The New CFR: A Bright Future Ahead - May 27, 2009

CFR's future seems very bright. Many of the youngsters in the club's youth system are on the verge of professional breakthroughs. With only two matches left in the season, CFR's reserve team is currently very close to promotion to Liga II. The older juniors all have qualified for the regional playoffs. CFR forward, Sergiu Bus, is the captain of the Romanian U-17 National Team. Vlad Bujor is training with the first team, while Traore has already debuted in Liga I. These are the results of a project which was first begun seven years ago, in 2002. 

Reserve team coach, Gheorghe Cioceri explains: "Teaching youth players and helping them to grow is a long-term investment. At this point, it's far too risky and too early to say that this or that player will become a great footballer. They need to mature, to pass the tests life throws at them revealing who is stronger. This takes roughly 6-8 years. In 2002, the old CFR (including the youth system) went through a transformation, and only now are we seeing the first results of this. In conclusion, in 2-3 years we will begin to see the true fruits of our labour. Everything takes time."

The club's training grounds are all at the disposal of the youth teams. CFR's future footballers train at the CMC, CUG, and Transylvania arenas. Cioceri goes on to say that the construction and maintenance of so many fields is very expensive, but well worth the cost in the long run: "CFR invests in the future. The club's excellent training grounds are proof enough of this."

Cioceri also explains the role of the reserve team: "Our area of selection is much larger now than it was in the past. Our criteria for selecting our youth is much stricter and we only accept those who are serious enough. The team that I coach, CFR II, is the intermediate step between the youth team and the first team. Traore, Bujor and Curileac are well on their way to Liga I. Perhaps our Ivorian central midfielder, Leoh Digbeu, will follow suit."

Source: Clujeanul, www.clujeanul.ro 

        Next match:

Sept. 11/2010

7th Round 2010/11

Rapid - CFR Cluj  

Cluj-Napoca

Aug. 2 8/2010 

CFR Cluj-Pandurii

2-1

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