Brisbane Roar FC and Yeronga-based PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland club Olympic FC have agreed to work closely and establish a Central Brisbane Academy Preparation Centre for footballers aged between 5-11 years old.
As part of Roar’s long term Academy strategy, BRFC will help partner clubs deliver high-quality player development programs in a professional environment.
Brisbane Roar Academy Director Drew Sherman said the five-year partnership agreement will ensure a closer working relationship between the two Brisbane based clubs.
“Brisbane Roar is committed to providing mentoring and skill building programmes for Olympic FC players and coaches, while assisting with talent identification,” Sherman said.
“The partnership will give us an opportunity to closely monitor the current Olympic FC footballers also.
“This is only the first step, in the near future our aim is to provide a pathway to support young players, through partnerships across the whole of Queensland.”
The partnership with the PS4 NPL QLD club will provide another pathway for talented young footballers to progress into Roar’s Academy sides helping to develop future homegrown players for Brisbane’s Hyundai A-League team.
The Roar will provide a junior membership to all home games to registered Olympic FC players 16 years and under for the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season to help raise the profile of football in the local community.
Olympic FC President Peter Ionnidis believes the partnership with Brisbane Roar FC will have long term benefits for the club.
“In the year of our 50th anniversary, we are delighted to announce this new partnership which will attract top coaches and top talent to our already successful club,” Ionnidis said.
“It will be a feather in our cap and we are excited about this opportunity to work closely with Brisbane Roar FC.”
Brisbane’s Academy Director wanted to also acknowledge the outstanding work Olympic FC currently does for the world game.
“It is fantastic that we can support the great work already being done by Olympic FC,” Sherman added.
“We are delighted to have put a long-term agreement in place that will benefit young Queensland footballers.”
To celebrate the new agreement this Sunday (19 March) Roar’s U18 and Senior Men’s sides will play their home matches at Goodwin Park, Yeronga.
Roar’s U18 will kick-off at 12:45pm with the Senior Men’s side taking on FNQ Heat FC at 3:00pm.
