PDP Squads Head Abroad for International Experience

In order to prepare top players for the highest level possible, NorCal Premier Soccer sent two of its top Player Development Program squads to high-level international tournaments abroad.

The 00/01 girls State Pool team heads to the prestigious Gothia Cup in Sweden, while the boys of the same age will take on a series of quality opponents in the Copa Chivas down in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“The purpose is always in PDP, is if you give the kids something to aspire to at the end of the program year, then it gives them the ability to use all the training from the year, all the work, and also it’s part of the development of the players,” said PDP Director Paolo Bonomo. “Playing in a tournament gives kids a competitive environment to play in.”

“The No. 1 goal is to compete with the best,” Bonomo added. “We just had a little talk about how important it is to go as a team because obviously these players are all from different clubs, so becoming a team can be a challenge, but it’s going to be a priority because they have to perform the best.

“The experience of going to a different country, experiencing different foods, different looks, different cultures, outside of just the soccer itself, is extremely important.”

On the girls side of the action, NorCal has been placed in the Tipselit Trophy, which is the showcase flight featuring the 16 top teams from across the world.

The NorCal girls kicked off their matches Monday against Linkopings FC, where they completed an emphatic 3-1 victory. A link to the schedule, which includes live streams to the game, can be found at link here.

Meanwhile, the boys program doesn’t leave until the following week and the team’s schedule is not yet live.

Still, a host of world class competition is expected for the PDP squad in Mexico.

“I think it’s important for the NorCal Soccer community to recognize the high level that some of our players are at in this group,” said PDP Assistant Director Ian Mork. “I feel that there are some future professional players in this group. There are different avenues in this country that players can take towards becoming a professional and this will just be one additional experience for our PDP players.

“We can help their clubs with their development by providing international experience in top games,” Mork added. “It is a win-win for everyone!”

The boys roster is included below: