O'Neill: FFA priority talent ID centre

[Socceroo_06]

"We've got a terrific product that gives us a World Cup and an Asian Cup every four years. We are a mainstream sport now and certainly well placed.''

O'Neill revealed that the FFA's next priority was to establish a coaching and talent identification program to help offset the AFL's advances.

"The grassroots unfortunately was somewhat neglected as we sought more important targets such as joining Asia, starting a league and reaching the World Cup,'' O'Neill said.

"Critics claim our development systems are fragmented and dysfunctional. They say we need to do it the Brazil or Dutch way.

"Some say we should take a leaf out of the French football academy at Clairefontaine.

"But what these people fail to realise is that Clairefontaine's budget is bigger than that of the whole Australian Institute of Sport, which caters for some 32 disciplines.

"Probably it (the grassroots matter) should have been addressed earlier but we simply had neither the time nor the resources to do it.

"But now I am glad to say that this is our next big target. After achieving our first aims we are now in the next tier of priorities.''

http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,22049,20424820-5006068,00.html

[Ascoli Calcio]

"Critics claim our development systems are fragmented and dysfunctional. They say we need to do it the Brazil or Dutch way Morning Craig, how you doing?

The youth academy was the last piece in the puzzle. That's what happens when you sacrifice long term gain for short term pleasures. But ultimately that's what we needed.

[makedonia1903]

what the FFA and state federations need to do is provide resources to clubs with juniors.

most, if not all clubs run with volunteers and operate with shoe string budgets, no use trying to find talent if it cant be created