CareerSports Soccer Academy: Miami Showcases Talent; Under 17 International Scrimmage Demonstrates Gap Between US and Europe.

Sports Editors/Soccer Writers & Columnists

NOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2002

Blackburn Rovers, one of Europe's leading soccer clubs and the home club of Brad Friedel, made their mark in South Florida over the weekend and demonstrated the huge benefit of a development program within a full time academy structure favoured by Europe's elite.

CareerSports Soccer Academy: Miami, the recently launched academy dedicated to providing exceptionally talented kids with a "soccer gateway" to a professional career, invited Boston Bulldogs and Blackburn Rovers under-17 teams to compete in a three-way scrimmage. `The CareerSports International Super Scrimmage' took place at The Sunrise Hilton in Plantation over three days from August 15th.

With the help of many of the leading clubs and coaches in Dade and Broward County, the CareerSports Soccer Academy's team of leading international coaches hand picked their initial squad of 18 boys to showcase against leading opposition from Europe. The squad trained over four days in preparation for their first opportunity to match themselves against International competition of the highest standard.

According to former England National Youth Coach and The CareerSports Soccer Academy Director for North America Steve Rutter, "We expected to face tough opposition from both teams, particularly against Blackburn Rovers. This gave ours boys tremendous experience. Even the most exceptional talent in South Florida have, in the past, only had the opportunity to compete at state or regional level. As a result of this, their training programs have been targeted to meet this challenge. Our aim is to take these kids to the next stage of development so they are able to compete against the best in the world."

Team Captain for The CareerSports Soccer Academy, Ryan Kinsley said: "I felt we were evenly matched during the first half against Blackburn Rovers which ended 0-0. In the second half we began to tire which our opponents took advantage of. They were able to step up a gear and increase their work rate. We've learned a valuable lesson as players, and realise the significant amount of work there is to be done to play at a professional level."

The CareerSports International Super Scrimmage was the first of many International invitational scrimmage events that will be co-ordinated and run by The CareerSports Soccer Academy. The aim is to bring the best competition, experience and match-play to the academy so that South Florida's most exceptional players are consistently exposed to the high standard of soccer played by the rest of the world.

Final Scores:

-- Thursday, August 15 - The CareerSports Soccer Academy 1 Boston Bulldogs 1

-- Friday, August 16 - Blackburn Rovers 9 Boston Bulldogs 1

-- Saturday, August 17 - The CareerSports Soccer Academy 1 Blackburn Rovers 5

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