BLOEMFONTEIN – Young Bloemfontein football players that have big dreams can take part in the Socca Dream International Italian Football Assessment that will take place on 9 and 10 August.

Aris Albettti, managing director of Socca Dream International, explains the assessment aims to identify talented footballers aged 10 to 21 years from across the Free State and surrounding provinces.

“We will provide them with access to a structured international football development pathway that has already helped South African players secure opportunities in Europe,” he says.

One of the Bloemfontein players that are now playing for the Sestri Levante football club in Italy is Karabelo Khorane, a former learner of Grey College. Levante has recently entered an exciting new era after being acquired by an ownership group that is also involved with the Real Betis Balompié football team in Seville, Spain, creating additional international football opportunities and development networks.

Socca Dream International is a South African football development organisation with its Elite Training and International Scouting Centre based in La Spezia of the Liguria region, in Italy. Through partnerships with numerous Italian clubs, Socca Dream provides talented players with professional coaching, European football education, international exposure, and genuine pathways into Italian football.

The organisation believes football development extends beyond the pitch by combining technical excellence with education, discipline, character development, independence and life skills.

Pre-registration for the local players will take place at 14:00 at the Wilgehof Primary School in Rose Avenue on Saturday 8 August. The registration fee is R400. Only players that are registered on 8 August will be allowed to take part in the assessment on 9 and 10 August.

The assessment is open to players aged 10 to 21 years. Each players should bring a copy of their identity document (ID) or birth certificate, football boots, shin guards, a water bottel, and towel. They should be there 30 minutes before registration time.

Players selected during this assessment will become part of Socca Dream’s long-term development programme.

To help parents and players understand the full assessment process and the opportunities available, a short video was made to explaining the possible outcomes of the Italian Football Assessment.

Direct questions to Albetti via email at info@soccadream.com.