Dutch partners visit MFA

Melbourne Football Academy had a great opportunity this year when two coaches from our SoccerPLAY program, David Zonneveld and Rick van Amersfoort, from Amsterdam Netherlands, visited MFA in Melbourne for a weeks long training camp.

Although this was our partner's second visit to Melbourne, our overseas guests were impressed by the positivity of MFA's passionate football members; and this winter's visit formed just one element of a programme of activity - on and off the pitch - that brought our Dutch partners closer to Melbourne Football Academy members.

The SoccerPLAY football camp provided a great opportunity for our young players to learn advanced footballing skills from highly experienced coaches whom have worked alongside former AFC Ajax Amsterdam Manager, Marcel Keizer and who currently work for the KNVB (Dutch Federation).

For the last seven years, the Melbourne Football Academy has collaborated with Ajaxonline Academy, the Ladru Academy and now SoccerPLAY to share the benefits of professional football training with MFA. Moreover, the Academy and it's partners have gradually enlarged the focus from skills training to all-round development of young people focusing on building their physical, mental and social capabilities. David Zonneveld, also the Academy's coordinator, pointed out that football is also a wonderful way to bring people together - opening hearts and minds across cultures and uniting people with the same passion for football.

"I visited Amsterdam in April of this year and this was SoccerPLAY's second visit to Melbourne and it's fantastic that it ties into MFA's and SoccerPLAY's 7th anniversary as official partners," commented Chris Theodorou, MFA's Managing Director: "This was an important visit for Melbourne Football Academy as it is part of an ongoing football educational programme that we are continually working on to enhance our students."