Boston, 24th July, 2012; Associazione Sportiva Roma (AS Roma) appear to be taking a unique approach to penetrating the US market. In conjunction with their partnership with Global Premier Soccer (locally Mass Premier Soccer – MPS), they have made a commitment to supporting player development in the local community via the MPS Inner City Initiative.
The goal of the Inner City Initiative is to provide premier level soccer coaching to at-risk, under-served communities. The Initiative in Massachusetts was launched in Brockton and Lowell in the Spring of 2009 and has since grown to Boston and Worcester. The immediate $10,000 contribution from Roma will now allow the program to expand significantly including an exciting project in Everett, Massachusetts.
Everett Soccer Club President Ed Senibaldi said “We are delighted to be able to provide new opportunities to our players and are grateful to both AS Roma and Global Premier Soccer for their support.”
With Roma’s support, GPS will provide a dedicated Director of Coaching to Everett Soccer Club who will work with the Everett Soccer Club Board to offer new programming and establish an AS Roma Academy in Everett.
Roma intend to follow suit in other GPS states. GPS currently operate youth soccer programs in eight states (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) and have become a leading source of US Youth National team players in recent years with two GPS players currently in the U-15 National team and three players developed by GPS selected to the US U-17 Residency program in recent years. In addition, Maria Zecca, one of the current U17 MPS Renegades players recently made the Italian U19 national team.
All existing and future GPS Inner City initiatives will be co-branded with Roma. While the primary goal is to have a positive impact and provide new role models for inner city players, there is also the possibility that this program might unearth the next Totti.
“The agreement with AS Roma presents a tremendous opportunity for GPS players to touch a leading European soccer club,” said GPS CEO Joe Bradley. “We hope to make this a ground breaking venture that goes beyond what European clubs have done in the past in the US market. With the commitment to the inner city program, the ability to offer Roma Academies for the very best players at no cost and the technical support provided, we believe we have something special.”
For more information please contact Joe Bradley on 781 891 6900 ext.23 or jbradley@globalpremiersoccer.com