WYRE Forest footballers are set to play to a samba beat with the introduction of Brazilian soccer schools to the area.

The Futbal de Sal£o sessions build skill levels, confidence and creativity by encouraging children to have a ball at their feet.

Brazilians superstars including Pele, Zico and Ronaldo were brought up using the innovative training method and it is commonplace among children in South America.

Futebol de is a small-sided game played on a hard surface using a smaller, weighted and specially designed ball.

Many sessions are also conducted to samba music to encourage the development of rhythm in each player's game. It was originally introduced in England by head coach Simon Clifford as a result of his friendship with former Middlesborough player Juninho.

There are now more than 600 schools, each sponsored by the LEGO Company, which teach in excess of 100,000 children how to play skilful, creative, and exciting football.

The schools have rapidly increased in popularity and have expanded out of the UK to Ireland, Asia, Africa, Australasia and North America.

The programme has already produced many outstanding young footballers, with more than 300 players currently attached to professional clubs.

Opening the new school in Kidderminster are Richard Sutherland and James Roberts who also coach the Under 15 and Under 16 Futebol de Sal£o National Squads.

They have worked with professional clubs including Leeds, Ipswich and Oldham and with soccer stars including Brazilian legend Socrates and Bolton's Nigerian international Jay Jay Okocha.

Sutherland and Roberts have held their specialist ICFDS coaching certificates for almost five years and are responsible for the succesful Stourbridge scoccer school area which boasts over 200 members.

"The children who learn how to play this way become technically superior to other players and have so much more to their game," said Roberts.

. The training is conducted in a friendly, positive and fun environment, and the skills development is quick and effective. "

To commemorate the launch, free taster sessions are being offered to interested primary and secondary schools.

There will also be a Futebol de Sal£o coaching week in the Easter holidays at a venue to be decided.

For more details phone Richard Sutherland on 07970517389, or email him at r.sutherland@icfds.com