To see the boys meet Guus and Arsene...

 

Our four local representatives in the global trial featuring 100 players – Alon Blumgart, Tom Rogic, Thomas Doyle and Niko Matic – were treated to visits by Arsene Wenger and Guus Hiddinkk at their training base on the outskirts of London. 

And the previous night the trialist group were addressed  by Spurs’ 2010 World Cup final player Rafael Van Der Vaart from Holland and Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien.

Of the local contingent, Blumgart caught the eye on day one on Thursday while New Zealand youth international Doyle’s goal in the morning session shooting practice was memorable.

ACT playmaker Rogic pulled up with a strain in the afternoon but battled on while Mariners youth team keeper Matic said his knee – an injury he’d been carrying into the trials – had improved and he moved relatively freely.

Fresh off the training pitch after an exhausting first day in bone-chilling conditions our boys were exhausted but elated.

“I feel tired. It was a lot different to what I was expecting,” Blumgart told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“The 8v8 possession games with all these different languages and you can’t communicate. There were no set positions so it was a bit hard to show yourself and get the ball.

"And there’s limited time.”

Rogic also said it was a difficult day: “But we got through it in the end.

"The best thing was that we were training. It’d finally come after a long build up and staying in a hotel for a few days here.”

The ACT player was seen stretching his calf muscle at one point during the day.

“I guess I’m grateful it’s a short trial. I think I’ll be able to manage it and get through it for a couple of days," he conceded.

On Friday Matic will be tutored by Adam  Federici’s goalkeeper coach on the last day for selection of the final 32 players.

Those winning players will then play 11 v 11 games on Saturday at MK Dons home ground before the final eight are announced.

Paul Hart, formerly of Leeds United, took the possession sessions on Thursday. And Van der Vaart – a World Cup final player last year with the Oranje – had some wise words for our boys.

“Like he said, there’s a lot of luck involved i in making it,” recalled Blumgart. “Which is very true – if you’re in the right place at the right time. Like in these trials if you get the ball and do something special.”

The prize on offer is eight full-time contracts at Nike’s Academy in London, where the winners will have access to a professional training environment with high quality facilities and coaching.

The Barclays Premier League supports the Nike Academy and they benchmark their high performance program with games against BPL reserve teams and other academy sides.

The Chance is a global search for elite amateur players around the world giving them an opportunity to showcase their talent and offer insight into the mindset and physical demands of the professional game.

On Friday, the field will be narrowed to 32, while eight players will emerge from The Chance Trial Week to join the Nike Academy full time.

It’s a massive opportunity for an unknown player to get their first break and be seen in the shop window

This morning, over 80 media representatives from around 40 countries descended on Barnet FC’s training complex “The Hive” for the first session.

It followed an impressive opening presentation at Sopwell House featuring Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on video discussing Nike’s Chance trials.

“Doors are always open for fresh talent,” the Arsenal manager said. “Seize your chance; you never know who will be watching.”

Ninety nine players were on show this morning (one less than the planned 100 with one Russian player unable to join the group due to visa problems).

Blumgart added: “I’ve learnt that trials are harsh. There are 100 players here. I don’t know how they’re going to pick the final 32. Everyone else is in the same boat.”

To see the boys meet Guus and Arsene...