It isn’t often that South Florida soccer clubs get to showcase their collective talents abroad. However, this summer, Schulz Academy will afford a select few of South Florida’s best the opportunity to do just that. Schulz Academy has been invited to participate in the Megacard Summer Cup 2006 to be held in Austria from August 2nd to August 6th. The international tournament is for players born 1990 and will feature clubs such as PSV Eindhoven (Holland), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Glasgow Rangers (Scotland), and Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) among other teams from other countries. Past winners include FSA Austria MAGNA in 2005 and VfB Stuttgart (Germany) in 2004. Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen and Feyenoord Rotterdam were also very prominent participants in the past. The Schulz Academy team will be lead by Boca Juniors player Donovan Henry, and will feature players from Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade Counties representing various South Florida clubs.
I sat down with Academy Director Dr. Josef Schulz with questions about the upcoming tournament:
Q: Dr. Schulz, what can you tell me about the Megacard Summer Cup?
A: Well, this is one of the most important international youth club tournaments in Europe. It is a U17 tournament held annually and it features some of the top clubs in Europe. This tournament is also by invitation only.
Q: Can you give examples of some of these ‘top clubs’ that have participated in the past and who will be participating this year?
A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Ajax, Barcelona, AC Milan, are just a few of the past participants. This year Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven, Glasgow Rangers, and Dinamo Zagreb are among the participants. All very strong European clubs as you know.
Q: With such big clubs attending what is mood at Schulz Academy concerning the upcoming tournament and what do you hope to accomplish?
A: We are all very excited and proud to be invited to a high level tournament like this. Definitely we go there to win some games, but more important is to show the Europeans the talent of our players.
Q: Do you wish to elaborate on the players that will be representing the Academy?
A: Sure, we have a very talented group of players that will represent the Academy. 5 of our players are born 1991, one of them even 1992, although the tournament is a U17 tournament for players born 1990. The team is young, but very talented. I am sure the one or the other player will end up in the notebook of some of the scouts of top clubs in Europe. The mix we have is good. We have a very solid goalkeeper. The defenders Borick, Barry and Shirley showed consistently over the last 5 years that they are one of the best in the country. All 3 plus Dankenbring, our goalkeeper, were starters 2 years in a row winning the National Finals of the Super Y League without allowing a goal during the whole tournament (6 games). The forwards are extremely fast and dangerous, and always good for goals. We just need to find the right mix in the midfield to make sure they support the defense and offense to have a balanced team overall.
Q: How do you think they will measure up against their European counterparts?
A: It will be tough but this is part of the learning and growth process for the top level soccer player. Exposing our players to this level of competition is a good measuring stick and will benefit every player in the long run. The first game vs. Austria Vienna, the champion from last year, winning the Final vs. Vfb Stuttgart 1-0, is key. They are together in their sophisticated sports academy now for 5 years, and are for me the favorites again, although PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund, Glasgow Rangers, Dinamo Zagreb, Malmo FF, and Ado Den Haag also are extremely strong teams. We have outsider chances, although members of the named teams think we will be an easy meal for them. But we will try everything possible to show them that in the USA, and especially in Florida there are talented players, who can compete with the best of the best in the world.
Well, thank you for your time Dr. Schulz. The tournament sure sounds like it will provide a great deal of excitement and wonderful memories for the boys. I wish you all the best of luck.
JS: Thank you…always a pleasure.
Schulz Academy is a premier youth soccer academy headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. The academy is dedicated to providing the highest level of age appropriate training for kids from ages 4 to 19 and to providing the best competition available for the elite soccer player.
Schulz Academy is a separate and neutral entity that participates in the USL Super-Y-League and at US Club Soccer events and whose activities do not conflict with the players’ regular club activities or obligations.
The schedule for the Magacard Summer Cup 2006 is as follows:
|
Group A |
Group B |
|
PSV Eindhoven |
Ado Den Haag |
|
Borussia Dortmund |
Glasgow Rangers |
|
Malmö FF |
Schulz Academy Florida / USA |
|
Dinamo Zagreb |
FSA Austria MAGNA |
Wednesday, 02. August 2006, Venue: Hausleiten
14:45 Hrs Malmö FF : Dinamo Zagreb
16:00 Hrs Ado Den Haag : Glasgow Rangers
17:15 Hrs PSV Eindhoven : Borussia Dortmund
18:30 Hrs Schulz Academy Florida / USA : FSA Austria MAGNA
Thursday, 03. August 2006, Venue: Hollabrunn
14:45 Hrs Ado Den Haag : Schulz Academy Florida / USA
16:00 Hrs Malmö FF : PSV Eindhoven
17:15 Hrs Borussia Dortmund : Dinamo Zagreb
18:30 Hrs Glasgow Rangers : FSA Austria MAGNA
Friday, 04. August 2006, Venue: Leobendorf
14:45 Hrs Glasgow Rangers : Schulz Academy Florida / USA
16:00 Hrs Dinamo Zagreb : PSV Eindhoven
17:15 Hrs Borussia Dortmund : Malmö FF
18:30 Hrs Ado Den Haag : FSA Austria MAGNA
Saturday, 05. August 2006, FINAL DAY, Venue: Hollabrunn
11:45 Hrs Seventh Place Game 7/8
13:00 Hrs Fifth Place Game 5/6
14:15 Hrs Third Place Game 3/4
15:30 Hrs FINAL MEGACARD SOMMERCUP 2006
For updates and scores on this year’s Megacard Summer Cup, please visit http://www.schulzsocceracademy.com
