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FOLLOW MY BOY, KASPER! [Gulf Weekly (Bahrain)](Gulf Weekly (Bahrain) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel recently launched the VIVA Bahrain Manchester United Soccer Schools programme in Bahrain hoping to spot and develop a future star of the game. It will take years of development, a touch of good fortune and dogged determination to make the grade and no-one understands the journey better than a man who has not only made it to the top of his profession but has also witnessed first-hand the struggles and successes of his child. At 27, Kasper Schmeichel, described by footballing scribes as the 'boss of his box', is a spitting image of his father in both stature and appearance. Kasper has blossomed into one of the most wanted goalkeepers and will be plying his trade in the English Premiership or the Italian Serie A next season. In an exclusive interview with GulfWeekly in a backroom of the Kempinski hotel before the launch of the latest star search by the telecom giant at Bahrain City Centre, he wanted to make it clear that he had not pressurised his son into following in his footballing footsteps. "I didn't encourage Kasper to be a goalkeeper. That was his own doing and I think he has done really well by that," he said. While Peter can't deny he casts a tall shadow, he was also quick to dispel assertions that his son had trouble living with a constant reminder of his dad's achievements. He said: "Thankfully, that didn't happen to us, in fact, we have grown closer and closer. "He's had advice from others as well as me, but he has made all his own decisions and I think that is the only way. I am very proud of him. "Yes, Kasper has followed my career, looked at what I did and how I was training for years and years with Manchester United. But everything he has done, he has done it by himself. He is his own man, "I believe that everything has to come from within, added to natural talent … and with Kasper, it does." Kasper, joined under-achieving Leicester City who were languishing in the Championship, the second tier of English football, in 2011. Already this season the East Midlands club has secured promotion to the lucrative English Premiership and, although insisting that he is happy with the Foxes, the club is still waiting for a decision on his future as his contract is set to expire this summer. City have had their fair share of goalkeeping legends over the years, including England World Cup winner Gordon Banks and the man who holds the record for the largest number of England appearances, Peter Shilton. Rob Tanner, football correspondent for the Leicester Mercury Media Group, said: "Kasper has been a phenomenal success since arriving at Leicester City. His departure from Leeds United was bizarre with then Leeds boss Simon Grayson saying publicly he didn't think Kasper was good enough. However, since Kasper arrived his performances have been excellent and his reputation has grown enormously. "In his first season he kept 17 clean sheets and was named the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year. Last season his performances were of an equally high standard, earning him his first full Denmark cap, and this season he has played a vital part in City's promotion push. City have kept 14 clean sheets so far as they clinched promotion to the Premier League. "While he hasn't been mentioned in the same breath as Banks and Shilton yet, and would have a way to go to qualify for such a privilege, he is very popular with supporters and they would love to see him stay with City. "His contract is up this summer and there has been lots of speculation over his future, with his agent saying they are flattered by links with AC Milan and Manchester United. However, if he stays with City and performs just as well in the Premier League for a sustained period of time, perhaps City fans will then start to think about putting him in the same bracket as Shilton and Banks." Schmeichel Senior can certainly be mentioned in the same breath. He was regarded as the world's greatest goalkeeper in 1992 and 1993 and also once ranked as one of the top 10 keepers of the 20th Century. He now enjoys helping to nurture talent in a role as an ambassador of current English champions Manchester United, where he picked up numerous footballing trophies and accolades. The joint VIVA Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS) programme aims to find talented youngsters in the kingdom and give them the chance to hone their skills. According to Peter it is one step on the road to success as it can take time to spot a future star and there is no guarantee of a top playing career without continuing to put in the hard work. The annual football scouting programme, which is now in its fourth season, will offer boys and girls from different clubs on the island, aged 13-15, the opportunity of a life-time … to win a week-long session at Manchester United's Carrington Training HQ. This year, the VIVA MUSS programme is being supported by the Bahrain Football Association to reach out to aspiring players through an inter-club tournament being held on April 25-26. Coaches from MUSS will be flown in from the UK to help evaluate the teens and pick 22 who will earn the chance to play the United way. The format of the programme will ensure that every child will get an equal opportunity to showcase their skills and they will be evaluated on various parameters including physical and technical attributes and individual skills. The tournament will also offer accolades for the player judged best overall, the top striker, the finest goalkeeper and the top three clubs. The 22 finalists will win a week of training, running from June 15 to 21, in the UK, using state-of-the art equipment and undergoing the same routines as the club's professional footballers, as well as receiving training sessions at Carrington where the Manchester United first team gather. Peter said: "While we want to see the best, we also want to inspire. We have this relationship with a lot of our partners around the globe and the relationship we have with VIVA works really well. "If we can produce players from this country that can improve the team then that's a bonus. If we can inspire people to carry on enjoying football then that's a bonus too. If we can find the next Manchester United star, well then, that would be absolutely fantastic. We are very proud to be a part of the process." Schmeichel had a simple message for the children lucky enough to be chosen in the coming months. He said: "Open your eyes and enjoy it - whatever you see. Be inspired, come back and work hard." Many of last year's finalists have done exactly that with five being plucked to join the ranks of the Bahrain national team squads upon their return. For example, Al Noor School student Hanan Al Yusuf, 15, from Manama, said: "I learned so much from the Manchester United coaches. "I have always been a defender, but I didn't have any proper training before it. I used to practice on my own. Being in Carrington I learned how to dribble better, move better and simply become a better player. "I also learned how to be more responsible. When I came back to Bahrain I was motivated and I began to play for a club in Saar and I was also asked to join the Under-16 Bahrain nationals. "I am so happy to have experienced all this and have great coaches showing me the way forward. "I would love to become a professional footballer and a great defender just like Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic." For more information on VIVA MUSS 2014 programme, visit www.viva.com.bh (c) 2014 Al Hilal Publishing & Marketing Group Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |