BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Achieve3000, May 1, 2017). Benjamin Palandella shoots to the goal. He kicks with surprising force for a
7-year-old player. Benjamin plays football (called soccer in the U.S.) for Club Social Parque. Parque is a youth academy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It's the same place where stars like Carlos Tévez got their start.
Parque is one of many youth academies. Spain's La Masia is another. It's known for training the famous Lionel Messi. But Parque has perhaps trained more star players. At least 40 international stars trained there. About 150 children train there now. Some are only 6 years old!
People say Ramón Maddoni drives the academy's success. He's a coach at Parque. He teaches the players drills. The kids practice twice a week. They play in games on weekends.
"At Club Parque, we work a lot on the [basics]," said Maddoni.
The 75-year-old Maddoni has coached dozens of kids. Players say Maddoni's drills helped them. Many went on to play with Argentina's national team. Some have played for Europe's top clubs.
Maddoni says that Benjamin reminds him of the stars he once coached. And Benjamin wants to follow their lead. He wears a Barcelona shirt with Messi's number 10 on it.
"I want to be like Messi and play for Barcelona," he said.
Still, professional football isn't an easy sport to break into. There are hundreds of clubs like Parque in Buenos Aires alone. There are thousands of talented kids. Only a few will become top players.
Parque is one of many youth academies. Spain's La Masia is another. It's known for training the famous Lionel Messi. But Parque has perhaps trained more star players. At least 40 international stars trained there. About 150 children train there now. Some are only 6 years old!
People say Ramón Maddoni drives the academy's success. He's a coach at Parque. He teaches the players drills. The kids practice twice a week. They play in games on weekends.
"At Club Parque, we work a lot on the [basics]," said Maddoni.
The 75-year-old Maddoni has coached dozens of kids. Players say Maddoni's drills helped them. Many went on to play with Argentina's national team. Some have played for Europe's top clubs.
Maddoni says that Benjamin reminds him of the stars he once coached. And Benjamin wants to follow their lead. He wears a Barcelona shirt with Messi's number 10 on it.
"I want to be like Messi and play for Barcelona," he said.
Still, professional football isn't an easy sport to break into. There are hundreds of clubs like Parque in Buenos Aires alone. There are thousands of talented kids. Only a few will become top players.
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