PICTURES: Coaches from Portuguese giants Benfica visit Thurso Football Academy to mark 10 years of coaching at Naver facility
Last weekend saw two-time European Cup winners Benfica visit Thurso Football Academy to mark 10 years since coaching at the facility began.
Representing the Portuguese giants at the Naver pitch were coach Joao Rosmaniho and former Benfica player and Ukraine international Serguei Kandaurov.
The pair were keen to share their expertise, running a practical coach education course for local coaches, going through various drills and techniques used by Benfica in their set up, at the event.
Coerver Coaching also provided support coaches to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Thurso head of coaching Alyn Gunn and Richie Campbell presented the guest coaches – who also took a replica of the European Cup along with them – with a momento glass to mark the occasion.
Kandaurov said: “It was a great pleasure for us to travel around Scotland with Coerver and visit the likes of Thurso. We had a fantastic time.
“The hospitality from our host was very much appreciated and we hope that as Benfica we passed on some of our beliefs and methodology to everyone in what was a great experience.”
Gordon Craig, a director at Coerver Coaching, commented: “It was great to have our guys and Benfica up with Thurso Football Academy. Despite the weather, the feedback has been fantastic.”
Thurso’s Alyn Gunn added: “It was a fantastic experience to have coaches from the two-time European champions in Thurso for the weekend.
“Football-wise, it was great seeing the kids adapt to new training drills and techniques, the coaches were of a really high standard and quite clearly believe in their methods.
“As this is our 10th year, it was important for me to have a high profile club come north, and I’m delighted it went well.”
Contributing sponsors were Robbie Fraser, the Caithness Drug and Alcohol Forum, Scottish Power, ID Swanson LTD Joiner Contractor, Blow Your Top Hairdressers, Eileen Manson and Davie Smith Town and Country Groundworks.
