ALCONS Soccer Academy had mixed results during their recent tour of the United States.
The Academy squad, as well as its founder - sporting icon Alvin Corneal - undertook the visit to Raleigh, North Carolina as a means to continue its developmental policy.
Heavy rains forced the abandonment of the first of five scheduled games, but Alcons edged Carolina Soccer Academy Under-20 team by a 2-1 margin, with Dillon Lord and Ajmal Smith on target for the tourists.
But a professional team Greensboro Dynamo showed no mercy on Alcons, as they trounced the Trinidad outfit 5-0.
Alcons then fell to a 1-0 loss against the Carolina Academy Under-20 squad but rebounded with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the Academy’s Under-21 unit.
According to a media release, “it was a wonderful experience for a team which averaged 17-years-old and caught the attention of the eight universities who witnessed the games.
“Mario Kissoon, Xavi Rajpaul, Justin Garcia and (goalkeeper) Joseph Craig performed admirably and impressed the coaches who travelled various distances to take a close look at the potential scholarship contenders,” the media release continued. “Already the response has come from four schools for certain players and the process of examining their school transcripts have begun.”
The Academy extended their gratitude to the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT), NEDCO, TSTT and some private donors for their financial support towards the venture.
“Unfortunately, some of the very talented players were refused visas to travel, but the coaches decided that they will make the trip to Trinidad in order to scout the players who are scholarship-material,” the media release stated. “Among the Universities which attended the matches were NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, Shaw University, Elon University and UNC Greensboro.”
Now the Alcons team will turn their attention towards a pair of trips - to Panama (the Under-20 team) and the Disney tournament in Orlando, Florida, United States in December.