USTA and Manchester United Trainer Team Up in Africa

Dear Friends,

As the Academy Director of United Soccer Training Academy it is exciting for me to inform you about USTA's international outreach program. During 2009 I had the privilege of traveling to both Europe and South America. The purpose of my trips was to observe top professional academies and their player development methods for integration into USTA's developmental model. While I imbibed a wealth of footballing knowledge during my travels, I also had the opportunity to observe the abject poverty that exists in many of the world's top footballing nations.

I returned from my trips with a renewed focus on proper player development. I also returned with a message to our Board of Directors: USTA can and should do everything we can to partner with academies that work with underprivileged children and offer those clubs our financial, moral and spiritual support. Our BOD agreed and voted to begin USTA's international outreach program. We have already created international partnerships with Clube Atletico De Mage in Brazil, Hallmarks Football Academy in the Ivory Coast and Lusaka Kings Sports Academy in Zambia. Many of the players from Hallmarks are children that were orphaned during the Ivory Coast's recent civil war. Hallmarks gave these orphaned boys a safe place to live and a safe place to dream.

On January 14, 2010, Phil Brogan of Manchester United and I will be traveling to the Takoradi region of Western Ghana to run a week long residency program for underprivileged children from Ghana and the Ivory Coast. These African countries share two common traits: their passion for the game of football and repressive poverty. Football represents a ray of hope in the dark wilderness of poverty where these children are raised. Through USTA's outreach program, Phil and I hope to beat the darkness back aand inspire children to dream, to hope. We will not only offer the players a professional training experience, we will also offer players of potential the opportunity to come to the U.S. through a residence program we intend to implement in 2010.

USTA's scouting network already identified more than 150 youth players from Ghana and the Ivory Coast that will participate in our clinic. SoccerPlus, Christian Raniszewski of PUMA, Gerry Hess of Kwik Goal, Wilkes University Men's Soccer and Lafayette University Men's Soccer have all supplied us with equipment for the players. USTA's Ghana contacts, Mike Tandoh and Abraham Armah secured the national football stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi for us to train and house the players. However, we still need the following support to make our program a complete success:

We need approximately $2,000.00 more just to cover the cost of food and water for the players. It is my great hope that in this season of giving that you will feel moved to help these children and support our project. Any donation will be greatly appreciated by the children with whom we will be working. You may mail your donation to USTA c/o Mary Jo Loboda, P.O. Box 416, Waverly, PA 18471. Make checks payable to United Soccer Training Academy. Please note, USTA is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable organization. All donations to the Academy are tax deductible as a charitable donation. Kindly forward this email to anyone that you feel may be able to help these children. Thank you for your time and God Bless.

Robert Zanicky
Academy Director
United Soccer Training Academy
www.ustasoccer.com
215-435-1700