October 14th 2009 - Royal Gazette

Bermuda youngsters to learn samba soccer

Aspiring Bermudian football players can learn to play the samba way at a local branch of the
world-renowned Brazilian Soccer School (BSS), writes Derek deChabert.
BSS boasts over one million kids enrolled in academies in 61 different countries across the
globe, with the Bermuda franchise to be run by head coach Dennis Brown, chairman Peter
Wilson, CEO Cal Blakendal and Ex Officio founder Lew Simmons.

And they are on the lookout for players aged between 5 and 18 to enrol for sessions at Sandys
360 Sports Complex, Mondays 5-6.30 p.m, and Saturdays from 10-11.30 a.m at Sandys Middle
School.

Its mission statement is 'to foster the mental, physical and emotional growth in our Bermudian
youth through football'.

In July, Brown took a select side from the school, which has been up and running since the
summer, to the UK to a tournament where they returned undefeated beating young teams from
Reading and West Ham.
"It's a pleasure to be associated with the programme," said Brown. "One thing I want to say is
that it will enhance the technical, tactical and also psychological aspects of a player no matter
the skill level.

"I was fortunate enough to take the boys to the soccer school in July in the UK and one thing I
wanted to show them was the two factors of the game which is process as well as the product,
which is what you see on TV."

BSS was founded in 1996 by English coach and gym teacher Clifford who embarked on an
expedition to Brazil to try and unlock some of the secrets to the country's success on the
international football stage.

On his return to the UK, Simon brought with him Futebol de Salao – a five-a-side version of the
game that is played with a smaller, heavier ball that virtually has no bounce – that was
eventually incorporated into his coaching philosophy of placing heavy accent on ball skills and
close control rather than traditional emphasis on fitness and physical strength.
Futebol de Salao is largely credited for shaping the careers of Brazilian legends such as Pele,
Zico and Ronaldo to name a few.

CEO Blakendal added: "We have partnered up with the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports
where we will be tested, along with the Family Centre during these difficult times.
"The complex centre has helped us in finding a place to hold the camp, so we won't have to
worry about weather and in the near future we will be looking to have a central location.
"The important thing is to bring everyone together regardless of where you are from and we are
trying to do our role in stopping anti social behaviour, and bringing back Bermuda families
through the sport."
Partnering with the school will be the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports and with the
Family Centre.