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Arizona Olympic Development Program (ODP) is sending its U-14 boys’ and girls’ team to Spain this summer to train with Real Madrid’s Technical Staff, play friendly games with local Spanish teams, and compete in the Donosti Cup in San Sebatian, Spain.

GEORGE MALKI of the 92 odp team has made the residency program and the US u17s national team.It's an honor to have one player representing the state of Arizona, George Malki has seized his opportunity with both hands.
The Arizona resident and 2010 graduate has been invited to the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team program based on some top performances at recent training camps and matches under the watching eyes of national staff.
Malki was in the U14 BNT camp at Concord, MA when he was just 12. His club coach at RSL Arizona, Harry Demos, says he has grown and improved over the years to put himself in position for this opportunity.
“We knew he had the ability and a great feel for the game. We thought he had enough athletically but you never know at 12 what a player will be like at 16,” Demos said. “ He hasn't been the most consistent kid in the past. At times he would come and light it up, other times he would sort of disappear. But he’s gotten much more consent and gotten stronger. He was slight and would get knocked around a little bit when he was younger. He’s growing through that and becoming a young man. He’s gotten stronger and smarter about how to stay on the field and not get his butt kicked.”
Malki has been on the national team radar since he was twelve.At last weekend’s USSF Development Academy Showcase in Rockford, IL, Malki was playing right wing for the U17 MNT squad facing teams in the U16 age group. Malki combines size, speed and strength with some good soccer technique and smart reads on the game, one of which allowed him to pounce on a defensive miscue and fire in a game-tying goal for his team.
Malki was involved with a U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV ODP team that went to Spain earlier this year. His performance was such that he was recommended by USSF Scout Tony Lepore for a May training camp being held by the U17s in Bradenton. He also was invited to a trial period by Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, and did well enough there to be invited back in the summer.
Having done well enough at the Bradenton tryout to get invited in however, Malki says he is focused on doing well with the national team.
“It was a tough decision, but I really want to play in the (U17) World Cup. I know if I do well there it will mean a lot of opportunities for scholarships or the pros,” he said. “Going to Bradenton is just a great way to develop into a man. You learn to become independent, and I want to learn under Coach Cabrera and the others. I talked with my dad when we got the invitation and he said it is a great opportunity, but he told me to do whatever I wanted. I decided to do it.”
Malki cited his family as being supportive, and Demos said Malki’s ethnic background (his mother is from Kuwait and his father is from Iraq) is a helpful asset.
“He’s just a great feeling for the game, a great flair and passion,” he said. “He grew up as an ethnic kid like I did and was always watching his family play. He just gets it. He’s been real serious (about developing). He knows the higher you go the more skill level you need. When he was younger, he would come out and play with my older teams and with his dad’s teams. He just loves the game.
Malki, who played for several years at Sereno SC before moving to Phoenix-area club SC del Sol (and summer ball with Demos and RSL Arizona in the Super Y-League), is looking forward to getting acclimated with his new team at a June training camp.
“I’m getting used to the guys now. They play at a good level and they are all top of the line players. As soon as I came in, they were are all talking to me and helping me out. It’s a great group.”
And now Malki is part of it.
Alexandra Dollar, Julie Johnston, Carrie Whigham, Ellen Parker and Sarah Jackson have been selected to travel to Cal Poly Pomona to be a part of US Youth Soccer Developmental Camp from February 20th- 25th. Chris Sydney and the ODP staff will like to say congratulations and Good luck.
George Malki of our '92 AZ ODP's has earned a spot on the Region IV team which will be going to Barcelona, Spain on Feb 23rd - March 2nd. George was the only player selected from Arizona. Congratulations George!
http://www.regioniv.com/odp/championships.htm
A big congratulations to Harold Warren and the USC women for winning the NCAA National title. Harold is a former AZ ODP Head Coach and AZ ODP 05-06 coach of the year. His experience and knowledge he gave AZ ODP players will last a lifetime. AZ ODP coaches, administrators and players would like to thank him.
Congratulations to Brian Green for making the US Youth Soccer ODP Super Group '90 roster. Teams will compete December 27-30 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
...and George Malki ('92) is going to Spain!  The Region IV team is traveling to Barcelona Spain along with the three other Regional teams from Feb. 28 - Mar. 2.
Congratulations to the following players for being selected to their Region IV Player Pools for 2007-08 !!!
  '93 Boys - Anthony Galdys, Owen Steinwall
  '92 Boys - George Malki
  '90 Boys - Brian Green
  '92 Girls - Alexandra Doller, Julie Johnston, Carrie Whigham
  '91 Girls - Sarah Jackson, Zoe Jeffers, Ellen Parker
  '90 Girls - Kelly Block (national pool list)
Julie Johnston will represent Arizona ODP '92 and Region IV at the 2007 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Girls Thanksgiving Interregional in Frisco, Texas.   ROSTER   Good luck Julie!
Congratulations to Carrie Whigham for being selected to participate in the training camp and matches with the U.S. Under-15 Girl’s National Team in Sunrise, Florida from November 17th through November 23rd, 2007.
A big congratulations from Chris Sydney, AYSA and all the ODP staff to Owen Steinwall ('93) and Julie Johnston ('92) for making the region team to go to Florida for the ODP Inter- Regional Soccer Tournament.
AZ ODP alumni Daniel Cruz was recently selected to the U17 World Cup Team, one of just 21 members on the squad.  READ MORE