Development Pathway Bearing Fruit as Azcona, Castanheira and Guediri Appear with Inter Miami

By Inter Miami CF

April 21^st, 2021

Inter Miami’s commitment to developing talent has been a pillar of the Club since its inception. The “freedom to dream” expression printed on the collars of the First Team’s jerseys is representative of this vision and its importance to the Club.

On Sunday, Inter Miami launched its second MLS campaign, and did so with three living testimonies to this vision in the matchday squad. Edison Azcona, Dylan Castanheira and Sami Guediri all made the bench for the home opener just one year after featuring at a different level in the Club’s development pathway with Fort Lauderdale CF, the Club’s USL League One affiliate.

“We think it’s massive for the whole organization and the Club. Players of all ages get to see the player pathway from the Academy to USL and onto the First Team,” said Inter Miami CF Director of Player Development and Fort Lauderdale CF head coach Darren Powell. “Players see that and realize there’s a tangible path for them to progress through the club. It’s so important to see that it’s real and that there’s belief from the First Team staff in the players in our program”

Azcona made history, becoming the first Academy product to feature in a matchday squad for the First Team, while Guediri came off the bench to make a late appearance in the match.

“To see players coming through the system after one year is very important and this bodes well for the future.”

Development Pathway Bearing Fruit as Azcona, Castanheira and Guediri Appear with Inter Miami

For Powell, the development of each of these players serves as affirmation that the work being done within the Club is important.

“Everyone takes immense pride, players and coaches, from the Academy and USL when you see players come through the pathway and do well for the First Team in practice and eventually games…The entire staff works extremely hard behind the scenes with the young players on a daily basis to prepare them for their next opportunity.”

Regardless of the entry point into the Inter Miami development pathway, the message remains the same; with hard work, there will be opportunity to develop at the Club.

“The ‘freedom to dream’ means whenever you step onto the field you have an opportunity, I think that’s clear to see. From the Academy through the First Team there’s a genuine, sincere message that we send to players that they have an opportunity to progress in this club, but you also have to earn that with your daily behaviors and performances in training and games.”

Powell also noted that Azcona, Castanheira and Guediri took different paths through the program before reaching the First Team. Azcona began with the Academy U-17s before joining Fort Lauderdale CF, while Castanheira and Guediri joined Fort Lauderdale from outside of the Academy. Despite their different paths, Sunday represented the first taste of MLS action for each of them.

“Academy players see and hear our message daily, but there’s also an opportunity for young players from outside of the Academy to see they can grow within the USL team and know the First Team is watching every single day. If there’s an opening or an opportunity and that player can help the team, they’re already in the Inter Miami system and integrated, so they’re more ready to make that step than maybe somebody from outside of the organization.”

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