Football: ProTouch international

Published: 22 July, 2010
by STEVE BARNETT

SOME of the finest young footballers from across Camden and Islington are gearing up to take on the world next week when they travel to Denmark for the prestigious Dana Cup. 

A squad of 31 players from the Pro Touch Soccer Academy will fly from Heathrow on Sunday to join up with more than 850 teams from 45 different countries ahead of Monday’s big kick-off.

It promises to be a sizzling summer for the academy, which was set up in a bid to help disadvantaged players fulfil their dreams of making a name for themselves within the professional game.

Preparing for the tournament, the Pro Touch under-15s side travelled to the east midlands on Sunday to play a youth team representing Championship side Nottingham Forest. 

Pro Touch opened the scoring courtesy of a thunderous 30-yard drive from Diogo Da Silva, but Forest hit back to take a 2-1 lead at half-time. 

The visitors from north London refused to give up and earned a 2-2 draw thanks to a clinical finish from Jordan Samuel-Palmer, one of only five boys in the Pro Touch squad who have played in the Dana Cup before. 

The young striker knows all about the advantages of performing on such a big stage. 

After finishing as Pro Touch’s leading scorer last year he returned home to sign a schoolboy contract with Arsenal, where he is currently thriving in their under-16s side. 

Ahead of the big Denmark date, assistant academy director Zahid Hossain said: “We’re excited about giving a new set of boys the chance to experience what it’s like competing in an international tournament. 

“The boys have all been training really hard and are confident that they will give a good account of themselves. 

“The most important thing is that they enjoy themselves and learn something from what is a very special experience.

“If they return home with a medal then that’s a bonus.”

The Pro Touch Academy is holding trials at Market Road in Islington in September for players aged between eight and 15 years of age. 

Visit www.protouchsocceracademy.com for further details.