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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 25, 2013 | 30 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports "Connected to your Community" Getting Stoked Oakville eight-year-old inks contract with Premier League club's academy by Ryan Glassman Special To The Beaver hen Jeevan Chang-Sang gets control of a soccer ball, good luck trying to take it away from him. The eight-year-old, who has been attending the RVDL (Robin van der Laan) Soccer Academy in Oakville since it first opened in 2009, is as dedicated a player to the sport as you'll find. And if there's an area of his game he feels he needs to improve, you can be sure he won't stop until he makes it a strength. "There was a time about a year and a half ago where he actually had the weakest shot E.J. James elementary school student Jeevan Chang-Sang, a member of the Robin van der Laan Soccer Academy, recently signed a contract with England professional soccer in the academy," his father Andrew said. club Stoke City's under-9 academy .| photo by Riziero Vertolli -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog "When he was told on his progress report that he had to work on his shot, he would literally go by himself in the backyard and take the RVDL Academy, says there is one word and immediately began showing the five away is because they didn't want anyone else 200 to 300 shots a day. that often comes to his mind when watching coaches in attendance his vast repertoire. to have him." "I asked him one day, `Why do you do this? Chang-Sang on the pitch. "It's great to see how advanced he was Despite the contract offer, Chang-Sang What is it that you want out of this?' He said "Amazement," said Scholz, who co-found- compared to the players at Stoke in regards to remained anxious to get to both Bolton to me two things: He wants to be the best ed the Academy with van der Laan four years checking shoulders, being on your toes and and Wolverhampton and show each team's player in the world and he understands that ago. "He's quite a small player and that fact asking for the ball," said van der Laan, a for- coaches what he can do. comes with a lot of hard work. He also said really stands out because he's actually play- mer Derby County Captain who helped lead "The boy is so determined, he wanted to he wants to help take Canada to the World ing two years up. Physically, most of the his club to promotion to the Premier League get an offer from every club," van der Laan Cup because in his lifetime, they've never players are bigger than him but his tenacity, in 1995-96. "He demonstrated his best quali- said. been to the World Cup." determination and skill overcome that physi- ties which are his speed, dribbling, taking During the trip, Chang-Sang visited both It's not only his talent, but his drive and cal difference and he's able to dazzle when players one-on-one and leaving 'em for dead teams' facilities. At Bolton, he went up desire to compete that allows Jeevan to be he's on the field." basically. He made a fantastic impression." against the club's current academy players successful in the Soccer AcadAll those attributes were After the session, the U9 academy head in his age group and from a speed perspecemy Alliance Canada (SAAC) the reason Chang-Sang was coach told Andrew they were prepared to of- tive, tested as a 10-year-old Gold player. He against players often two or one of three players recently fer his son a contract with the team. received extended tryout offers with Bolton three years older than him. He selected by the RVDL Acad"As far as it was explained to us, the best and Wolverhampton, but already knew what plays for the RVDL Academy emy to go to England and try thing you can hope for is the child goes and his decision was going to be. Lions and when it comes to out for European teams Stoke they bring him back for an extended tryout Once he came back to Oakville, Changbattling against older compeCity FC, Bolton Wanderers FC at another time," Andrew said. "It was shock Sang received his contract from Stoke City, tition, it's not something he'll and Wolverhampton Wander- at first but (I also felt) extreme pride." signed it and became the newest member of ever shy away from. ers FC during an extended Jeevan himself was surprised by how quick the club's under-9 Academy team. He is the "The players are much stronMarch Break. Chang-Sang and the offer came. first person from the RVDL Academy to sign ger and more aggressive com13-year-olds Dylan Serpa and "I was shocked because I didn't know they a pro contract with a European club, and van Andrew Chang-Sang Father of Jeevan Chang-Sang Nik Blaskovic were chosen would just come up to you and say that. I pared to the people I play with der Laan believes Chang-Sang might be the at my own age," said Changas part of the academy's new wasn't nervous at all. I liked being there and youngest Canadian ever to ink such a deal. Sang, who moved with his family from Mis- Pathway to the Premiership initiative, which it felt really good." "It makes me feel really proud of myself to sissauga to Oakville five years ago. "It's a chal- is designed to present players with a road to Van der Laan, though, had a quiet confi- be the first person in the RVDL academy to lenge for me because we're both going for the eventually play in England and European dence about the situation, knowing what his be signed by a pro team," Chang-Sang said. ball instead of me standing there and waiting leagues, MLS or prepare them for Canadian longtime student is capable of on the pitch. "When I first knew I was going to England, I for them to kick the ball. You have to be way or American scholarship opportunities. "I was confident Jeevan would make a big was so happy I couldn't believe it." faster to get past them and more aggressive to Last month, Chang-Sang arrived at the impression there and they would be all over Chang-Sang is currently in Grade 3 at get the ball when it's a 50/50 battle." Stoke City Academy Dome for his initial him to sign his contract," van der Laan said. E.J. James elementary school and his SAAC Michael Scholz, director of operations for training session with the club's under-9 team "The reason they offered the contract straight see Family on p.34 W He wants to be the best player in the world.