Youth Teams

28 June 5:19 am

The Under-16s played their second game of the Development Academy Playoffs on Wednesday, while the Under-18s had the day off.

Per usual, the day began with breakfast in the hotel. And after the players returned to their rooms for a bit, the group met back up for a snack around noon and then lunch during halftime of the Spain-Portugal game.

Many of the U18s used their downtime throughout the day to walk to the mall nearby.

Everyone then boarded the bus at 5:20 p.m. to make the trip to FC Dallas Sports Park.

The Under-16s suffered a 3-0 loss to Pateadores. (Game recap available on revolutionsoccer.net.) Now 0-1-1 in the Playoffs, they remain mathematically eligible to clinch a spot in Finals Week.

After the game, the group quickly changed back at the hotel and left for dinner at a travel favorite – Buca di Beppo. The tables shared family-style salad, bread, chicken and pasta, and relaxed after a long day.

Everyone then met briefly in the hotel lobby before retiring to their rooms.

On Thursday, the U18s are set to play their third and final game of the Development Academy Playoffs. Kickoff against Charlotte Soccer Academy is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.

Youth

27 June 6:46 am

Both the Under-18s and the Under-16s were in action on Tuesday, so the day saw players and staff going every which way.

Everyone ate breakfast at the hotel by 9 a.m., and the teams met one after another for lunch and meetings shortly after noon.

Scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. local time, the U16s boarded the bus and left for the fields at 2:45, while the U18s returned to the Italian bistro for a pregame meal.

The U16s played Albertson SC to a 2-2 draw in their first game of the Development Academy Playoffs, before heading back to the hotel to shower and change before a postgame meal at the restaurant.

The U18s hopped on the bus at 6:45 to go to the fields. Kicking off at roughly 8:15 p.m., they suffered a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Chivas USA.

READ FULL RECAP >>

Following the game, both the U18s and U16s shared a genuinely heartfelt moment. Despite the loss, the U18s had displayed an unforgettable amount of heart and commitment to battle for each other, and the group took a few moments to appreciate it.

On Wednesday, the Under-16s will take on Pateadores in their second game of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Youth

26 June 1:10 am

Monday was day one of the Development Academy Playoffs and with a game scheduled for 8 p.m. local time, the day was a fairly low key one.

Everyone ate breakfast in the hotel by 9 a.m. and returned to their rooms, meeting again for lunch at noon. The U18s then went for a short walk and discussed their game later.

The group boarded the bus at 3:30 for a pregame meal back at the Italian bistro and headed to the fields at 6:50.

In their first game of the tournament, the U18s played MLS rivals the New York Red Bulls to a 1-1 draw. Check out revolutionsoccer.net for a complete game recap.

After the game, the players and staff enjoyed a postgame meal in the hotel lobby before calling it a night.

Both the Under-18s and the Under-16s are in action on Tuesday. The U16s will kick off against Albertson SC at 5 p.m. ET, while the U18s will take on Chivas USA at 9 p.m ET.

Youth

24 June 11:15 pm

After a long travel day, the Revs’ youth teams have made it to Frisco, Texas, and are preparing for day one of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.

The players and staff arrived at the airport for 5 a.m., only to learn shortly after that the flight had been delayed until 2 p.m. As a result, the next nine hours were spent napping, watching movies and wandering the Terminal B shops.

Unfazed by the delay, the group got to the hotel around 6:15 p.m. and resumed the schedule as planned. The U16s were rounded up for a run, while the U18s were given the opportunity to unpack and rest a little before their game tomorrow.

The group then boarded the bus at 7:30 for dinner at a familiar restaurant in Frisco. Having now eaten at the same Italian bistro during each of the youth program’s last two trips to the area (2010-11 Development Academy Playoffs/Showcase, 2011 Generation adidas Cup), the returning players were thrilled to be back.

Following dinner, the teams met briefly to discuss the U18s’ first game tomorrow (9 p.m. ET vs. New York Red Bulls), as well as the U16s’ continued preparations for their first match on Tuesday.

All week long, in-game updates will be available on www.twitter.com/nerevslive and complete game recaps can be found on revolutionsoccer.net following each match.

Youth

07 June 5:36 pm

On Tuesday, June 5, the New England Revolution conducted the first-ever Revs Training Center (RTC) for its newest affiliate club, Empire Revolution in Western New York.

The RTC was for the top boys across Western New York, born in 1996, 1997 and 1998. With 50 talented young men in attendance, the Revs, Empire and U.S Soccer Development Academy staff coaches put the boys through the paces for an intense 90 minute session which simulated the Revolution’s regular training sessions and those run by the U.S. Soccer youth staff.

The coaches were pleased with the standard of play from prospective Empire players, with a high work rate and infectious attitude prevalent among the players who wished to impress for a spot into the Revolution’s development system.

“We’re very excited about how our first event with Empire went,” Revolution Academy Director Deven Apajee said. “The boys were outstanding and we enjoyed working with the Empire staff for this event. Everyone was thrilled to hear more about the details of our partnership, and the opportunities that are now available to the Empire players because of the Revs relationship.”

Apajee also provided players and parents with presentation about the newly-launched Revs–Empire partnership and the unique and exclusive soccer opportunities – including international competition, extensive training, MLS Reserve League call-ups and more - available to the players through the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program and the Revolution system.

Tuesday’s RTC was the first of many player development events the New England Revolution will be conducting in Western New York through their partnership with Empire.

Academy

03 May 1:58 pm

A video wrap-up of the 2012 Future Champions Guateng Tournament.

Academy

01 April 2:40 pm

The Revs played their second placement game on Saturday morning, heading to the Nike Football Training Center early after breakfast at the hotel.

A full game story from the Revs’ second meeting with the Orlando Pirates – a 4-2 loss – will be available on revolutionsoccer.net.

Following the match, the team went back out onto the field to kick the practice balls into the stands for the many children who had watched. Thrilled about the idea of catching a ball, the kids swarmed each time another flew into the stands.

The group returned to the hotel only briefly, eating lunch and packing up the remainder of their belongings, before making the trip back to the fields to watch Atletico Mineiro take on Nacional in the 2012 Future Champions Guateng final.

Players watched the final from the grassy area of the stands, and attracted a lot attention from the local children. The kids sat among the players, interacting with the Revs throughout the entire 60-minute match and asking questions about everything from American currency to photo-taking.

Touched by their experiences with the children, many of the players began to give away old gear that they had brought along on the trip. Hats, training tops, jerseys – suddenly a large group of South African children were sporting New England Revolution apparel. And they could not have been more ecstatic about it.

Before the Revs left the Training Center for the last time, the team posed for a group photo with the K-Stars (Zambia). The two clubs developed a good relationship throughout the tournament, and the photo made for a fitting end to the week.

The group then left for the airport directly from the final to begin its 20-hour journey back to Foxborough, Mass., arriving at the stadium around 12:45 p.m. ET the following day.

Everyone has agreed the trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was an opportunity for the Revs to play teams from all over the world, learn about another culture and develop chemistry of their own, and no one will ever forget it.

Youth

31 March 12:38 am

The Revs played their first placement game on Friday, so it was back to the game day routine.

The day began with breakfast at the hotel, and the team then boarded the bus for the trip to the Nike Football Training Center.

Unlike earlier in the week, it was only 61 degrees and rainy for kickoff. But buoyed by the previous night’s performances, the Revs debuted a chant of their own in the tunnel.

A full game story from the Revs’ first win of the tournament – 1-0 against Aspire (Qatar) – is available HERE.

After returning to the hotel, the team ate lunch and took a trip to a nearby grocery store to stock up on snacks and drinks.

Dinner was served shortly after, and all of teams boarded their buses for another tournament-wide excursion.

Still in good spirits after their victory, the Revs continued to practice their chant on the bus. But as soon as the team’s new CD of African dance music was on, it became a dance party instead. Everyone got involved: the self-proclaimed good dancers, the self-proclaimed bad dancers and coach Deven Apajee.

Tournament organizers had arranged for the group to see the South African musical Umoja at the Victory Theatre. A journey through the history of South African music and dance, the show told the country’s story through song, focusing on “the spirit of togetherness.”

The Revs returned to the hotel after the show and met briefly to discuss Friday’s match against Aspire (Qatar). Kickoff is at 4 a.m. ET and as always, in-game updates will be available on www.twitter.com/nerevslive, while live video can be found on www.future-champions.net.

Youth

30 March 4:33 am

Thursday was a rest day for every team participating in the tournament, and the Future Champions organizers had a full day of cultural activities prepared.

After breakfast at the hotel, the 12 teams were split into two groups, with two teams per bus. The Revs shared a bus with the Orlando Pirates, who they played on Monday in the first game.

The first stop was at FNB Stadium, also known as Soccer City. The stadium was designed as the main stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and was the site of the Final, played by the Netherlands and Spain.

The tour included stops at the upper level of the stands, in the locker rooms and on the field. While on the field, music pumped throughout the stadium, giving players a small glimpse at what being a professional player at the highest level could feel like.

Before lunch, the bus dropped the group off near Nelson Mandela’s house in Soweto. Street vendors lined the stretch of road between there and the restaurant, so players enjoyed the opportunity to shop for souvenirs.

An authentic lunch was served at Sakhumzi Restaurant, giving the group some time to rest before boarding the bus again.

The next stop was the Lion Park. The buses drove throughout the grounds, past animals like lions, zebras and wildebeest. Lions typically sleep for up to 20 hours a day, so a highlight included one particularly active female getting up and walking over to within a couple yards of the bus.

Following the safari, players had the chance to wander the other parts of the Park. Everyone was excited to interact with the lion cubs, posing for photos and playing with the animals. A raised feeding station also allowed the boys to get up close to a giraffe. Other animals seen around the park included meerkats, hyenas, wild dogs, cheetahs and antelope.

At the conclusion of the day, all 12 teams met up for the gala dinner. The players milled around the grounds for a while between formal team photos.

Once inside, each team was seated at two tables throughout the reception hall. Decorated in reds, blacks and golds, the space gave the night a special feel.

After dinner was served, each team put on a several-minute performance to highlight their culture and values, and most teams chose to sing in their native languages. Because the Revolution is made up of players with so many different backgrounds, the team chose to go a different route.

Introduced by coach Deven Apajee, the players put on a memorable performance. Luke Albertini and Matt Nyeayea showed off their unique (and very different) dance moves, demonstrating the players’ broad spectrum of natural rhythm and their shared appreciation of each other. The rest of the group, who had been supporting the pair in the background, then joined their teammates for a USA chant.

Once the night came to a close, the teams boarded the buses for the final time and returned to the hotel.

The Revs met briefly to discuss Friday’s match against Aspire (Qatar). Kickoff is at 6:30 a.m. ET and in-game updates will be available on www.twitter.com/nerevslive, while live video can be found on www.future-champions.net.

*NOTE: Larger photos with brief captions are available on www.flickr.com/nerevolution.

Youth

29 March 1:17 am

The Revolution Under-16s played their third and final group-stage game of the 2012 Future Champions Gauteng tournament on Wednesday morning.

After an early breakfast, the team departed for the Nike Football Training Center at 9:30 a.m.

A full game story from the Revs’ 4-2 loss to K-Stars (Zambia) can be found on www.revolutionsoccer.net.

Following a postgame meal back at the hotel, the group quickly showered and changed before boarding the bus again. The next stop of the day was at the Museum of Africa. Players split up into small groups and took in the museum’s variety of historical, cultural and scientific exhibits. Also visiting the museum was a group of several hundred school children, who enjoyed getting their photos taken with the Revolution travel party.

Everyone returned to the hotel for a bit before dinner, and shortly after, all of the teams participating in the tournament boarded their buses to go see the Orlando Pirates’ senior squad take on the Free State Stars.

The atmosphere at the game was electric, with the passionate fans singing, dancing and cheering for much of the match. The Pirates won, 2-1, and the young Revs took it all in from the first few rows of the open seating area.

Thursday will be a rest day for the teams, when they will have the chance to do some cultural activities. Games will then resume on Friday.

Youth

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Youth Teams

Development Academy Playoffs - Day Three

Development Academy Playoffs - Day Two

Development Academy Playoffs - Day One

Development Academy Playoffs - Arrival

Revolution Empire training center

Future Champions Gauteng 2012 Video

Last day in South Africa

Day six in South Africa

Day five in South Africa

Day four in South Africa

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