Source: Girondins.com
The Girondins de Bordeaux are preparing to take their first steps on American soil in the form of a new partnership with Washington DC-based club Olney Girls 99. As part of our ongoing international development, FC Girondins de Bordeaux and American club Olney Girls 99 are joining forces to create Girondins de Bordeaux USA.
Olney Girls is a girls’ club with three teams in the U13, U15 and U19 age groups. Founded in 2009 by Nenad Vilotijevic, the club now has 60 players and three coaches: Nenad Vilotijevic (head coach), Ivan Stevanovic (goalkeeping coach) and Lauren Carson (physical conditioning coach).
Nisa Saveljic joined Olney Girls earlier this year as CEO. The central defender and former Montenegro international, not to mention Ligue 1 champion with the Girondins in 1999, masterminded this new partnership.
Olney Girls 99 is based in US capital Washington DC. The teams train and play their home games at the Maryland Soccerplex, one of the country’s finest footballing complexes with 24 pitches and cutting-edge training facilities.
The teams which will now fly the flag for the Girondins de Bordeaux all compete in the Eastern Regional League, with Olney finishing 3rd in last year’s championship.
In addition to their league commitments, Olney Girls 99 take part in some of America’s most prestigious football tournaments: the Disney Girls Soccer Showcase, WAGS, Jefferson Cup, National Elite Women’s Showcase, etc.
Soccer is booming in the USA, with 15 million registered young players and 5 billion dollars invested every year in youth football. This is a thriving market, and a great opportunity for the Girondins de Bordeaux.
The expertise of the American coaches, their ability to take on teams of competitive girls and turn them into accomplished young players, and the support of FCGB should help Olney Girls 99 to take their game to the next level, under the Girondins USA banner.
With this goal in mind, the Girondins de Bordeaux USA will focus on introducing and expanding new programmes:
- Increasing the number of teams to 6-8 in time for next season
- Developing a boys’ team
- Coaching seminar: a coaching session for local coaches
- A training camp in the USA in summer 2018.
Nisa Saveljic is counting on some of his former team-mates to drop by and lend a hand, with familiar faces such as Jean-Pierre Papin, Marc Planus, Lilian Laslandes and many more.
This partnership will help the Girondins de Bordeaux to establish a permanent presence in the USA, giving young players from our Academy who do not turn professional in Europe the chance to apply for university sports programmes in the US, allowing us to spot new talent stateside, and helping to develop the Girondins brand in the huge American market.
Nisa Saveljic (CEO): “I would like to thank club president Stéphane Martin and the Girondins de Bordeaux for trusting us to develop the Girondins in the USA. I hope that this will be the start of a long and fruitful partnership. It’s already a great source of pride for me personally.”
Stéphane Martin : « This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for us, as we look to develop women’s football and boost our international standing. The fact that the project came to us through Nino Saveljic, who is a Girondin through and through, just makes us even more excited about this new adventure. Go Girondins USA ! »
For all the latest news on Girondins USA:
Website: http://olneygirls99.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlneyGirls99/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/olneygirls99/
Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAzbocqWdfMKm7PQuBRy5Ng
