In it, boots and all | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

STRATFORD’S Sam Brailsford is looking forward to the New Year more than anybody after receiving a very special invitation from New Zealand Football (NZF).

Sam (14) is one of only a select bunch of soccer players from around the country chosen to participate in the 2010 NZF National Talent Centre (NTC) programme in Wellington in mid-January.

The programme has been set up to allow NZF to identify and recruit the most talented players in New Zealand, providing them with a development programme that lays the foundation for potential selection for the U17 team to represent New Zealand at the World Cup in 2011.

Sam’s selection comes as a result of playing extremely well for both the Taranaki and Central Federation representative teams in his age group. He won the joint Golden Boot trophy at the National Tournament and it was there that his ability was noticed by NZF talent scouts.

Sam will be joining 19 other 14 and 15 year old players from the Central Football and Capital Football federations for five days of intensive, residential training. He will hone the kind of technical, physical, mental and social skills he will need to participate in the sport at the highest level and he is relishing the challenge.