Hawaii Rush

Rush Union WI

January 11, 2022

Ghana Rush – Kotoku Royals FC Coach Paolo Campagna

 

When Paolo Campagna moved to Ghana to take over the Kotoku Royals FC in October, he found himself thrust into a job teeming with opportunity as well as challenges. However, as one of Rush’s newest clubs in Africa, Campagna sees more hope than ever for the club.

 

“When Raoul Voss started to talk with me about this program, I liked where Rush wanted to take it and all the opportunities that are here,” Campagna said. “There are some talented players here who could play in many leagues around the world. The soccer culture here is crazy and everyone is invested in the game. But there are some things we’re trying to change to help build a more professional environment.”

 

Campagna, the Italy native who was coaching in the New England area prior to accepting the assignment with the Kotoku Royals, has worked to mesh together the laidback African culture with the more rigorous standards of professionalism required to establish a winning club.

 

“At the beginning when I got here, there were players only eating one meal per day,” Campagna said. “There was no attention to proper diet, and the players didn’t have the energy they needed to perform at the highest level. So, we’ve worked to change that.

 

“There was also an issue with players not being prompt and just showing up whenever they felt like it. It’s hard to run a training session when nobody was acting like professionals.”

 

But Campagna appreciates the rich talent pool the club already has while also seeking to deepen it within the smaller community of Akim Oda, located 75 miles northwest of Accra.

 

“The players here know how to play,” Campagna said. “There’s really little doubt about that. We can improve some of our tactical play, but the talent is there for this team and these players to go to a higher level.”

 

Campagna’s faith in the player’s clubs is one of the reasons he’s a perfect fit for taking the Kotoku Royals from a middle-of-the-road Division 1 team to Ghana’s Premiership.

 

“One of the things I like about Rush is how they believe in their players,” Campagna said. “Rush truly believes they can develop a successful academy here in Ghana as well as develop future players. What Rush has already done here by giving more accessibility to players for good coaching and training will help develop players in this region like they’ve never had a chance to do before.”

Coach Announcements

June 5, 2023
RUWI Welcomes New Coaches

Partnering for a Better Future

By Joe Manley • May 14, 2023
Kenosha, WI and Racine, WI - April 11, 2023 - Rush WISE and AFC Union announce a partnership creating a player pathway for all players from Southeastern Wisconsin under the umbrella of Rush Union WI. Rush Union WI will offer boys and girls teams for ages U12-U19. The two clubs, both prominent in Southeastern WI and their respective communities, will collaborate to leverage their combined resources for the benefit of players, coaches, and families. “We are so excited to offer this opportunity for the kids and families in our communities. We have a rich soccer history in this area and look forward to writing the next chapter of excellence through our collaboration.” said Vlatko Minic, Technical Director and Director of Coaching, Rush Wise. For years, the two clubs have provided excellent soccer options to youth throughout southeastern Wisconsin. These two clubs share a similar ideology and playing style. Player development has always been a primary emphasis for Rush WISE and AFC Union, with the goal of providing the finest player experience possible, across both the training and game environments. “We are thrilled to partner with Rush WISE to create a unified premier soccer program for Southeastern Wisconsin. This partnership will provide the opportunity for the youth in Racine, Kenosha, and the surrounding areas to play and compete at all levels, while staying close to home." - Nick Wentorf RASA/AFC Union, Board President Players of all levels will benefit from some of the best coaching talent in the State, and gain access to the Rush network and national competition platforms. (See our player pathway for more information). “We piloted this joint effort last season and saw tremendous success with all three teams in their local and regional competitions. Through this joint effort, we will not only strengthen the opportunities for the top players, but for all developing players in our organization.” said Roy Wiggemansen, Director of Soccer, AFC Union Rush Union WI expects these new elite team opportunities to attract players of the highest caliber from across a wide footprint in Wisconsin. The tryouts for these new teams will occur during the usual June timeframe for soccer clubs in Wisconsin.

A License To Learn

By duda • August 18, 2022
The post A License To Learn appeared first on Rush Soccer.
Show More
Share by: