A bristol boy has become the first footballer outside Brazil toachieve level three in a football training scheme made famous by theSouth Americans Ricky Chandler beat 45,000 children to successfullycomplete the LEGO skills badge scheme run by the Brazilian SoccerSchool.
The 10-year-old, from Filton, who is already training a year abovehis age with the Bristol Rovers Centre of Excellence, was awarded therare accolade after completing a r igorous test covering hundreds ofturns, moves to beat players, passing, dribbling, ball juggling,floor to air moves and a combination juggle.
Ricky had to pass more than 100 components testing his firsttouch, close control, speed, balance, rhythm and co-ordination.
The skills scheme - which is run by the InternationalConfederation of Futebol de Salao - has been run in Britain for thepast 18 months, and includes five grades, with grade five being themost difficult to achieve.
No one has yet achieved grade four and five.
World Cup great Jairzinho, a member of the great Brazil s ide of1970, was in the UK last year to pass on his skills at a Futebol deSalao course.
Ricky's dad Terry, acivil engineer, said the whole family wasproud of his achievement.
The 31-year-old said: "For a 10year-old to be the first to achievethis is just fantastic.Two other 15-yearold lads from Aberdeen werevery close to get it before him, but he managed it first.
"It s something that he had wanted to achieve for a long time.
But he showed a lot of dedication and has worked very hard.
All credit to him considering that he s only been going to theBrazilian Soccer School for a year." Ricky, a left-winger from FiltonHill Primary school, whose favourite player is Ryan Giggs, startedfootball with Rovers four years ago.
His s ister Courtney is now following in his footsteps and playsfor her local club in Stoke Lodge.
Terry who lives with his family in Charles Road, Filton, added: "Iwas never really into football, but since Ricky got more and moreinvolved, so have I.My wife Teresa and I are very proud of him.Whoknows, one day he might be playing for Rovers or Man United." Futebolde Salao is being played by around 45,000 children around the world,including players in South Africa, Singapore, Canada, Hong Kong andIreland with new countries signing up to the revolutionary style oftraining all of the t ime.
Ricky s coach in Bristol Rob Firkin said: "Ricky is possibly themost dedicated player we have at our schools.He attends at least twosessions a week with us, trains with Bristol Rovers and I know thathe practises on his own in his own t ime as his school commitmentspermit.
"He is a very modest lad who does most of his talking with hisfeet.It is all down to his hard work and will to improve. "
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