The month of July, which immediately follows the Development Academy playoffs, is the only period of the year when the Montreal Impact Academy takes a breather, but, as we can expect, the coaching staff cannot stay away from soccer for long.
Many coaches decided to combine “holidays” and “club visits” during that time off.
Academy director Philippe Eullaffroy went back to his hometown and club, ESTAC, for a week. He spent time with his family, but he had to connect with his passion and took a few days to watch Troyes’ preseason camp. The club has just won promotion to Ligue 1, after beating Lorient in a playoff match, in May.
Impact U17 head coach Nicolas Gagnon spent part of the break with Brentford FC, in England. The centennial London club, founded in 1889, is currently playing in the Championship, Britain’s second tier.
Gagnon took this opportunity to visit the facilities and attend training sessions. He was also in Milton Keynes to watch a friendly game against MK Dons, with Brentford winning 3-2.
As for Serge Dinkota, the Impact U15 head coach, he stayed on this continent, but traveled to FC Cincinnati, which was playing a friendly game against Spanish club Valencia FC.
He spent time with an old friend and colleague, Yoann Damet, now assistant coach with the USL team, and visited two ex-Academy players now playing with the club from Ohio, Marco Dominguez and Mele Temguia.
The Spanish team won 2-0 at the Nippert Stadium, in front of 23,114 fans.
