BRADENTON, Fla. - One of the young standouts at the Super Y League ODP National Camp, Ning Mung took advantage of an improbable breakthrough with his club team, and is making the most of his ODP experience.  

The young forward of Burmese descent began showing up around Jacksonville YSC training, and once coaches noticed his skills and technique as he practiced at an adjacent field, he and his younger brother were invited to officially join the club.

Mung quickly established himself at the club, earning an invite to the ODP National Camp, where he has impressed his coaches early on.

“He’s one of the youngest players in the group, playing against some really big, strong, physical players,” coach Paul Buckle said. “He’s adapted really well. He has a really quick mind, a good football brain. He’s got really good feet, so as he grows and he matures he can become a really good player. He’s been great to coach.”

Mung played in both midfield and on the forward line in Saturday’s game, and said his main goal of the ODP National Camp is to improve his shooting and finishing skills.

“It’s an incredible experience for the boys. I’ve seen all the boys grow in just a couple days, with being together and learning how to manage playing games, with three games in quick succession and training, and I think it’s been excellent for them,” Buckle said.

CASTAGNETTI COMES UP BIG IN GOAL: In an entertaining 0-0 draw at the IMG Cup on Saturday, goalkeeper Isabella Castagnetti stole the show after making a series of big saves for her team.

Facing a penalty kick mid-way through the second half, Castagnetti dove to her right to make an impressive save, and then made another acrobatic stop on the ensuing rebound.

“I took a half-step to the left, so I’m closer to my weak side, and I’m banking that it’s my good side, so that kind of helped me a little bit because she went that way,” the Valkyries FC goalkeeper said of the penalty save, her first in a tournament game.

Despite the lack of goals, Castagnetti and her teammates were happy with the performance, and with keeping the shutout.

BONACCI LOOKS TO MAKE MOST OF ODP EXPERIENCE: Atlanta Fire forward Shea Bonacci has already made an impact on the field at the IMG Cup, and she is trying to make the most of her full experience at the Super Y League ODP National Camp.

Bonacci scored twice on Friday, and was identified by her coach as one of the team’s standout performers. In addition to playing in the IMG Cup, Bonacci is hoping to improve through training sessions, and get valuable feedback from her coaches at the ODP camp.

“I’m looking to learn a lot,” she said. “I’m patiently waiting for our evaluations to be in so I can see what I’m doing well in the game, and what I can do better at and work at, and maybe train a little more on.

“I’m enjoying it - I think it’s great to be able to play with lots of different talent. It’s good to play with people from all different states to get a taste of everything, and I think we’re doing pretty well playing together,” Bonacci said.

VETERAN COACH MACKAIN LOOKS FORWARD TO SYL FUTURE:  Mark Mackain has coached in the Super Y League for a number of years with different clubs from the Atlanta, Georgia region. This year MacKain has started his own club, All-In FC, which will enter both girls and boys teams into the Super Y League.

He has also participated in the Super Y League ODP National Camp for several years as a coach, and is happy about how the program has developed in recent years and enthusiastic about the opportunity to help guide top players.

“Every one of these kids, where they came from they were the best of their environment, so it’s kind of nice to let them know that there are other kids who are just as good or better,”MacKain said. “The first thing to do is to get them to relax because they get nervous. After that, it’s finding a way to get them to show whatever it is they bring to the game. If it’s speed, if it’s technique, if it’s tactics, if it’s a great shot – whatever it may be – our job is to create an environment that they are comfortable enough to show it.”

Mackain said he is also looking forward to moving forward with his club for the 2015 season, as he seeks to establish a major presence in the Atlanta area.

“I want to try to utilize the staff, the resources of the USL to help draw and attract and retain the best players around,” he said. “One of my favorite aspects of Super Y is that it’s a summer program, so that when everyone else is off, we’re still playing.”