Last week a Mercer Island soccer club hosted an Italian soccer scout, in town to check out the local talent and possibly offer a couple of players the chance of a lifetime.

Islander FC hosted the five-day camp at Robinswood Park in Bellevue with Luis Pomares, who works with Italian Soccer Management and the Empoli FC soccer club.

At the end of the week, he offered two spots for an all-exclusive journey to Italy. The duo will get the chance, if they want, to go to Italy, where they will go to school and train with soccer coaches who work with Empoli.

Players from around the world are being handpicked by Pomares for the chance to attend the event, and it’s the first time ever that Pomares or anyone with Empoli has come to the area.

“It’s a great experience,” said Pomares.

The camp, hosted by Islander FC, had 36 players from all across the country and Canada, including several from Mercer Island. The campers, of all ages, spent the week training, learning new techniques, working on their footwork and conditioning, while playing several matches.

Islander FC owner Jennifer Dickinson has been working with Empoli since 2011 to set up the camp and make it happen.

The players who were chosen from the camp will join those picked by Pomares from Canada and Europe, in Italy, for an international trial where Empoli and other teams will be on hand to watch tryouts for a week. From there players head to the school, located in central Italy between Florence and Rome in Umbria region.

Pomares said he was impressed with the players, but that compared to European players of the same age, there was still work to be done.

“It’s much different,” he said. “The players will need to be ready and work on some things when they arrive. One of our goals is to help bring the (European) style and technique.”

To learn more about Islander FC visit the website islanderfc.com.