Coaches from six countries will be in Bermuda next month to search for young talent when the Bermuda Sports Management Group and the Bermuda’s Brazilian Football School stage their first Talent Identification Showcase from April 26 to May 1.

Local clubs are invited to register their best four players in the under-9 to under-17 divisions for the five-day camp which will cost $150 for roughly 12 hours of coaching.

“In partnership with the Bermuda Football Association, Bermuda’s Brazilian Football School and Bermuda Sports Management Group are pleased to announce our first Invitational Talent Identification Showcase,” said Cal Blankendal, of BBFS, yesterday.

“It means that the best players from each age group on the island selected by the BFA affiliates will be able to attend an academy technical camp with coaches from overseas who will provide a realistic assessment of each player and also realistic opportunities for players selected in those age groups.”

The coaches will be coming from the Netherlands, Canada, United States, Portugal, England and Scotland.

The student-athletes will be assigned to two groups, advanced or intermediate, and the best of the talent will be offered opportunities overseas for further training, trials and academic scholarships.

The camp will focus on talent identification, player development, academics, life skills and international opportunities. The camp will be managed by Bermuda Sports Management Group and facilitated by Bermuda’s Brazilian Football School.

“What makes this Talent ID Showcase significant is that there are coaches from all around the world and it is not a club or country set-up,” Blankendal said.

“Players will have the opportunity to be identified on different playing styles, different tactical and technical assessments and also the coaches will look for different personalities and qualities in each player.

“The coaches are connected with academies and institutions all around the world and some have, in the past, worked with the U-19 team at Ajax. One is a former technical director at a MLS club and was also an assistant coach at that club.

“We will also have a U-9 academy coach coming from the Netherlands as well and there will be a lot of grassroots coaching for the younger age groups and also looking for some who could get into a semi-pro or reserve team at one of the professional institutions.”

Blankendal added: “Bermuda’s Brazilian Football School is about life skills and academics, we will also have coaches from academic institutions. We’re looking to finalise two or three in that area.

“It is only geared towards males at this moment, but during those five days we think the island’s talent pool of players will be truly assessed and will receive some significant feedback and realistic opportunities.”

Mark Wade, president of the Bermuda Football Association, is excited about what the camp will be able to offer.

“For the clubs this is a real opportunity and with real opportunities you should be sending your best players,” Wade said. “We’re just happy to have more and more opportunities for development for our players and opportunities for off-island experiences. We’re excited to have another group that is willing to put some resources and expertise in providing opportunities for our players.”

Blankendal stressed the players selected will have certain qualities. “The player has to be willing to follow and take instructions,” he pointed out.

“If you have a player at your club who is the best but is not able to listen then this is not the outlet for them at this time. They must have some self-discipline and be willing to be athletic, doing things like running when you don’t have the ball.

“Time management is the key, we will not accept that if the training sessions starts at 5.30 that you arrive at 5.45. Most likely you’ll be shown the door and your opportunity will be gone.

“If you go to a trial overseas, there is no such thing as being late. Also any player selected must come with their academic report card, whether they are coming for a pro opportunity or academic opportunity. We are not just developing the on-field but also the off-field individual.”