A result of constant work

Kiwi teenager transfers to Benfica

From New Zealand to Portugal, this is a story about rising from grassroots to elite levels, driven by the power of will.

A 13-year-old West Auckland goal keeper is living every school boy football player’s dream and has been signed to the prestigious Benfica Youth Academy. A student of Isaac Tetteh and the INGOAL programme here in New
Zealand, Marc James followed his family to Portugal a year ago and is now training with S.L.Benfica, renowned as one of the world’s best football talent development centres.

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Marc joins an elite squad of U14 players who will compete against older players in the top U15 league in Lisbon when the new season starts in a few months.
“I was so excited when I heard that my transfer was completed and I was now officially a Benfica player – it feels almost unbelievable. I’ve worked hard to get here, but I’m under no illusion that there is even more hard work to come. I’m very grateful and ready to make the most of this incredible opportunity,” Marc says. He and his dad, Jason James, credit part a big of his progress to Isaac Tetteh and INGOAL for setting him on the right path.

Marc joined the INGOAL programme in 2020, participating in several holiday programmes and many in-term morning trainings. He progressed to one-on-one trainings with Isaac straight from school on a Friday.
“Regardless of the weather, rain, hail or shine I would turn up and Isaac was always there ready to train, I really enjoyed working with him and he taught me heaps to develop my game,” says Marc.

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“It was very inspiring for Marc to have a coach like Isaac. Regardless of how he was feeling after a week of school, Isaac brought out the best in Marc, infusing his vast knowledge and enthusiastic approach. Marc just soaked it up and went from strength to strength.” says Jason.

More recently Marc joined Auckland United FC’s Academy at Keith Hay Park, where Isaac is based.
“AUFC is one of top academies in New Zealand where they provide a dedicated goal keeper coach, an important feature to develop quality goal keepers.” Jason says.

Marc has always wanted to be goal keeper, asking in his first season of football to play up a grade where the teams start to have dedicated goal keepers. That first year he alternated between striker and goal keeper, but this never deterred his complete desire to remain in goal. It is just something in Marc’s blood.

In addition to football, Marc has also played Futsal as a keeper.  In late December 2023, Marc flew from Portugal to Spain to join his New Zealand Futsal teammates from the Auckland Wolves, who qualified a year earlier to compete in the 10th edition of the United Futsal World Cup in Blanes, Spain. This competition is not a FIFA World Cup, but for a group of top junior teams from all over the world it is as close as they will get at their age to such a competition.

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At the start of 2023, Isaac asked Marc to write down his
football goal. Marc’s response: “To represent my country at a FIFA World Cup”.

The teenager is hoping that his recent experience in Spain and the training he is now receiving as part of the Benfica academy, will set him on the path to achieve his goal. His dad Jason says they are grateful to Isaac, INGOAL and AUFC for giving his son a nudge in the right direction.