Moving to Jönköping

Jönköping: a new beginning

As NYSA, we have recently made the decision to return our International Football Athlete program to what was once our base: the city of Jönköping. Times have never been as exciting as now. With the program’s move to this city, a variety of aspects get a fresh perspective; more football opportunities, university campus experience, an energetic student city with a variety of options and last but not least, the exciting challenge of living together.

An exciting campus life completes the puzzle in their student identity; signing to a football club according to their ambitions and objectives with a much larger outreach increasing their chances of elite football or even achieving that professional contract; a campus experience, filling large part of what their day to day activities along with peers, colleagues and friends outside the dual career environment; and a city life, a vibrant student city life with every possibility at reach. Living together in the same accommodation is just the cherry on top of this great return. With a packed-full house, here is a little peek on our student athletes’ move back to Jönköping.

Football opportunities:

The city of Jönköping allows a much wider range of available clubs to sign for and be successful at a variety of playing levels both fulfilling our players’ different needs and ambitions. There is also a new opportunity arising within football; more training in a student-led initiative that is the Jönköping university sports club or JUSC. More practice sessions and more matches to add to their development as well as their enjoyment within a friendly but still competitive environment.

The first couple of weeks of our player’s settling in regarding their sporting activities, will be updating and maintaining their gym workouts with the objective to prepare them for the pre-season ahead of them. This will largely prepare them for their trials, football practices and friendly matches in the works; our partners at P3RFORM have been doing an excellent job for the past year thus this next step will help this transition quite effortlessly. In coordination as always, with our NYSA in house support regarding load management (GPS analysis) and recovery (nutritional advice, yoga sessions).

Campus experience: The university campus life comes to enhance the student experience in multiple ways; from attending lectures in person, to being able to engage in group meetings to complete university work as well as using the space as a study and socializing hub. This detail is particularly beneficial for our student-athletes whose university courses are fully online. It allows our athletes to engage in the essence of the student experience; the socialising arising from student-led initiatives such as welcome fairs, associations meetings, student showcases or other sports clubs. If not the most important feature, the campus setting provides the opportunity for all athletes and coaching staff to come together for lunch. A daily catch-up within the university context at café Taste of Beirut allows the team to grow and fosters communication in a safe space and a way to socialize further.

City life:

A student-vibrant city such as Jönköping provides that dynamic and lively urban hub for our student athletes to spend their free time. With a variety of affordable restaurants, cafes, shops, cinema and a buzzing nightlife, opens the floor to that international cultural mix where there is always something going on for everyone. It also holds great potential in part-time work opportunities should our student athletes choose to do so, receiving the full support that being part of NYSA implies.
Jönköping lies in the most convenient location as it is in the middle of the country facilitating travel to all major cities posing an opportunity for student athletes to explore the country that is hosting them and engage with the Swedish culture.

Living together:

As with everything, sharing accommodation has its benefits and challenges. With such a range of different daily schedules and responsibilities, a packed-full house with people you enjoy, are comfortable to be around and share common ground is the perfect environment to socialize and grow in a safe space. Of course the sharing of a space inevitably tests your boundaries and challenges you to learn, accept and respect each other’s personal affairs especially within such an international setting. This is just the beginning; plus, if this living situation means 24 hours of pure, uninterrupted football content screened at the house, then so be it!

A little update on a few of our student athletes and their objectives this season:

Our Zambian international player is fully immersed within our student-athlete program. Training with one of the top teams at Jönköping he will be enjoying a full season of highly competitive football from the first day of pre-season. While progressing his physical development through his tailored workout program, he will also be attending lectures and group projects regularly on campus, facilitating the completion of his masters degree.
Our Swedish player is enjoying the benefits of an 100% remote education and still sharing that campus experience with the students at Jönköping University. Trialing and exploring opportunities both within the space of competitive and university football, he is also welcoming the chance to dive into futsal.
Our American player is currently in the final stages of his rehab process, focused on getting back to 100% from an injury sustained last season. As always, our partners at P3RFORM and mentor sessions will be supporting him throughout this whole process. Having recently finished his education responsibilities as well as an internship and following his excellent performance last season, he will be aiming for a club at the highest level for this new season ahead.