Developing footballing talent has long been a habit in Croatia - following its independence in 1991, Croatia has quickly developed into a European and Global footballing force. Given the small size of Croatia as a country, the Croatian Football Federation’s (Hrvatski Nogometni Savez – HNS) sustained success has only been able to be achieved via talent identification and subsequent junior development programs. Despite quite a few players not being born within Croatia’s borders, 25 of the 26 players selected for Croatia's 2022 World Cup squad had been through the HNS youth development system. The HNS’s next challenge is continuing the success they have experienced particularly over the last 8 years in the mens’s game, and transferring this expertise now into the women's game.

For the 3rd year running, the Croatian Soccer Association of Australia, in conjunction with the Croatian Football Federation (Hrvatski Nogometni Savez – HNS), will be holding a 4 day soccer development camp in both Sydney and Melbourne for junior players (male and female) born between the years 2009 and 2013.

The camps are specifically designed to enable young players to enjoy a unique ”Vatreni” football experience. The 4-day camps are led by a 7-person HNS coaching delegation (all coaches hold UEFA certified coaching badges) led by: Stipe Pletikosa – HNS’s Technical Director Petar Krpan – HNS’s Chief Instructor Boris Kubla – Director of the HNS Academy

The 7-person HNS coaching delegation will take every session across the 4 days of each camp so as to ensure that the standards of the CSAA-HNS Academy project are upheld. Following on from the HNS Junior player development philosophy, these camps are designed to develop soccer players through a vision which combines technical aspects with mental, emotional and inter-personal ones.

As part of these camps, the HNS will look to select a squad to represent the CSAA at the 2025 HNS’s” Vukovar Veterans' Memorial international tournament (U-14) - 2025. Memorijal Vukovarskih branitelja međunarodni turnir za nogometaše do 14 godina) – a tournament that will feature U-14 teams from all HNL clubs as well as Croatia Diaspora squads from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and North America.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be coached by coaches that have developed the likes of Josko Gvardiol and Martin Baturina, make new friends, have fun and improve your level of football in a stimulating and engaging environment.

Camp Venues and Dates

Sydney Camp Venue: Sydney United Sports Centre (King Tom) 223 Edensor Rd., Edensor Park, NSW, 2176 Dates: Monday January 13, 2025 – Thursday January 16, 2025

Melbourne Camp Venue: Knights Stadium - 2 Somers St, North Sunshine, Victoria 3020 Dates: Friday January 18, 2015 – Tuesday January 21, 2025

Cost $450 per player (which will include Official HNS camp training kit, meals/drinks on each day and a HNS certificate of completion)

Additional Information Days 1-3 of each camp will be conducted behind closed doors (no parents or guardians) will be allowed to view the training sessions held on these days. Players are to be dropped off at each venue at least 20 minutes before the commencement of each day’s training program, and are to be collected at the end of each day. Day 4 of each camp will consist of games amongst participants and will be “open sessions”.

Start time and finish time for each day of these camps may be subject to change based on weather conditions.