Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira
BULAWAYO-based Real Betis Academy Zimbabwe players are set to travel to Harare to join their counterparts ahead of a football festival set for Saturday at the Morris Depot Grounds.
Seven junior teams will join Real Betis Academy for the developmental festival catering for Under-9s, 11s, 14s, 18s and Under-20s.
A delegation from the Spanish outfit scheduled to jet into the country tomorrow will watch the festival games.
Real Betis Head of Global Sports Projects Ignacio Pinilla, Technical Director of Real Betis Academy Juan Parra and Technical Coordinator Javier López, La Liga Africa Managing Director Marcos Pelegrin will be in the country from May 18-24.
Real Betis Academy Zimbabwe chairman Gerald Sibanda said they are ready for the festival as well as hosting their Spanish guests.
“We are excited ahead of the visit from the Spanish delegation. We have invited a number of teams to be part of the football festival which will be watched by the visitors. We will have players and coaches from our Bulawayo base joining us during this visit.
“The Visiting Real Betis Officials accompanied by La Liga and the Spanish Embassy will meet Zimbabwe’s football-loving community and stakeholders at an event dubbed “A night with Real Betis”. The guest list includes the Real Betis growing community, Government officials, diplomatic community, corporates, football stakeholders, media, influencers, and some lucky fans who will win tickets to attend,” said Sibanda.
Five teams, Real Betis, Aces, Legends, Golden Eagles and Black Mambas will compete in the Under-20 competition.
The Under-18 pool has Real Betis, Legends, BN Academy, Royal Oak and Mabvuku Select with teams participating in the Under-16 being Real Betis, Aces, Royal Oak and BN Academy.
The same sides will also battle it out in the Under-14 Pool.
Golden Eagles will be added to the teams for the Under-11 Pool. Players in the Under-9 division will not be left out as they have their pool which has RealBetis, Legends, Golden Eagles and Real Stars.
Already, more than 1 000 boys and girls outside of Spain, including Zimbabwe have had the chance to train under the Real Betis’ methodology.
Real Betis Academy Zimbabwe’s initiative started in Harare in 2020 after the academy’s president Sibanda’s sports agency Athletes Sphere Management entered into a partnership with La Liga side.
In Bulawayo, legendary Highlanders FC striker Zenzo Moyo leads Real Betis Academy that has Peter “Oxo” Nkomo, Johannes “Tshisa” Ngodzo and Gift “Thebe” Lunga Jnr as its coaches. — @innocentskizoe
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