Mikailee Vincent hopes the pointers she picks up from a specialized training camp next month will help her take the next steps in her young soccer career.

The 11-year-old from Dartmouth is returning for her second summer of instruction with representatives of the renowned A.C. Milan soccer club who’ll host camps at the Burnside fields on July 20-24 and July 27-31.

"I thought it was a very good experience (last year) and I thought you learned a lot and it really improved my game," said Mikailee, who will be starting Grade 7 at a new school in September.

"My goal is to make the Ellenvale junior soccer team and make the provincial team so I’m hoping that will help me."

Mikailee has been playing soccer for six years and is suiting up this summer with a Dartmouth United under-12 team. She and her sister Paige, 13, both attended last year’s A.C. Milan camps at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

The five-day sessions are being brought to the metro area by Paris Lalonde, president of Euro Football for Champions, a soccer training company in Halifax.

"The ultimate result is that young Canadian soccer players will be prepared by coaches with international experience," said Lalonde, referring to Corti Davide, Daniele Massaro, Paolino Raffaele and Alessandro Botta, longtime players now delivering the Italian professional club’s training system around the globe.

"We want to provide opportunities to bring players to the next stage, which could include levels at professional clubs or Canadian and American universities."

Seven local coaches will work alongside the Italians in Dartmouth, which will offer them a learning experience at the same time, Lalonde said.

A.C. Milan will direct training camps for young players in 30 countries this year, including Europe, the United States and Canada.

The Burnside camps are open to boys and girls aged seven to 17 who play competitively. Enrolment is limited to 150 kids per session.

Players who stand out at the camps may be invited to Italy to participate in the A.C. Milan Junior Camp Day.

"They’re looking for the diamond in the rough," Lalonde said.

"It used to be that diamond in the rough, they’d only be looking for them in South America, then they went to Africa, then went to Asia — now North America and Canada. They’re seeing the potential."

By BRIAN FREEMAN Sports Reporter
Mon. Jun 29 - 4:46 AM
Dartmouth Community Herald