Feyenoord Coaching Clinic in Latvia
Team Challenger FC from Cleveland, USA visited the Feyenoord Academy during the last week of March. It was the first visit to a European youth academy for this American team. Challenger coach Oliver Condell had visited the Feyenoord Academy several times over the past few years. ‘The Feyenoord Academy staff has interesting thoughts about player development and training methods’, said Condell. ‘The knowledge and expertise they have is of a world-class level. This is why the Feyenoord Academy is one of the most important sources for our team to develop our players and coaching staff.’
The Feyenoord Coaching Clinic at the LFF was officially opened bij His Excellency Henk van den Dool, the Dutch Ambassador in Latvia, who expressed his delight with the Dutch-Latvia cooperation. The clinic consisted of a classroom session as well as a practical session on the pitch of the Rigan Olympic Complex, where the LFF has its headquarters. Amongst the coaches that visited the coaching clinic were two former players with a special tie to Feyenoord and its head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst: Vladimir Osimpovs and Igors Stepanovs. The latter played together with Van Bronckhorst at Arsenal, while Osimpovs (currently head coach of Metalurgs Liepaja) faced Feyenoord during the UEFA Europa Cup for Cupwinners Tournament in september 1995, when he was playing for DAG Liepaja.