After the grass football season, the ball moves to the sand for a new beach soccer campaign. Roses Platja, renowned for its youth academy, is preparing for a year in which it will prioritize the development of its grassroots, both in terms of team numbers and quality of training. This decision comes at a time when the first men's team will not feature the international stars who usually competed for titles.
The lack of a subsidy from the RFEF has prevented the club from retaining high-level players and local talents who had established themselves among the elite. According to a club spokesperson, players who are financially dependent on beach soccer will not be able to continue this season. Despite this, they will remain linked to the entity by coaching the youth teams.
Given this situation, Roses Platja has designed a plan to strengthen the foundations of its youth academy. The first men's team will be the youngest in the category, with an average age of eighteen, offering an opportunity for youth players and recent graduates to compete in the top division. The main objective will be to avoid relegation, with the hope that these young talents can fulfill their potential.
“"They are very talented and promising players who still need to develop."
To provide experience and support in training, the only international reinforcement will be the Argentine coach Maxi Ponzetti. Additionally, the club will create a reserve team in the Second Division, made up of former first-team players, and the women's senior team will also compete in the second category with the aim of promotion.
The Roses Platja youth development structure will be more extensive than ever, with up to three men's teams and one women's team for each category (youth, cadet, infant, and alevín). The A teams of each age group will compete for the Copa Catalunya and the Copa de España. This expansion aims to ensure that anyone who wishes can play beach soccer, consolidating the academy as one of the best in Spain.
The town of Roses will host several competitions this summer, including the men's and women's First and Second Divisions, and the new Cadet Honor Division. This presence of high-level competitions on the Roses beach is considered an opportunity to promote the popularity of this sport and strengthen the sense of community belonging.
“"Competing under the name of Roses should be more valued and taken advantage of more."
The club also highlights the synergy with grass football, presenting beach soccer as an alternative to continue playing and improve physical preparation. The perception of injury risk is debunked, emphasizing that the impact on sand is minimal and fouls are less frequent than on grass.
