Northants connections give coach Thiago a chance to visit the UK

US-based football coach Thiago Pinto is very well travelled – his career has seen him jet off to the likes of Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
Thiago Pinto, the technical director of South Bend Lions, will be visiting Northamptonshire over the next week due to the local ties with the American teamThiago Pinto, the technical director of South Bend Lions, will be visiting Northamptonshire over the next week due to the local ties with the American team
Thiago Pinto, the technical director of South Bend Lions, will be visiting Northamptonshire over the next week due to the local ties with the American team

However, having already clocked up plenty of airmiles, the 37-year-old is embarking on arguably the most exciting time of his life, as technical director of a new, start-up soccer team called South Bend Lions, based in Indiana.

The next stop in his journey? A week in Northamptonshire, of course.

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It may sound an inconceivable connection on first read, but there’s something incredible going down in the Bend, something that was ignited closer to home than many will realise.

Talks started with the South Bend community in the spring of 2019, and it was announced in mid-November that a pre-professional soccer team was to be founded in the area to play in the USL League Two – a division that provides players with a gateway to pro football.

Former Northampton Town players Neil Kitson and Seb Harris both started out at that level, before flying to England to have successful trials with the Cobblers, which led to them playing league football.

One of the key drivers behind such talks in Indiana was South Bend Lions owner and principle investor, Ritchie Jeune, current owner of Kettering Town and the Future Lions International Football Academy in NN15.

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He, alongside former Corby Town and Stamford director Chris Rivett, who is based in Northampton, and Bethel University head coach Pinto, have made history in South Bend.

“We want to create the best opportunity for young players and aspiring footballers to have a pathway in the game, but also to provide a platform for community and people transformation,” said Pinto, a Brazilian-native who played youth team football at Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro.

“That’s something that we are very passionate about – using the game as a means for a positive effect in the community.

“Chris and Ritchie have already made a big impact on the people of South Bend in a very short space of time, and that is something we look forward to building on.

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“There’s a cultural connection with Kettering Town, Future Lions Academy, Northampton Lions (the town’s top futsal side co-owned by Jeune and Rivett) and understanding what the coaches do there.

“The trip has many purposes; I’ll be flying to London and visiting Northampton and Kettering, as well as heading to Sheffield Wednesday to see Ryan Needs (performance analyst), who used to play for me at Bethel.”

Whilst in the UK, one of the objectives on Pinto’s agenda is scouting for talent to build the Lions’ inaugural team for their USL2 season starting on May 15 – players who will follow in the footsteps of Needs by playing in South Bend.

The first steps in establishing the club’s set up were in place since before the team was revealed, as Pinto and former MLS player Mamba Chisoni, his assistant, have been coaching a Lions’ U18s side which will be visiting the UK over Easter.

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“I have two players from Bethel, who are going to be playing in the summer, coming here with me to train with some of the best players from the Future Lions teams,” explained Pinto, who is here with the duo over the next eight days.

“The two players are talented youngsters; they are not going to be our top players in the summer, but they’ll be a great reference point.

“The trip is also a good opportunity for me to learn. There are good coaches at youth, semi-pro through to Premier League academies, and we have connections at all those levels.

“It’s understanding there’s a discussion to be had with them not knowing about the standard in the USL League Two or university level, because some Europeans and South Americans think they’ll come here and be the top players, and it’s not necessarily like that.

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“I want to exchange knowledge and build relationships with coaches at Kettering, Northampton Lions and Future Lions to get more affinity with them; to set up the U18s trip and to ensure future success in a shared pathway.”

But, in essence, this visit for Pinto is more than just about the football, but a cultural experience.

“I’ve travelled a lot of countries but not in the UK; I’ve only ever been in an airport there and not had the chance to explore,” he admitted.

“Eating food especially is a huge thing in a lot of cultures. I’ve been in the Amazon jungle and I ate some stuff that I still have no idea to this day what it was.

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“I’ve been in Ecuador and other places, eating what is not my choice of food, but it’s part of being welcome, creating a bond, making an effort to please your hosts and learning their culture. You have to become one of them.”

Northants is fairly rich in culture, from the eats to the arts, entertainment, and of course, sport.

But rest assured, Thiago, there won’t be anything unusual on the menu.