adminLA Liga side, Celta Vigo, have become the latest club from Spain’s top-flight league to invest in an academy in Southern Africa.
Two years ago, Real Betis opened their Real Betis Academy in Zimbabwe.
LaLiga side Celta Vigo now have created another potential pipeline to Spain for young South African footballers after officially opening an academy in Johannesburg. Celta Vigo, the former team of Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy have officially announced a partnership with Celta Academy Evaton school in Evaton, Johannesburg in collaboration with the Celta Vigo Foundation and Pereira Ocean Products.
The arrangement will see Celta help towards developing grassroots football in South Africa through training, the provision of equipment and improvement of facilities, while also sending coaches to help facilitate the sporting education of the pupils at the academy.
“RC Celta, through its Foundation, and Pereira Ocean Products, a company belonging to Grupo Pereira, join forces to develop grassroots football in South Africa and contribute to educating young people in the values of sport.
“Through an agreement signed this morning at the Conxemar stand by Carlos Mouriño, president of RC Celta, and José Enrique Pereira, CEO of Grupo Pereira, both entities commit to supporting and promoting the work of the Celta Academy Evaton school.
“Located in Evaton, a township just outside of Johannesburg. The school is made up of more than 200 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 17.
“In line with its corporate social responsibility policy and as a company with strong ties to the South African country, Pereira Ocean Products will become the official sponsor of the Celta Academy in Evaton, contributing, among other things, to the improvement of its facilities.
“For its part, the Celta Foundation will include the Evaton Academy in its network of official schools in different international venues and will provide its methodology, advice, theoretical and practical training, as well as the necessary official equipment.
“The Celta Foundation will periodically send some of its coaches to Evaton and will receive players from the Celta Academy Evaton in Vigo for the continuation of their training and sports education.” – Sports Reporter/KickOff
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter