news305

Silver Spring, MD – For the second consecutive year, Real Maryland was able to send youth players to Spain to live and train in the Real Sporting de Gijón Youth Academy between August 9th and August 15th. The players chosen for this opportunity came from Real Maryland’s various Super Y League teams.

Last season, Real Maryland FC announced that it had formed a partnership with Real Sporting de Gijón, who plays in La Liga, Primera Division of Spain. The Spanish club was established June 1, 1905 in Gijón, Asturias. Known as the “Rojiblancos” due to their red and white striped jerseys, Real Sporting de Gijón plays their home matches at El Molinon Stadium.

The partnership focused on multiple aspects of player and club development. One of the highlights of the partnerships was the opportunity for Real Maryland’s youth players to participate in the Real Sporting Gijón Summer Academy, which attracts players from all across Europe who hope to start a professional soccer career. At the Monarch’s discretion, the club is able to send over youth players from its Super Y League Programs. The spots at the academy included tuition, room and board.

This year Real Maryland was able to send six players from their various Super Y League Teams to the Real Sporting Gijón Summer Academy. The six players -- Jonathan Baginski, Donaue Sauer, and Gedion Zelalem from the Under 14 team, Charlie Burleu and Jacob Garcia from the Under 16 team, and Henry Lopez from the Under 17 team – were chosen to be the best representatives of Real Maryland FC both on and off the field.

Gedion Zelalem is a former Real Maryland FC SYL player who played under Coach Matt Pilkington in 2009, but was selected based on his performance in this year’s Real Maryland FC Community Soccer Fest. At the Community Soccer Fest that featured Mid-Atlantic Professional Teams, College Teams and Elite Youth Teams a scout from Real Sporting Gijon who travelled over for the event noticed Gideon.

Another Standout player was Henry Lopez who was recently called up to the Guatemalan U20 National Team. Henry joined the Monarchs in 2009 and has led the U17's to a second consecutive appearance in the United Soccer League’s National Finals held in November of 2010.

Last year, three Real Maryland youth players, Carlos Canas, Sean Cowdrey and Jony Karahbetyan were able to participate in the academy. In what they described as “an experience they would never forget,” the players able to utilize Real Sporting de Gijón ’s world class facilities and to learn from players and coaches from Spain and other parts of Europe.

Real Maryland is looking forward to further strengthening their partnership with Real Sporting de Gijón, and hopes to send more players to Spain again in 2011.

For more information on Real Maryland FC or its Future Monarch Programs, please visit realmaryland.us.