The Future Ballers project is designed to put the next generation of talent up to the test and develop their skills and techniques along the way. Joel Ndala of Man City and Habeeb Ogunneye took on the PRO Skills Trainer Challenge for an exhilarating third episode.
Meet the Future Ballers
Habeeb Ogunneye
Habeeb who plays for Manchester United is a real talent. He has been playing for United throughout the preseason and has impressed. A modern-day fullback with real intent to hurt the opposition with his overlapping runs.
Habeeb was looking to get one up on his city rival let’s see how he does…
Joel Ndala
The young City player gave Celtic full backs a horrific time in the US. He reminds you very much of a younger version of Doku. He has a lot of tricks and flicks to memorise the opposition and keep the crowd on the edge of their seats. He will be a player that fans will pay to watch as he runs so directly at the opposition. Ndala still has room for improvement but at the age of 18 his end product, especially his crossing is top notch.
Joel brought some of his flair and personality to the challenge which made him a great participant.
Meet the Coach
Dean established the Bee Inspired Academy in 2021 and has since trained some of the most talented individuals, including members of the Manchester City First team so Dean expects the best from his challengers…
The Challenges
Challenge 1:
The first challenge consisted of passing the ball through the passing gate and then the ball will come back up the return ramp for either Lewis or Rhys to strike the ball into the net.
Strike the ball on target= 1 point
Strike the ball in the bottom corner= 2 points
Strike the ball in the top corner= 5 points
Bullseye= 10 points
If the player scores with a golden ball it will be double points.
Challenge 2:
The second challenge showcased the two players close ball control, they 60 seconds to see how many bounce passes they could make onto the rebound net.
Pro Skills Trainer
All challenges were used with the Pro Skills trainer, this is an all in one training platform that is scientifically validated to improve your footballing skills. Below is what you can expect from the Pro Skills Trainer.
- Strike the ball through the passing gate& control the ball as it travels up the mesh ramp and back to you.
- Alter the angle of return in secondsusing unique drag & drop pin system. 7 return settings allow you to improve touch & control using various parts of the body.
- World first ‘decline’ rebounder.Fully extend rebounder to the front & create a downward ball return. This recreates real game bounces to improve decision making.
- Use for multi distance training.Reactionary rebound net adapts ball return speed for rapid, close touches whilst longer passing and control exercises can also be performed
- Premium grade materials – constructed from laser cut steel and the highest grade mesh available. Brushed coating protects the unit from all weather conditions.
