“It seems to us that part of the generation of players could be at risk due to the lack of competition, not allowing them to develop properly and, consequently, not becoming part of the first teams of each institution or the national teams. respective youth nationals ”. That is how crude the diagnosis made by the National Cadet Commission on Young Soccer is. The quote corresponds to a document recently sent to the clubs.
First was the social outbreak and now the Covid-19 pandemic. Both unexpected events interrupted the training process for hundreds of soccer players. From October 18 of last year to date only two games have played, since in March the Opening Tournament was suspended on the second day. To make matters worse, the severity of the health crisis forced the industry to close the current 2020 season.
“We are concerned that we can go a year or more without competing, which undoubtedly affects the development of our players and the future of training that both the clubs and our teams carry out,” adds the committee document.
One of its members, Ariel Paolorossi, technical chief of the Colo Colo cadets, maintains that the most affected categories of grassroots football will be the largest: “This will greatly affect the U20s and 17th, especially the laggards. that did not integrate the First class establishments. With the social outbreak and the pandemic, the thick core of these players has already lost a year. ”
Nelson Parraguez is also part of the committee. The UC formative football manager agrees that players born in 2000 are most at risk: “It is difficult to determine the series most affected. There are different variables, but for the Sub 20, closer to professional football, it is a situation of greater uncertainty as it is at the end of their training process ”.
O’Higgins’ young football boss, Fernando Vergara, exemplifies this: “The 2000 category is the one that will suffer the most. At the end of the year we made a decision: either we released them or we integrated them into the school of honor. Now more than ever it is a difficult decision, because we did not see them. If training continued with the outbreak, we are now experiencing a situation that is detrimental to physical development and football progress. ”
Alexander Aravena (17 years old) is one of the great promises of UC. The striker already has an Under 17 World Cup on and in January he made the preseason with Ariel Holan. However, since the Young Football tournament was suspended with only two days played, it has had little activity since the social outbreak: “This situation is not good for any player, since you stop training the way you are used to. I train in my house every day with my sister and my father, sometimes. Equal the mind plays, since with so much time without activity the relaxation begins and the intensities lower ”.
Luis Rojas (18), the jewel of the U youth academy, is already from the first team, so he trains with Caputto’s guidelines, but he is concerned: “This can greatly affect youth and cadets. Not everyone has the same conditions at home, some study or work. I have talked to friends and some are demotivating. The most encouraging thing is that they barely played two games and are going to complete a year off. It’s complicated”.
Daniel Díaz, father of Danilo (17), Colo Colo’s world cup midfielder, says that inactivity has his son worried. “He is impatient and anxious. I am a taxi driver and I haven’t had a job for two months, but with the prizes that Danilo won for going to the World Cup, he bought weights and exercise machines. He was able to train. Here we try to make your food as appropriate, we have had to adapt to your diet; but so long without playing it has him restless. Hopefully this does not affect your training. I don `t believe. It still has years to grow. Those on the cutting edge are those of category 2000 ”, he indicates.
Factors such as good nutrition and emotional well-being are monitored by the ANFP in those eligible, including women. “We do a nutritional and psychological monitoring. The players require comprehensive monitoring and these aspects are also very important, “says Andreas Fingerhuth, manager of youth teams.
The preparation of the selections was interrupted. “The Sub 20 should compete in January 2021, but it has only been able to carry out three microcycles. Also, her first international tour was canceled because of this. We had a complete schedule, including Esperanzas de Toulon, accompanying the National Team to Copa América, a tour to Mexico and matches with Uruguay and Brazil that we had to cancel. With Sub 17 and Sub 15 we were about to carry out the first microcycle of the year in Iquique, which would continue with another one in the south, and then start working on the preparation for their respective South American tournaments. As with the U20, we had to cancel many international matches, “added the executive.
Next year the World Cup will be played in Indonesia. “For our teams, playing international matches is the mainstay of preparation for the South Americans. Unlike what happens with Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay, for us the local tournament is only part of the preparation ”, Fingerhuth concludes.
“We can’t just throw these guys out. I would feel lousy, “says Vergara. For this reason, the idea of the National Cadet Commission is that in September the Sub 17 and Sub 20 categories of the clubs return to practices, if the health authority allows it.
“We want to return to the greats in October to play a transition tournament. I am hopeful that something can be done to save this generation, but lost time can no longer be recovered. The damage is done. Everyone else will have time to adjust, but those born in 2000 are going to take the brunt of it at the football level. They are in their last year and are beginning to consider their future, they are sniffing if they have the possibility of making the leap to the first team or if they have to study or work, “he adds.
“Something must be done to avoid losing this generation. Being objective, this will hinder growth. From Sub 16 onwards it is less problematic, a lost year will not affect as much, but the majors have less time. So we must be concerned about giving them the same possibilities, “says Paolorossi.
Another idea is that next year there will be the Sub 21 category, to give a new opportunity to those who missed this season. The ANFP analyzes alternatives.
“All young football has been affected. That is why the commission’s proposal seeks to progressively return to competencies, with a sense of reality and responsibility, in September and October. First the biggest ones (Sub 20 and Sub 17) and then the others. Everything coordinated with the medical commission ”, closes Diego Karmy, manager of development and new projects for Quilín.
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