Bending it like Brazilians

Bryan Cassel, the owner of the Dainfern branch of the academy which is located at the Junxtion Centre on William Nicol Drive, explained that Brazilian Soccer Schools was focused on teaching skills and giving individual attention to pupils.

“It’s not just about the match,” he said. “Pupils need to learn their instruments, which are their bodies, before they can play in the orchestra.” The academy was founded by Simon Darcy Clifford in 1996 to address the need to provide all children with a dynamic, globally-proven and cutting edge soccer coaching programme.

Cassel said Clifford looked to Brazilian soccer, as the country was known to dominate the international game. Clifford researched the skills and development of Brazilian soccer from children playing in favelas (slums) to professional players. Cassel said the Dainfern branch had already yielded amazing results as 10 of the school’s players have been selected for Supersport United. Four of these were underprivileged pupils from Diepsloot who were trained at the school free of charge. “For every four paying pupils we try to get one underprivileged pupil sponsored,” Cassel said.

He explained that soccer had a massive impact on learning in general, especially in terms of improving listening skills. “The difference we’re making is not just on the soccer field,” he said.

Cassel has just opened a second Brazilian Soccer School at Beaulieu College. “We welcome everyone, girls and boys, however we are focused on development and therefore accept only ages four to 13,” he said.

When asked about the 2014 Soccer World Cup, Cassel said, “We [South Africa] shouldn’t be ranked 65th in the world. Brazilian Soccer Schools wants to change that and I believe that in the next six to seven years we will see that change, simply because I can’t see these kids failing.”

Details: www.braziliansoccerschoolssa.com, b.cassel@braziliansoccerschoolssa.com, 011 025 8731