Source : ABC NEWS
Armed with a lifelong love of soccer and the Duolingo app, soccer coach William Loison goes to work each week aiming to train the next generation.
Originally from Paris, the 27-year-old coach must overcome multiple challenges to effectively communicate with a team of players from diverse backgrounds at the Shepparton Blasters Football Club in Victoria’s north.
French-speaking Mr Loison says he navigates his language barrier by sticking to a few English words he knows for coaching that he learnt through the Duolingo app.
”Football is a universal language,” he said.
“I focus on the essential words and limit the number of words I use while training.”
Players at the Shepparton Blasters club come from a range of backgrounds. (Supplied: Shepparton Blasters)
The coach came to Australia five months ago on a Work and Holiday Visa and chose Shepparton as he juggles a mix of farm work and soccer training.
”From Monday to Friday, I have farm work and soccer training sessions,” he said.
He works at a farm in Tallygaroopna, just north of Shepparton, and said the region’s diverse migrant community brought a wealth of soccer talent.
The next generation
Rian Sobin, 13, is captain of the Blasters’ Under 15 side and is hoping that he could one day play in the National Premier League.
He said Mr Loison is helping make a difference to the team’s performance.
Rian Sobin captains the Under 15 team at Shepparton Blasters. (ABC News: Delys Paul)
”The French coach is hard on us, but the harder the better. It makes us push to the limit,’ he said.
”After the French coach came, we are passing the ball a lot more and playing much better.
”We understand most of his language, and coaching is effective.”
Rian has high hopes for the Socceroos at the World Cup and thinks the Aussies could make it to the quarterfinals.
But said he was hoping to see the “GOAT” Cristiano Ronaldo lift the World Cup for the very first time for Portugal.
‘An essence of Australia’
The Goulburn Valley region has a history of producing first-class players.
Soccer clubs like the Goulburn Valley Suns have produced players such as Garang Kuol, who went on to become a national and international star.
Sports researcher at Monash University’s Intercultural Lab Tom Heenan said Australia’s soccer scene evolved around migration.
”Soccer is a sport that reflects contemporary Australia,” Dr Heenan said.
”And you will see with this [Socceroos] team four or five players of African descent and that reflects migration from that part of the world especially from the Horn of Africa.
”Soccer really does capture an essence of Australia.”
Shepparton Blasters soccer players warming up. (Supplied: Shepparton Blasters)
Support at a grassroots level
Mr Loison has experience in soccer coaching roles across youth levels in Paris, but said the game was quite different here.
”Football is not the same in France,” he said.
“In France, training starts at the age of four or five. But, here many join very late for training.”
William Loison uses Duolingo to learn English and communicate with players. (ABC News: Delys Paul)
Mr Loison believes Shepparton has a lot to offer, but said to make it to an elite level players would need to work hard and the region would need more coaches.
”Shepparton has got quality players but needs more qualified soccer coaches,” he said.
”Football is a passion. I am here to push the players to a higher level.
“When you are on the pitch, you have to give more than 100 per cent.”
This is a sentiment shared by some of the club’s parents.
Christian Steri is the parent of two soccer-playing kids in Shepparton. (ABC News: Delys Paul)
Parents such as Christian Steri, who migrated from Milan to Australia 20 years ago, said he could relate to the tough soccer training offered by the French coach.
”Mr Loison’s coaching is producing results,” he said.
”The toughness may come across as harsh. But ultimately, you want the best for the kids.
“They will succeed. I think it is part of us coming from Europe and growing up with football every day.”
William Loison says there is a lot of football talent in Shepparton. (Supplied: Shepparton Blasters)
Mr Steri said Australia was at a stage where it needed more skilled coaching.
Former Socceroo and commentator Archie Thomson said Australia needed to create more pathways for young players at the grassroots level.
”We need more passionate people for the game at grassroots level where it counts,” he said.
“That is where there is a bit of a disconnect, between grassroots and elite football.
“Sport is hard at a professional level … we’ve got to have the right foundations. It is definitely the paths and the grassroots that we need to work on.”
