Supersport United soccer schools paving way to the big leagues
Academy feeder system already boasts multiple local and international stars
Pace, accuracy and intense pressure are the ingredients needed to turn footballing coal into razor-sharp diamonds.
SuperSport United Soccer Schools (SSUSS) have arrived in Florida, offering their specialised and hyper-focused brand of football talent development. Under the banner, ‘where players are made’, SSUSS are renowned for their emphasis on technical and tactical football skills, honed on smaller pitches which they claim create faster feet and faster decision-making.
Shannon Allan, of Brazilian Soccer Schools fame, and Lance Foster, father of Bafana Bafana rising star Lyle Foster, are the drivers of the new Gustav Preller Primary based talent factory. Together, they have an agreement with the school which will allow them to remodel two tennis courts into the types of five-a-side pitches that have become synonymous with the fast-flowing flair football of the SuperSport brand.
“We did our research and identified a deep need on the West Rand. We want to use this opportunity to promote confidence and build the kids up,” said Shannon. SSUSS have almost 30 bases countrywide and even extend in Africa and Europe, with schools in Zambia and Spain. Players do not play in conventional inter-club development leagues but instead play exclusively against other SSUSS in five and seven-a-side tournaments.
Football fundamentals are entrenched at an earlier age so SSUSS offer sessions for boys and girls aged four through to 13. Key to the success that paves the road to the SuperSport Academy is the amount time on the ball each player gets at SSUSS. “At local clubs, players might get 100–150 touches a session, but at SSUSS players can get anything from 1 000 to 3 500 touches a day. Ball manipulation is what matters,” claimed Shannon.
The new Selwyn school currently has 70 players but coach Jason King always has space for more. Training is flexible and takes place in hourly sessions, Monday to Friday 2.30pm to 6.30pm, and Saturday 8am to 10am. The footballing journey can begin by emailing florida@ssuss.co.za or calling Shanene on 082 569 4841 or Lance on 084 032 6943
