE, UK -- A Filipino child is developing his football skills through a program connected to one of the English Premier League's biggest clubs.
Kobe-Jaimes Sabado, 7, has been training for a year and a half already with Arsenal Soccer Schools Middlesex at a sports complex in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.
The British-born forward was selected for the Advanced Training group following just two trial sessions at a Regional Progression Center last year.
Assistant head youth coach Daniel Edwards selected Kobe for the invitation-only program for kids aged 6-14.
"I think Kobe showed early signs of ability on the ball," Edwards told ABS-CBN Europe.
"Obviously, I think this comes from more or less outside of the learning structure that we have here, him generally enjoying football itself and wanting to learn and absorb information," he added.
Sessions are designed on improving the children's existing talents whilst teaching theoretical and tactical aspects about the game.
"I think Kobe has that enthusiasm for the game. And his general athleticism and happiness around being in this environment obviously helped him push on," Edwards said.
Kobe, who first kicked a ball at the age of four, was introduced to the game by his father, Sheridan Sabado, a British-born Pinoy.
"Football's quite big in the UK so I thought to get him into that," Sheridan explained. "It started off like a hobby. We wanted to keep him fit, then he started to enjoy it. He's developing very well."
Kobe, who plays up front or on the wings, has accumulated numerous awards and certificates, and because he is small and fast, some coaches even call him Little Theo -- after England international Theo Walcott.
His steady progression also earned him the chance to live the dream last August when he was chosen for a kick-around with his Arsenal heroes.
Kobe was among 30 kids invited to the Emirates Stadium in North London to mark the 30th anniversary of Arsenal's Young Gunners scheme.
Kobe trained with and played a match against first team stars such as Olivier Giroud, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla. He even scored a hat-trick that day.
Asked what it was like to play with the current EPL leaders, he replied: "Easy, because they were playing easy."
Kobe, whose favorite players are Arsenal's record-goalscorer Thierry Henry and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil, wants to be a professional footballer one day.
His eagerness to train is also making his parent's job of ensuring he studies that bit easier.
Kobe's mother, Yasmin Sabado, said they only had to withhold the privilege of training on one occasion, and since then he's been on his best behavior.
"I think that's a really good incentive to keep him motivated, to get his homework done and to be the top of his class. At the moment he is at the top of his class," said Yasmin, who is half-Egyptian, half-Vietnamese.
"Whether he becomes a professional footballer or not, I think it's important for him to have a good education behind him as well," she added.
Arsenal Soccer Schools Middlesex has nurtured several boys and girls who have been signed by clubs including Reading, Brentford and Chelsea, as well as Arsenal's own youth academy.
www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/12/17/13/pinoy-kid-trains-arsenal-youth-program
By Edward Lao, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 12/17/2013 8:06 PM | Updated as of 12/17/2013 8:06 PM
HERTFORDSHIRE, UK -- A Filipino child is developing his football skills through a program connected to one of the English Premier League's biggest clubs.
Kobe-Jaimes Sabado, 7, has been training for a year and a half already with Arsenal Soccer Schools Middlesex at a sports complex in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.
The British-born forward was selected for the Advanced Training group following just two trial sessions at a Regional Progression Center last year.
Assistant head youth coach Daniel Edwards selected Kobe for the invitation-only program for kids aged 6-14.
"I think Kobe showed early signs of ability on the ball," Edwards told ABS-CBN Europe.
"Obviously, I think this comes from more or less outside of the learning structure that we have here, him generally enjoying football itself and wanting to learn and absorb information," he added.
Sessions are designed on improving the children's existing talents whilst teaching theoretical and tactical aspects about the game.
"I think Kobe has that enthusiasm for the game. And his general athleticism and happiness around being in this environment obviously helped him push on," Edwards said.
Kobe, who first kicked a ball at the age of four, was introduced to the game by his father, Sheridan Sabado, a British-born Pinoy.
"Football's quite big in the UK so I thought to get him into that," Sheridan explained. "It started off like a hobby. We wanted to keep him fit, then he started to enjoy it. He's developing very well."
Kobe, who plays up front or on the wings, has accumulated numerous awards and certificates, and because he is small and fast, some coaches even call him Little Theo -- after England international Theo Walcott.
His steady progression also earned him the chance to live the dream last August when he was chosen for a kick-around with his Arsenal heroes.
Kobe was among 30 kids invited to the Emirates Stadium in North London to mark the 30th anniversary of Arsenal's Young Gunners scheme.
Kobe trained with and played a match against first team stars such as Olivier Giroud, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla. He even scored a hat-trick that day.
Asked what it was like to play with the current EPL leaders, he replied: "Easy, because they were playing easy."
Kobe, whose favorite players are Arsenal's record-goalscorer Thierry Henry and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil, wants to be a professional footballer one day.
His eagerness to train is also making his parent's job of ensuring he studies that bit easier.
Kobe's mother, Yasmin Sabado, said they only had to withhold the privilege of training on one occasion, and since then he's been on his best behavior.
"I think that's a really good incentive to keep him motivated, to get his homework done and to be the top of his class. At the moment he is at the top of his class," said Yasmin, who is half-Egyptian, half-Vietnamese.
"Whether he becomes a professional footballer or not, I think it's important for him to have a good education behind him as well," she added.
Arsenal Soccer Schools Middlesex has nurtured several boys and girls who have been signed by clubs including Reading, Brentford and Chelsea, as well as Arsenal's own youth academy.
www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/12/17/13/pinoy-kid-trains-arsenal-youth-program