Brisbane Roar is pleased to confirm the successful partnership between the BRFC Academy and the Queensland Schools Premier League (SPL) will continue into 2022.
The SPL is a school-based football competition comprising more than a dozen schools that meet a set minimum criterion with football as part of their curriculum.
Since aligning with the BRFC Academy in 2020, young footballers involved with SPL schools have benefited from exposure to top level coaching and tangible pathways into the professional game.
BRFC Academy Technical Director David Abela recently spoke at the SPL’s Professional Development Day as coaches from all SPL schools came together to share their skills, insights and knowledge.
“The partnership is really important to us,” Abela said.
“We’ve identified the fact that it’s an avenue for us to obtain players, but we also know the schools will look after the players – their welfare, their workload.
“We would like 20% of our senior squad to be Queensland academy players. That’s just a target for us – we want more than that. The Club wants to promote Queensland players into the A-League.
“We’ve done that already, we’re well ahead of target.”
Jason Tobin, Football Director at Kelvin Grove State College, added: “We’re lucky enough that we’re getting a lot of Roar Academy kids coming through the SPL schools.
“The fact that we’re able to supplement what happens at the Roar Academy and vice versa is a great partnership for these kids.
“They get the best of both worlds.”
More information on the Schools Premier League can be found via the Brisbane Roar Academy website here: brisbaneroaracademy.com.au/programs/schools-premier-league
