How to clone Lionel Messi? Set up a Barcelona soccer school in Argentina.
That was the thinking behind the Catalan club’s project when they decided to look for more Argentine talent to nurture in their rich, world famous youth scheme.
Barcelona Junior Lujan was set up in 2007 as a subsidiary of the Spanish giants in a Buenos Aires suburb, recruiting and preparing boys to fulfill their dream of reaching clubs in Argentina’s first division.
Photo: Reuters
Director Jorge Raffo spoke in an interview about the care and education of boys between the ages of nine and 12 and the possibility that one of them might become a top performer like Messi or Diego Maradona, Mario Kempes and Enrique Omar Sivori before him.
“The junior project respects the essence of the Argentine footballer through his quality, individuality, intellectual development and teamwork, to return to the source and find those great players of our history, like Maradona, Messi, Kempes or Sivori,” Raffo said. “When we work with nine, 10 and 11-year-olds we don’t know if a kid is going to be a footballer, but we do know he’s going to be a person. So we’re particularly aware, specifically in this place, that the kids must be supported, accompanied, educated and not pressured.”
General manager Daniel Vitali, Barcelona’s legal representative in Argentina, said one of their main concerns was handling the uprooting of the boys.
Photo: Reuters
“Messi’s was a case in point. He left when he was 12, it was very painful for him and his family, the uprooting process,” Vitali said. “One of our objectives is to avoid kids leaving Argentina when they are very young, so we aim for them to develop in their own place, with their people, their family, in their country.”
The boys in the project, aged nine to 16, who arrive from all corners of Argentina through scouts and talent spotters, are required to study at Don Bosco School, one of the leading schools in Buenos Aires Province.
The soccer school has about 45 boarders and another 150 boys who live at home and train at the school every day.
“The 45 kids are the ones that go to Don Bosco school, they live here with us, they return to their homes five times a year and their parents also come here to visit them three or four times a year,” Vitali said.
The school applies the same training methods as those used at Barcelona.
“On the sporting side, Barcelona have given us a whole methodology we follow to the letter. We are obliged to show a development and sporting model quite different from that which has existed so far here in Argentina,” Raffo said.
He said that there is a regular exchange of information with the Catalan club through video footage of training sessions.
For the coaches, soccer is the excuse to teach a set of values to the boys so that, if they do not make it as players, they will not be reproached for not having fulfilled their dreams.
“As we always say, we are competing in two tournaments, a football tournament and a human one — who’s going to become an architect, lawyer, accountant,” Raffo said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely