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MILAN – Gary Medel will be officially unveiled as an Inter player on Monday 25 August 2014. The new Nerazzurri signing will meet the media in the press room in Appiano Gentile at 15:00. Journalists will be admitted from 14:30. Photographers may not attend but pictures will be made available by the club to the media in attendance.
The conference will be broadcast live on Inter Channel and streaming here at inter.it
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MILAN – FC Internazionale would like to announce that tickets for Torino v Inter will be on sale from Monday 25 August until 19:00 on Saturday 30 August (provided there are still tickets available). The Serie A 2014/15 Week 1 match will be played at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico on Sunday 31 August (kick-off 20:45), with seats available for Nerazzurri fans in the visiting and/or other sections of the stadium (1,489 tickets on sale).
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketone.it. We remind supporters that only those in possession of an original Fan Card with supporting ID can purchase tickets. Seats in the away end cannot be sold on matchdays.
Therefore residents of Lombardy, regardless of age, must hold a valid Fan Card to purchase a ticket in any section of the ground.
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MILAN – D.C. United academy director Nolan Sheldon has spent the last few days in Milan observing the work of the Inter youth teams. He spoke to Inter Channel about his experience.
What’s the most important thing you’ve taken away from watching Inter’s academy train?
“I think it was really important for us to see the inner workings of Inter’s academy. We had an opportunity to stay with a team throughout most of their pre-season, so being able to see and meet the coaches and see the teams in action was very valuable for us. We had an opportunity to meet with the director, Roberto Samaden, and also spend time with the U-15 coach Stefano Bellinzaghi and that interaction was invaluable for us.”
In the past, football in the United States was not considered a professional sport. What’s changing?
“Yeah, I think that’s changing a lot. The country and the soccer community within it recognise that we have the ‘athlete’ and we’re becoming a bit more cultured in the game. As you know, it takes time. It’s really important to have generation after generation playing the game. We, as a country, are really starting to develop a soccer culture and due to that you see that the infrastructure and the resources that are being put into youth development – specifically within MLS – is significantly more than what you would have found 10 years ago. We have more registered soccer players in the United States than any other country in the world, so they are there. What we always talk about at DC United is that we’ve got to work really hard to serve those players and give them an opportunity.”
What’s the most important thing you teach the guys?
“We focus on a lot of different areas. We want to make sure that they have a very good technical base at the right age. Depending on the player’s maturity, we want to introduce the tactical elements of the game. We really work hard to develop the character of the player to make that they understand that teamwork and work ethic are really important. Those are characterstics that, as Americans, are engrained in our culture and we want to make sure our style of play is representative of that.”
What’s the main difference between Italy and the US in terms of coaching?
“The coaches here have years and years of experience at the top level. We’ve existed as an MLS academy for less than 10 years. So I think the biggest difference would be the coach’s experience. Secondly, there’s a different style in terms of the organisation of the session and what they try to bring to the players. I think it’s very similar to what we’re trying to do. They have more experience, they have a bit more insight and that’s where we’re trying to improve our level of coaching to in turn improve the level of our players. That’s the reason we’re here.”
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It felt great when I heard the news that I was going to be involved in a camp organised by UNOSDP and dedicated to young coaches who work in difficult environments. That said, I wasn’t sure about what the project would focus on so I was a little nervous before I set off.
When I landed at the airport in Florida, some of the great staff from the organisation were there to take us to Bradeton, a county two hours from Orlando. The IMG Academy, an incredible school and sports centre usually home to elite level athletes, would host us for a fortnight. The place is like Disneyland for sports lovers.
Everything was going swimmingly and even more so when I began to meet the other people taking part in the camp: 33 wonderful guys and girls from 19 different countries. Despite the different nationalities, cultures and languages, we all had similar personalities and shared the same passion with one aim, using sport to help others. Every one of those guys is doing something to make the world a better place through sport in their respective countries. It was amazing for me to meet every single one of them and learn about the admirable initiatives they’re involved in.
I’ve been working with Inter Campus in Mexico for going on three years now and I’m very proud to be a part of the programme, which I fell in love with on day one. I had never heard about any other programmes like it around the world and it was very interesting to get a greater insight into the institutions and bodies involved in it. I noticed that there are lots of people who are interested in helping to make the world a better place and that we’re not alone. We represent a powerful network of agents for change.
The camp’s content and its activities were presented on day one, while Wilfried Lemke, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, welcomed us before telling us that we had been chosen for our leadership skills and because we are role models who can influence the communities that we work in. His words motivated us and made us feel responsible.
During the 13 days of the camp, figures from various sports (rubgy, table tennis, judo, taekwondo, football and sports adapted to those with special needs) taught us to use sport to reach new targets and improve certain aspects of our communities in terms of gender equality, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, social inclusion and making young people accountable. This approach made me realise that I can combine all of these goals in my work with Inter Campus and not simply focus on one aspect. I can help the kids in several areas of their lives.
We also took part in a number of sessions on developing leadership skills and the ability to manage the issue of children’s rights and their protection.
Besides the great friendships I made with these wonderful people, taking part in the camp taught me a lot, helping me to improve my work with Inter Campus and continue to give 100% every single day. I now know that there are lots of people who are committed to making the world a better place and this is a message we need to spread.
I would like to thank Inter Campus for giving me the chance to share the beauty of football with all the kids. Thank you to everyone at UNOSDP (Wilfried Lemke, Ben Taylor, Maria), IMG Academy, GAI Sports, the workshop leaders and all the friends I made.
Karla Guti
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MILAN – There’s little over a week to go now then the wait will finally be over. League football is set to start up again in Italy on the last weekend of August, and not just for Serie A: Stefano Vecchi’s Under-19s get their own championship campaign up and running on Saturday 30th.
While the senior side kick off with an away match at Torino, the Nerazzurri Primavera’s first taste of league action will be at home, with Virtus Lanciano the visitors to the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti.
The Inter youngsters face an early test of their title aspirations in Week 2 when they play Atalanta: meetings with the Bergamo-based outfit are nearly always a top-of-the-table clash at U19 level.
Matches against Udinese, Perugia and Cittadella then follow before the first Milan derby of 2014/15 at the Rossoneri’s Centro Sportivo Vismara on 18 October (the return is pencilled in for 7 March). That could be a crunch week for Vecchi’s boys because immediately afterwards they’re due to host reigning champions Chievo Verona.
Completing the Group B fixture line-up are Pescara, Sassuolo, Brescia, Cesena, Cagliari and Hellas Verona.
The regular season is scheduled to end on 16 May 2015, while the play-off quarter-finals and semi-finals to assign the last two spots in the June finals will take place on 23 and 30 May 2015.
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