Benfica Soccer School DC

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience with any of their programs - girls or boys? Has anyone seen their travel teams play in any local tournaments or leagues? Just wondering about the quality of training, locations, and level of competition. Honestly seems like a money grab.

[Anonymous]

any brand name foreign club setting up programs in the US is a money grab. If this were a 3rd world country, they would not be here.

[Anonymous]

money grab does not necessarily mean poor quality. Why the instant contempt for brand name foreign clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:any brand name foreign club setting up programs in the US is a money grab. If this were a 3rd world country, they would not be here.

+1

There's nil evidence to support the idea these clubs are creating farm systems to feed their academies with American players. The programs here are usually partnerships with American business people and done solely to spread the brand and inflate the bottom line.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see where these foreign clubs are claiming to be farm systems, or promising any path toward recruiting from US to their home academies. Is that what people actually think? For example, Benfica pitches “train and play with world class coaches”, “high performing training clinics”. In other words quality training by well trained coaches which many are willing to pay for. What is wrong with that? Where does the farm system into European academies claim come from? No different than my kids going to Redskins branded summer camps - nobody thinks it’s a path into the NFL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see where these foreign clubs are claiming to be farm systems, or promising any path toward recruiting from US to their home academies. Is that what people actually think? For example, Benfica pitches “train and play with world class coaches”, “high performing training clinics”. In other words quality training by well trained coaches which many are willing to pay for. What is wrong with that? Where does the farm system into European academies claim come from? No different than my kids going to Redskins branded summer camps - nobody thinks it’s a path into the NFL

What makes them better environments? The name? The colors? The badge? The third rate TD's with accents who couldn't cut it in the academy systems back home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What makes them better environments? The name? The colors? The badge? The third rate TD's with accents who couldn't cut it in the academy systems back home?

Who said they were better? I was just asking where the contempt comes from. Many of the foreign club programs do have good quality coaches and training environments. What's your beef with foreign clubs and accents? Do you think a global powerhouse club that cares about its brand is going to send reject coaches abroad to represent them? Of course they aren't academy level coaches because, well, once again, these are not part of their academy systems. But they can still be quality coaches and training. They are still well compensated coaches who do this as their full time jobs.

[Anonymous]

Seeing something for what it is should not be considered “contempt” but instead pragmatic. It’s not a bad thing that parents here can see these programs for what they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seeing something for what it is should not be considered “contempt” but instead pragmatic. It’s not a bad thing that parents here can see these programs for what they are.

You make it sound like there is some great fraud that you have exposed. These programs are exactly what the clubs advertise them to be. Only in your mind is there some claim of pathway to the home academies and professional teams, that parents need to "see for what they are". What are they that is different than what they advertise and claim to be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seeing something for what it is should not be considered “contempt” but instead pragmatic. It’s not a bad thing that parents here can see these programs for what they are.

You make it sound like there is some great fraud that you have exposed. These programs are exactly what the clubs advertise them to be. Only in your mind is there some claim of pathway to the home academies and professional teams, that parents need to "see for what they are". What are they that is different than what they advertise and claim to be?

How do you presume to know what’s in other peoples minds? Seems as though you own one of these business ventures.

[Anonymous]

The contempt comes from xenophobia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The contempt comes from xenophobia.

Lolz. Sorry your venture isn’t working out like you had hoped

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seeing something for what it is should not be considered “contempt” but instead pragmatic. It’s not a bad thing that parents here can see these programs for what they are.

You make it sound like there is some great fraud that you have exposed. These programs are exactly what the clubs advertise them to be. Only in your mind is there some claim of pathway to the home academies and professional teams, that parents need to "see for what they are". What are they that is different than what they advertise and claim to be?

How do you presume to know what’s in other peoples minds? Seems as though you own one of these business ventures.

Because it is the same crap from posters every time a European club sets up shop in the area. Everyone shouts money grab, fake, or any other reason to bash the clubs as if protecting the great sanctity of our local youth clubs.

If the training sucks, teh players don't go all of these clubs will fold like crappy restaurant.

You don't need to take your kid there, you don't need to protect anyone from going either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seeing something for what it is should not be considered “contempt” but instead pragmatic. It’s not a bad thing that parents here can see these programs for what they are.

You make it sound like there is some great fraud that you have exposed. These programs are exactly what the clubs advertise them to be. Only in your mind is there some claim of pathway to the home academies and professional teams, that parents need to "see for what they are". What are they that is different than what they advertise and claim to be?

How do you presume to know what’s in other peoples minds? Seems as though you own one of these business ventures.

Because it is the same crap from posters every time a European club sets up shop in the area. Everyone shouts money grab, fake, or any other reason to bash the clubs as if protecting the great sanctity of our local youth clubs.

If the training sucks, teh players don't go all of these clubs will fold like crappy restaurant.

You don't need to take your kid there, you don't need to protect anyone from going either

Perhaps people have experience with these organizations and have a different view than you. Are you the person who pumps these organizations whenever a related thread pops up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seeing something for what it is should not be considered “contempt” but instead pragmatic. It’s not a bad thing that parents here can see these programs for what they are.

You make it sound like there is some great fraud that you have exposed. These programs are exactly what the clubs advertise them to be. Only in your mind is there some claim of pathway to the home academies and professional teams, that parents need to "see for what they are". What are they that is different than what they advertise and claim to be?

I agree. This forum has a few posters that spew hate whenever these programs come up. People should evaluate for themselves. Some are great training. Some may not be, but there's no way they can judge from afar.