Saitama High School enjoy VSP experience
There was a touch of Japanese flavour in the air at Valentine Sports Park last week as 17 students from Saitama High School along with three staff members called Football NSW headquarters home for the week as part of a football tour experience.
Arriving on the 25th of July, the highly talented students took part in a couple of friendly matches against PlayStation4 NPL NSW Men’s youth squads as well as Schools as part of their cultural experience tour whilst in Sydney.
The Under 17s squad took on Blacktown City FC’s Under 15s/16s, Sydney FC Academy, Westfields Sports High School, NSW All Schools U19s A and B Squads as well as having special three hour clinics prepared for them by Sydney FC’s Academy coaching setup on various days.
Apart from the usual tourist sightseeing which saw the young team visit a number of famous landmarks across Sydney, the boys also took in a PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s top tier match as they witnessed APIA Leichhardt Tigers defeat Manly United 5-0 at Lambert Park in a Round 20 fixture.
Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge was impressed with the quality Saitama High School bought to Valentine Sports Park both on and off the park.
“It’s great to see the venue utilised by some of Asian football’s best teams for both the men and women, in this instance being a talented school group from Saitama.
“The players and coaching staff were very respectful to everyone and we were treated to some quality football action albeit via their training drills and friendly matches they took part in.
“Since Australia’s involvement with the Asian Football Confederation, interests from both club and country teams wishing to use Valentine Sports Park as a training hub has risen and we hope to see more teams utilising this wonderful precinct during the 2017 season.”
A special presentation was on hand which saw Football CEO Stuart Hodge present a special plaque to the Saitama High School delegates.
