May 29, 2014 League 1 Ontario--Introducing ANB Futbol (from League 1 Ontario website)

  
Introducing ANB Futbol
. Thu May 29 
Written By: Hylton, Kamal  

ANB Futbol is an academy that was first conceptualized by director Bassam Naim in 2005, 
before officially coming to fruition in 2007.

Calling King City, Ontario their home turf, the academy and its newly formed League1 
Ontario club will both train and play matches out of the region's Country Day Private 
School sporting facility. 

Mainly focused on long-term player development, the academy has teams ranging from U8 
to U21. The U23 team that will play in League1 is young, both in terms of existence and 
the average age of the players. With a narrow range between 18-22 years old, 75 per cent 
of the team is also comprised of players from York Region.

For Naim, the goal of ANB academy has always been to establish an organized structure 
of youth soccer development. Using knowledge acquired from travel in various European 
countries, he has combined foreign techniques with years of coaching experience in Canada 
to form a made-in-Canada concept, albeit informed by proven standards of excellence 
from abroad.

"The idea behind ANB academy was initially based on looking at seven different European 
nations in particular [Netherlands, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, France and Germany], 
and especially how player development was approached in those countries," said Naim. 
"Putting together a systematic approach that develops young Canadian players in stages, 
and in doing so building a better footballer over time, was paramount."

Naim was later joined by ANB's General Manager Marcelo Almeida, the two drawing 
on a shared vision, and a friendship of over 25 years.

"The concept of ANB Academy was started by Bassam around at the same time that he, along 
with other influential coaches, joined together to form the Soccer Academy Alliance Canada 
(SAAC)," said Almeida. "I started working with him in 2007 after coming back to Canada 
from overseas, and in 2011 I was contracted full-time."

When it comes to philosophy and playing style, both Naim and Almeida agree that while 
there is a mixture of systems that ANB works with, one stands out above the rest. 

"The majority of the club's influence comes from the French system," said Naim. "Being 
of French heritage, and being educated in France on player development, it comes naturally 
to me. Also, France is the number one country at developing players with a systematic approach."

Naim points to an education and understanding developed from working with coaches from 
all over Europe, forming relationships with experts that are known to cultivate talent 
gradually. However, at ANB the main focus is an end goal of producing Canadian talent 
within a Canadian construct.

"The contacts and relationships ANB has are mainly with French youth coaches [from clubs 
like Paris Saint-Germain, Nice and Evian]," said Almeida. "But we do all of this with 
a Canadian slant in mind, knowing that there are significant differences between Canada 
and European countries."

Both men state that League1 Ontario comes at a perfect time for ANB Academy, regarding 
the sem-professional, standards-based league as a necessary step for ANB players to graduate 
from youth to higher levels of the game.

"League1 is there to create an avenue for senior players, preparing them for professional 
soccer and, hopefully, the Canadian National Team," adds Almeida. "ANB is an academy first, 
looking primarily at player development and using League1 as something for the youngest 
to work towards."

ANB open their League1 Ontario campaign at the Ontario Soccer Centre on Sunday June 1 
at 1 p.m. vs. Woodbridge Strikers. 

The club's home opener is scheduled for June 7, 6 p.m. at Country Day School (CDS) 
vs. Windsor Stars.

back to League 1 Ontario 2014 menu

.

.