Plainview, NY (February 18, 2010) - The Long Island
Rough Riders 
and Banchiero Sports Enterprises have
officially signed an agreement to work in partnership
with the National Association of Football Coaches of
Argentina (ATFA).
ATFA is the official entity responsible under AFA
(Argentine Football Association) for providing coaching
education to coaches from youth to professional
levels. All coaches under ATFA are certified by AFA and
FIFA. ATFA strives to disseminate the Argentine
methodology of football throughout the world and
educate those who will be the future teachers
of football techniques and methodology.
ATFA has produced world-cup winning coaches such
as Menotti, Bilardo, and Pekerman who have
educated and produced some of the world’s greatest
players from the Argentine youth system. Some of
these players include Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Man City), Juan Riquelme (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Sergio Aguero (Atletico de Madrid), Javier Mascherano(Liverpool) and Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan).
Victorio Cocco, President of ATFA, and Jose Mercier, Director of Education, stated, “It gives us great pleasure to have reached this agreement with the Long Island Rough Riders which will give us the opportunity to produce a series of events in the US focusing on training coaches and young players utilizing the Argentine methodology which is well-renowned in the world of football.”
The partnership will entail offering youth camps in the US taught by ATFA certified coaches. In addition, introductory coaching courses will be offered for coaches looking to enhance their current education with the Argentine methodology.
“We are very excited to have been able to establish this ground-breaking partnership with ATFA through BSE,” said Flavio Ferri Rough Riders Vice President and General Manager. “We see this as a great opportunity to educate coaches and young players with one of the best and proven soccer methodologies in the world today.”
The first coaching course will be the ATFA International Special Topics Diploma to be held in April 2010 and youth camps will be held in July and August of 2010.
About Banchiero Sports Enterprises
Banchiero Sports Enterprises (BSE) is an innovative soccer consulting company offering specialized services in the areas of coaching and business services. With an emphasis in the sport of soccer, BSE brings its clients valuable experience and established partnerships with amateur youth clubs, collegiate teams, professional clubs, amateur and professional leagues and associations from around the world.
About the Long Island Rough Riders
The Long Island Rough Riders have been part of the Long Island soccer scene since their inception in 1994. The Rough Riders men and women’s team won their first National Championship in 1995. The Rough Riders men’s team featured former US National Team members Chris Armas, Tony Meola, MLS All Star Giovanni Savarese and Jimmy Rooney along with US Olympic Team Member and current Rough Riders Coaching Director, John Diffley. Since their initial success, the Rough Riders men’s team has gone on to win the United Soccer League (USL) 2nd Division National Championship in 2002 and has sent numerous players to Major League Soccer (MLS).
In 2007, the Rough Riders acquired a W-League franchise. During the 2008 season, the Rough Riders women’s team qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals. Former Rough Riders women’s team member Sue Weber was drafted by the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) and currently plays for the Philadelphia Independence.
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