During the past few weeks a number of top–ranked U.S. Universities visited Porirua, New Zealand to meet with Olé F.A. staff and to scout and recruit 2017 – 2018 U.S. university eligible players. Universities that have been on campus include top ranked (RPI) NCAA Division I programs Butler University (RPI #14), Dartmouth College (RPI #25), Oregon State University (RPI #52) Xavier University (RPI #59), and NCAA Division III powerhouse Middlebury College.
Brian Plotkin (Assistant Head Coach, Dartmouth College) commented on his time at the academy, “Thank you for everything the Olé Football Academy Staff did to facilitate our trip to Wellington, New Zealand and for allowing us to see your players and spend time discussing the beautiful game. I was so impressed with the staff’s professionalism and the approach towards the development of the players that you work with from U8 – U9 through to the first team.”
David Costa (Associate Head Coach, Xavier University) added; “I had the opportunity to visit Olé recently and was thoroughly impressed with the quality of players, staff, and culture. Myself, along with several other university coaches, were given full access from the staff to the inner workings of the Academy and their plan of developing players on the field and people off it. The players were very professional in their approach to training and understand that development is a never ending process.The standard of training was very competitive and the players displayed the habits and quality to perform under pressure that comes with playing at a high level. Having witnessed the environment first hand, it is evident that the players are being equipped with the tools to make a successful transition into the next steps of their careers.”
Currently over 20 Olé F.A. players represent the academy at NCAA Division I – Division III programmes. Jonty Bilderbeck (California State University Northridge) and Dominic Wooldridge (University of Albany, New York) will soon join the group of Kiwi – Olé F.A. ambassadors having signed National Letters of Intent (NLI’s) to their respective schools.
If you are interested in learning more about U.S. University scholarship opportunities through Olé F.A. please fill out an interested player form here.
