NEW YORK (October 21, 2015) – The New York Cosmos ran their first-ever Academy identification center Tuesday night exclusively with their 19 Academy Affiliate Program members as a key step to develop the future of the team’s Academy.

“Starting an academy is a lengthy process and it takes time to get the right elements in place,” said New York Cosmos Head Coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese. “Just three months ago we launched our Academy Affiliate Program. After working closely with clubs in the surrounding area we are now in a position to identify young players who could potentially form part of the New York Cosmos Academy.”

In July, the Cosmos launched the Academy Affiliate Program that saw the club partner with 19 soccer clubs, giving young players, at all levels, the chance to grow in a sport they love. Each of these partner clubs have put forward two young players, for each age group, who they believe have the potential to become Academy players.

Carlo Acquista, Director of Coaching at Auburndale SC said: “We have a number of talented players at our club, but the two young players we chose not only had the potential on pitch, but they also have an understanding of the dedication and discipline it takes to become a professional soccer player.

“The partnership we have with the New York Cosmos has been working really well. We have access to their first team coaching staff and we are able to offer our kids a pathway which is important in any sport,” he added.

The age groups involved in this round of the identification center consist of the U-13, U-12 and U-11 age ranges. Each group was invited to attend a training session at the New York Cosmos training ground in Long Island. The young players experienced getting changed in the first team’s locker room and received coaching from Savarese and his backroom staff.

The club will run a number of other identification sessions with members of the Academy Affiliate Program over the coming months before deciding on which young players will form part of the Academy.