Football Academy “Sheriff” is one of a few in the world where hundreds of children learn the nuts and bolts of football absolutely free of charge. But first of all the Academy of our club brings up talents for the senior team. And this is important taking into account new reality and requirements of UEFA and FIFA. What has been changed in the biggest football school of Moldavia for the last time? We have learnt about that from Football Academy “Sheriff” Head Coach Oleg Kononov.

 

- What innovation has the year 2007 brought into the life of Football Academy “Sheriff”?

 

- The main event occurred in August when we reorganized the structure of the Academy. It was divided into the Professional and junior parts. From that moment the new life of the Academy began. Accordingly, the training process changed as well. The main thing was that the process became integrated starting with “Sheriff-1” and ending with junior teams. In other words, players of the Academy have trained by the same basic system as the first (senior) team of the club. The difference is that every age group has its specific features.                     

 

- Where is this scheme taken from?  

 

- This is not a new system in the world football. Many leading clubs work according to it. The sense is to prepare a player for the first team more pointwise. The work in this direction is in the initial stage now. We just start to move forward. And the tournaments with the participation of our players can be the confirmation of that. It regards the results. At some tournaments we won first places, at others we played not so well, but we didn’t regret. We could see what had to be modernized and amended.       

 

- Because of that, probably, the system of selection has been changed, hasn’t it?

 

- Yes, certainly. For that we have established the position of a coach-selector who carefully examines players, contacts with coaches of other teams not only from Moldova. Somebody remains, somebody does not. Because we make the definite demands to newcomers, carry out the special test programs on physical and technical-tactical preparation. It allows us to determine the potential of a player more precisely.

 

- How can a footballer, in case of his growth, reach the level of the first team player?

 

- Everything should go on the progressive way. As in every secondary school, when after completing 11 classes you can enter a University. Football Academy “Sheriff” has the similar system. Our junior Academy lays the foundation of the coordinating, technical skills and psychological basis for players as well (up to the age of 13 years old). After that a player transfers to the Professional Academy where we begin the work aimed at improving his technical, tactical, physical and psychological skills. And only after passing these stages a player would be able to reach “Sheriff-2” where he meets with the hard selection. The very best young players come into the second team. If the players make progress and satisfy the requirements of the first team then they transfer to “Sheriff-1”. If the coaching staff decides that a player is not prepared enough for “Sheriff-1”, this place is not barred to him. The player could be leased to one of the National Division team. In that way you can reach necessary growth for coming into the first team. This is difficult but not complicated way for realization. Both every boy in the Academy and his parents have to know all stages of the development and how to become a player of the first team.       

 

- Where is this way taken from?

 

- Well, first of all you have to understand that FC “Sheriff” is the most titled club in Moldova now, for 10 years of its existence. It means the best Moldavian footballers play for it. Therefore, the top tasks are set before the club. And players of the first team can be only those who are self-confident and able to solve these tasks. Many of players have passed through this way. It’s Stanislav Ivanov, Alexander Epureanu, Sergey Dadu, Andrey Korneenkov, Sergey Pashchenko and many others who play at the high level now.            

 

- Many of players from the Academy have already played for the second team which is the youngest in Division “A”…

 

- For several years ago we took the decision of going on the way of rejuvenation of the second team. Most of all, it was connected with the specific character of our region. The level of Moldavian football is not high enough and it makes possible for young players of Division “A” to show their worth in senior football that gives a stimulus for growth. 

 

- Apart from the young players, the coaches have to hone their skills as well. All the more, this question has already been brought up at the UEFA level…   

 

- After UEFA has started to put the program of licensing youth coaches into effect, the coaches have begun to extend their knowledge. But it doesn’t mean that after getting license “B” the youth coach has to stop at the reached level. That’s why the management of FC “Sheriff” creates conditions for growth. The Academy has the video-library and extensive methodical literature at its disposal. Moreover, the coaching council of the club gathers once a week to discuss the current affairs, to analyze the training process, games of the teams, to give recommendations for coaches how to use new tasks. In other words, our coaches make progress and extend their knowledge. Of course, we want them to be more self-dependent because the profession of the coach supposes the permanent working at oneself. Everybody knows the principle that only a good coach has a good team.             

 

- Let’s return to the players. How do their parents react to the innovations?  

 

- Well, first of all I have to say that we teach young footballers to be accustomed to working at themselves not only on the trainings. As for the parents, we would like them to help us. By their participation in bringing up boys they have to show that self-perfection is the way for reaching success. When we’ll achieve a total self-dependence then the player will be in earnest about his profession. Vazha Tarkhnishvili can serve as an example of professionalism. He keeps on working at himself. As well we intend to finish with the old stereotypes of the parents who have tried to be, first of all, football agents, coaches and not the helpers for their sons. Because of that, many good players have failed to make a career. We want parents to understand that only licensed professionals in different football areas are able to provide for their sons the education they need. We recognize what responsibility lies with us. As well we understand that a footballer can not play for ages and our task is to work in such a way so that a player could reach a high level and would be materially secured. There are many examples of that. It’s Stanislav Ivanov, Alexander Epureanu, Sergey Dadu and many others who play for good clubs now and have handsome salaries there.                              

 

- What is undertaken in order that young players wouldn’t stop developing their skills?     

 

- We have the system of material encouragement. The players and coaching staff get monetary bonuses for won tournaments. I would like to note that in such a way we teach our players to earn money. It’s their job, after all. In other words, we teach them to make money on the basis of the results of their work and not to receive a salary just going to work. If there is no result – the encouragement is not available. Better to say, one does not eat who does not work. Moreover, depending on the results at the end of every season the players and coaches are rewarded by memorable prizes and gifts in the solemn atmosphere. And the solemn ceremony of accepting new players to the Academy takes place at the beginning of every season that also gives a stimulus for players to progress.               

 

- How many players of the Academy, in your opinion, are able to come into the first team?  

 

- It would be great if there were as many players as possible. This is our common purpose facing the coaching staff of the Academy. Now we have enough of perspective young players who, I am sure, will represent FC “Sheriff” in domestic and international competitions in the near future. The main thing for young players is to believe in themselves, to go forward for achieving their goals. Only then results will come. And the way into the first team is open for everyone who values the name of FC “Sheriff”. If young players will not come into “Sheriff-1” for some reasons we want them to be our faithful supporters.           

 

- Will some innovations take place in the near future?

 

- Our official web-site will appear soon. We do it so that everybody could receive extensive information about the life of Football Academy “Sheriff” from the original source. We have many ideas how to develop the Academy and the first results of the new methods in organizing work are already visible. You can make progress only developing and improving your work because football does not stand still.