Boomerangs Youth Men’s player (and regular F-League contributor) Ben Basser-Silk has been selected as one of 24 talented youth players from across the country to participate in the PS4 Player Pathway program. The following from the FFA website:
PlayStation 4 announced the 24 footballers today who will compete for their chance to win a 2-week trial with Sydney FC’s Youth League team and the opportunity to fast-track their football aspirations.
The opportunity comes as part of the PS4 Player Pathway Award, a new initiative involving a year-long search to find the most talented young footballer in the country from Australia’s PlayStation 4 NPL competitions.
PlayStation 4, in conjunction Football Federation Australia (FFA), recognised the need to provide a further avenue for young footballers to have their talent recognised and as such in 2016 launched the PS4 Player Pathway Award.
Throughout the PS4 NPL 2016 Season, coaches from every club around the country were asked to vote on who they believed to be the top three footballers in their respective Member Federation, in accordance with a set of predetermined criteria to ensure that those players selected are those that have not recently been recognised under the traditional pathway.
Under the selection criteria, the player must be aged between 16-20 years old and must not have been registered with a Hyundai A-League club or their associated National Youth Team in the 2015/2016 PS4 NPL season. Click here for full details on the criteria and process on how the 24 players were selected.
The PS4 Player Pathway Award Camp will be held from 26-28 September 2016 at Valentine Sports Park (Football NSW headquarters), beginning with a dinner on Monday 26 September before the players get down to business on Tuesday.
The 24 selected players will be put through their paces through a series of on-field and off-field testing, whilst under the watchful eye of one of the most decorated selection panels in Australian football. Keeping a watchful eye over all of the players, as well as selecting the ultimate winner, will be a judging panel comprised of:
– Former Socceroo and current Socceroos Assistant Coach – Ante Milicic
– Former Socceroo and Hyundai A-League coach, and PS4 NPL Ambassador – John Kosmina
– Sydney FC Youth League Head Coach – Rob Stanton
– Former Socceroo, Chief Analyst for The World Game on SBS and Chairman of the PFA – Craig Foster
At the conclusion of the camp the selection panel will utilize the “Six Key Competencies” set out by FFA’s Talent Identification Program: Mentality of a “WINNER”, Emotional “STABILITY”, PERSONALITY, Physical parameters “EXPLOSIVE”, DECISION MAKING and BODY & BALL CONTROL.
All coaches and scouts from each Hyundai A-League club will be invited to attend the PS4 Player Pathway Award Camp.”
Click here to learn more about the PlayStation 4 NPL initiatives.
We wish Ben well in this opportunity, knowing that his futsal skills have contributed significantly to the development of his football skills – building his ability in both sports.