Canadian Dynasty of Int'l Proportions

by Nicholas Spiller
August 20, 2014
Winstars Soccer Academy

Most youth soccer players share a common goal as they grow into their late teenage years: They want an opportunity to keep playing the sport in college and beyond! While numerous soccer teams and programs are aimed at helping players achieve those dreams, few organizations consistently get their players to live that goal. 

Hardly any places in Canada develop players as well as the Winstars Soccer Academy, which has successfully placed over 300 players into colleges across Canada and the U.S. There, they have been able to learn the game and receive a great education as well.

The Winstars Soccer Academy is led by the brilliant soccer mind of Bobby Graham, who has over 30 years of coaching experience in the sport. The focus of his program is geared toward helping players learn the technical skills required to play soccer at the highest level. While most teams focus on athleticism and running, Winstars understands the importance of working well on the ball and as a team. 

The Academy also harnesses a relatively hands-off approach to gameplay. Bringing in the right group of players is key, and with this mindset players are given freedom to play and have the trust of coaches to best utilize their skills.

Additionally, Winstars Soccer Academy benefits from being the most successful and proven club in Ontario for several decades. Coaches across North America are familiar with the team and these relationships are very beneficial to aiding young players in the recruitment process for college teams. The team takes part in many travel excursions for prestigious tournaments or to various colleges. A current tour in August 2014 will see the squad visit universities like Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and James Madison University. 

The Winstars has been the most successful Canadian Club program ever to compete at the prestigious Dallas Cup. Bobby Graham teams have competed in the Super Group for many years, playing against the likes of AC Milan, Boca Juniors, Tottenham Hotspurs, Moscow Dynamo, Benfica and International of Brazil as well as the best the USA had to offer, Dallas Texans, Chicago Magic, etc.

Additionally, numerous college scouts and coaches love to attend tournaments like the 10th annual Collegiate Boys Showcase, set to be held this December. Such exposure gives players every opportunity to catch the eye of a specific college coach or recruiter. But at its core, the reason such chances come about is due to the competitiveness and quality of the Winstars Soccer Academy, which prepares players for college and professional soccer like no other club in Canada. 

While hundreds of players have earned placements to various colleges, some have even been able to play soccer professionally! One such player is Dejan Jakovic, who not only featured for UAB, but also went on to star as a defender for D.C. United and currently plays abroad in the J-League. Dejan was one of 20 players from Bobby Graham teams that went on to play for Head Coach Mike Getman at UAB, and they have been a top 25 NCAA Division 1 program for many years.    

As stated by Barry Gorman, former Penn State head coach and technical director of FC Dallas, “Without question, I would recommend the Winstars Soccer Academy to any serious student-athletes and their parents as a worthwhile, positive/life changing investment.”

Winstars Soccer Academy isn’t just another soccer club to play during your teenage years; it is a vessel to propel your future as a soccer player! Available to boys aged 12-18, this is Canada’s finest youth soccer program and gets players opportunities to continue the sport in college year after year!

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