YPT Euroepean Tour Program

The team began their European experience when they departed Philadelphia International Airport for Munich, Germany on July 18th. 16 talented, confident players arrived on the morning of the 19th and boarded a bus for Holland where,
over 4 days, they would train and play 2 friendlies in preparation for their match against FC Bayern Munich which would happen a week later.

In Holland, the team stayed at Rolduc , in Kerkrade, Holland, a monastery which is over 900 years old.

FRIDAY JULY 20th

The team spent the morning of their first full day in Europe visiting Roda JC of the Dutch first division, which is also in Kerkrade. The team was the guest of Rene Trost, a former 16 year professional at the club and now assistant to the first team. The YPT team was invited to observe the first team training session, at the clubs training complex, as they prepared for Saturdays match. The YPT players were impressed as they watched the professional players scrimmage and then work on a crossing and finishing exercise.

Following the session, YPT met the players for autographs and pictures. The main focus of the players was Arouna Kone, from the Ivory Coast, a very fast forward being linked with Manchester United and AC Milan. You heard it hear first.

From there, the players drove 10 minutes to Roda's new stadium where Rene took them out onto the field to take the closest of looks at the pitch of first division European stadium. The players had never seen a field so green or perfect. Rene then took the group into the first team's locker room which was a unique experience in itself for it is quite unusual to see the one area in a stadium that is off limits to anyone except players and coaches , especially in season. It was a
very close, first hand, look at a professional stadium that most people never get to experience. There are lifelong fans of Roda who live within view of the stadium that have never seen it the way the YPT players did.

Following lunch in Kerkrade the YPT players were off to Maastricht, about 40 minutes away for their first friendly match against MVV Scharn, an amateur club that plays in the highest youth level in Holland.

The Americans level of excitement was raised when they walked onto the field that had just been cut and in perfect condition. The Dutch team worked the Americans hard, beating them 2-0 but at the same time giving them valuable
lessons that would help them later in the tour. For the players, there was no doubt that they could play at this level.

SATURDAY, JULY 21st

YPT was on the team bus early Saturday heading 2 hours west to neighboring Belgium where they would play their second match in as many days. Today's match would be against Germinal-Berschot Antwerp, located in Belgium's capital. GBA is one of the best clubs in Belgium's first division. The club has close ties to Ajax of Amsterdam and GBA youth department has sent 7 players to the Dutch giant over the last 2 years.

Although perhaps a bit fatigued from the match the night before, YPT would find themselves a little better prepared today for their second match on European soil.

GBA was better tactically and technically than MVV Scharn and their combination play kept the Americans running through most of the first half. GBA's 6 foot number 10, arguably the games best player, dominated the midfield doing whatever he wanted. By halftime the score was 0-1 but as with the first game in Holland, the Americans knew they could not only play with the future professionals, but beat them.

With specific instructions from YPT director John Fisher the team entered the second half on a mission. The first step was eliminating GBA's best player which was done with near perfection by Brandon Chick (PA-FC Delco) who never left number 10's back and disrupted his every attempt to control the ball. With GBA's playmaker all but out of the match, YPT found themselves with more possession of the ball and in GBA's half more often.

The game ended 2-2. A definite step in the right direction.

Following lunch at GBA, the team headed back to Holland to see their first professional match. PSV Eindhoven, one of Holland's top clubs, was playing their season opener at home against AZ and the YPT players were
there to see US National team player Damarcus Beasley make his debut into European professional soccer for PSV.

SUNDAY, JULY 22nd

Today it was 2 hours north to the home of Ajax the Amsterdam ArenA to see their season opener against NAC. Only a few years old, the ArenA is one of the worlds most impressive soccer stadiums, especially when it is sold out, as it was today. The atmosphere was incredible and the fans would see six goals scored by the time it was all over including a
contender for goal of the year - an absolutely unbelievable goal scored by Ajax's Zlatan Ibrahimovic in which he took on 6 players inside NAC's box before slotting the ball under the keeper. It was a goal that Ajax fans , and the YPT players, will be talking about for a LONG time.

The tickets for the group came by way Ajax striker Yannis Annistasiou. YPT director John Fisher had met Yannis when he played for his former club, Roda JC. When tickets for the group were difficult to get due to it being Ajax's home opener, a call was made to Yannis and tickets were made available for the group. The YPT players were fortunate to meet Yannis after the match for autographs and pictures. Meeting Yannis made the groups Ajax experience quite unique.

After the match, the group headed back to Kerkrade via Antwerp, Belgium, where they were guests for dinner at GBA's stadium complex. Dinner was arranged by Frank van Doninck, father of Philippe van Doninck. Philppe, a youth professional at GBA attended YPT's Residence Program in the United States earlier in the summer.

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