Charlie Davies (USA), Andreas Laudrup (Denmark), Fisnik Shala (Sweden), Ivan Čelikovć (Croatia), Panagiotis Georgiou (Greece) en Stio Lopes Nogueira (Portugal) have come to Amsterdam to try and earn a spot in the renowned youth academy of Ajax. All six participated in an intra-squad scrimmage with the A-juniors and players from Young Ajax.

The Ajax youth academy has captured the imagination of talented young football players all over the world. Also that of Charlie Davies, the twenty-year old striker of Boston College from Boston, Massachusetts. The American, forward of the year in the ACC, one of the divisions of the college competition in the United States, is on a two-week trial at the Amsterdam club and Davies enjoys every minute of it. The forward played with Young Ajax in a friendly against FC Lisse on Wednesday. This Friday he scored three goals in the intra-squad match and shows an array of dazzling moves. With his twenty years, Davies is the oldest of the group of interns and the extra years translate into a fysical advantage.

Davies owns the typical American sports mentality and pairs a fierce desire to win with a positive attitude. The American already knows the names of most of his new teammates. ,,I learn those things quickly and I thought it was important to pick up on those details'', says Davies. ,,It isvery exciting to be on trial here at Ajax; I am learning a lot and I am anxious to sign a contract here. The level of play is very high and I want to play with the best players.''

In about a week Charlie Davies will know if his dream comes true and he will succeed John O'Brien as an American in the red and white of Ajax.

One of the interns is already accustomed to some media attention, even though he is only sixteen years old. But that is not so strange when your last name has been on the back of jerseys of world-famous clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax. Andreas Laudrup is the youngest son of the legendary Michael Laudrup, who ended his impressive career at Ajax and later declared that he regretted not having begun at Ajax.

Andreas Laudrup, like his older brother Mads a youth international for Denmark, reminds onlookers of his famous dad in his way of moving, although that fact alone does not say much about his football ability. The young Laudrup plays at Danish club Lyngby, and travels back to his home country on Saturday. ,,I play as left or right midfielder'', says Andreas after the training match. ,,I am left-footed but I can also shoot well with my right.''

,,It's great being on trial here'', says Laudrup junior, whose father's advice was simple but powerful. ,,My dad said that Ajax is a very good club. I hope I can come back here.''

Laudrup, Davies and the other four interns Shala, Čelikovć, Georgiou and Nogueira visibly enjoy their time in the Amsterdam football school; all are hoping that the trial leads to a permanent stay at Ajax. Coach Sonny Silooy of the A-juniors trained the group during some of the sessions. ,,There is an age difference between the interns and you can therefore see the difference in bodily strength, but for the guys it is good that they can do this together. This way they can support each other a bit.''
Whether the young talents will actually get a place in the Ajax youth academy is unknown for the moment. Many have preceeded them and many will follow; young football players dreaming of a place at Ajax. But in any case they have had a chance to see how things go in what is perhaps the best-known youth academy in the world of football. And judgeing from the smiling faces after the training sessions, they have enjoyed it immensely.