Juventus Academy Hong Kong was introduced on 21 August, developed in partnership with Dubai-based Forza Sport Management and collaboration with Hong Kong Premier League team Kowloon City.
Soccer is popular in China and Hong Kong, especially English Premier League clubs, and is financially big business in terms of team merchandise.
Forward-thinking Juve have initiated the academy, which will introduce sports psychology training for players. There are also coaching courses about appropriate behaviour for players’ family members when watching matches.
Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, whose two sons are part of the Brighton & Hove Albion Academy, was invited by the Football Association of Hong Kong to talk to the parents of age-group players.
The only Juventus office outside Turin is based in Hong Kong, with their objective to help develop players into a well-rounded person in case they fail to become a professional soccer player. The focus of the academy is on tactical, technical and psychological aspects.
Six of the best in Hong Kong
The Juventus Academy Hong Kong have six coaching sites, with the best players joining Kowloon City when they reach the age of 14.
Juventus supply academy coaches for Kowloon City’s U14, U16 and U18 teams, which offers players the potential to turn professional.
Every session is led by certified coaches trained directly by Juventus in Turin. All programs are built around the Juventus methodology model to ensure that the emotional, mental and physical growth of each player is catered for.
Players will have the opportunity to take part in local competitions, international events and exclusive Juventus experiences that includes the Juventus Academy World Cup and elite training camps in Italy.
PIf the Bianconeri can develop youngsters as well as their Juventus Next Gen set-up, which has resulted in a plethora of players excelling at senior level, then they will be onto a winner.
Juventus developed a dynamite duo
Dean Huijsen, who plies his trade at Real Madrid, and Juve's emerging superstar Kenan Yildiz are examples of highly successful Juventus Next Gen graduates. The pair were among the top 10 U21 players nominated for the prestigious Kopa Trophy Ballon d'Or award.
The gaps between top teams and minnows internationally is getting narrower, with hefty defeats infrequent compared to a few years ago.
Maybe the Juventus Academy Hong Kong will pay dividends, at least selling on players who graduate, and may one day bring a Far East superstar to regularly sport a Juve jersey and light up Serie A.