A
Set small text size
A
Set default text size
A
Set large text size
Rostrevor College, located in the leafy Adelaide suburb of Woodforde, may not be well known outside of South Australia.
The college is a Catholic primary, secondary and boarding school for boys which will celebrate in 2023 – 100 years since its establishment.
Parents of the school‘s students can pay anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000 a year, depending on grade level – all for the privilege of sending their son to this great institution,
While its alumni include a group of AFL players, some notable football players have graduated.
Socceroos greats John and Ross Aloisi have worn the reds and blacks, as have League A players like Bruce Kamau, Paul Izzo and Daniel Mullen.
In response to a seismic shift in interest in school football, Rostrevor College announced in late 2021 that it would offer a specialist football program as part of its physical education curriculum.
Former student, Socceroo, Adelaide United and current Campbelltown City player, Daniel Mullen is spearheading the new scheme.
Mullen will work closely with the school’s director of football, Terry Frangakis – who has experience as the SA NPL’s technical director, with a focus on performance analysis via the latest technology in soccer.
Frangakis is also the coach of Rostrevor, which is Adelaide’s most successful school of football, having won nine championships in the Adelaide Schools Competition (SAAS) – he coached the team to state titles and division in recent years.
Rostrevor looks set to continue being the leader in South Australian schools football, having agreed a partnership with English Premier League giants Manchester City – which begins in 2023.
The college assured that it would be run as a school rather than an academy, in the sense of not keeping and trying to produce players only for one of several clubs under the City Financial Group banner.
A Manchester City manager will join the school permanently in 2023 and it will be the giant’s third Australian college they are now aligned with – following St Laurence’s College in Brisbane and Parade College in Melbourne.
In a statement, Manchester City said it was “delighted to share” its sporting expertise with Australia’s juniors, and that helping the students’ “personal development” was also a key aspect of the scheme.
“Working together, our program will deliver a world-class football education specifically designed for students,” said Jorgina Busquets, Director of Education for City Football Group.
The tailor-made program will include:
* Personal development of players
*All aspects of sport as a player, referee, coach or administrator
* Integrate tactics, philosophy and sportsmanship.
* Inspire students to perform at their best, on and off the field
Rostrevor College currently have Adelaide United youth team players in Adam Leombruno and Fabian Talladira on their books as well as former student Noah McNamara.
Recent graduate Matthew Maio won the 2021 Golden Boot award and was named to the SAAS Team of the Year along with teammates Aiden Schirripa and Dion Meggetto.
While Lahlan Fusco, Alessio Ruggiero, Elian Pirone and a host of other students have progressed with their SA NPL clubs.
This partnership may seem innocuous on paper, Rostrevor College will join a large number of international schools that the City Financial Group now has a link with a group that has faced charges accused of sports washing and breach of the rules of fair -financial play.
Group A League side Melbourne City have in recent years raided Adelaide for several players, coaches and administrative staff.
This link could add more bad blood between the two A-League teams, especially with City now able to take a closer look at the generational talent currently traversing South Australia.
The City Financial Group’s quest for global dominance is set to continue, after firmly planting its flag in a third Australian city
