Melbourne Heart FC Head Coach John van ‘t Schip has set off for South America as he begins an extended scouting mission through the Latin continent.
Melbourne Heart FC Head Coach John van ‘t Schip has set off for South America as he begins an extended scouting mission through the Latin continent.
Buoyed by the success of his European scouting mission, van ‘t Schip is set to spend two weeks trawling though games in various countries to identify quality footballers and entice them to the Hyundai A-League.
Van ‘t Schip has already identified a series of potential targets for closer review, ensuring he is able to maximise his time in South America.
“We have a list of players we have already seen footage of on DVD so I am heading to see these players live in person,” he said.
“It will be a very full program and I will be looking for players in the positions we need. It-s not that I will be looking at every position on the pitch, only in the positions and the types of players I have in mind which will fit into our structure and philosophy.”
However, the former Ajax star admitted the search could yield unexpected results, saying he is open to the possibility of stumbling upon a player who displays the necessary quality and adaptability to suit the Australian game.
“Of course when I am there, I may see a player who gets my attention who wasn-t on the initial list and may be suitable, so I am hopeful it will be a good trip where we can hopefully find some players who can make us better,” he said.
Against the cosmopolitan flavour of South American society and its football, Van ‘t Schip is hoping to entice a Latin player to the Hyundai A-League to generate another layer of excitement to Melbourne Heart FC-s rapidly-growing squad.
“They have been brought up in a real football culture among friends and often grow up in poverty so they will learn their mentality and skills on the street and that makes them sometimes different than many players in Europe who have learned in a more structured way,” he said.
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