Barcelona to open first African football academy in Lagos
Barcelona football club says it will open its first African football academy in Lagos, Nigeria.
Pau Vilanova Vila-Abadal, director of business and member of FC Barcelona management board, disclosed this during a visit to Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of the state, on Monday.
Vila-Abadal said FC Barcelona decided to establish its academy in Lagos due to the impressive population of the state, and the opportunity to share the philosophy of the team with the state.
Oscar Grau, worldwide director of Barcelona Academy, said “it was indeed a big honour for the club to establish its Academy in Lagos, as many of the big names in the team started from such Academy”.
He recalled that players like Messi, Iniesta, Sergio Busquet, Pique, among others, all started from such academy, and that the club has a unique methodology of instilling great virtues in footballers, apart from footballing skills and education.
He added that through the academy, the club also aims to raise excellent players for Nigeria.
Responding to the team’s plan on the academy, Ambode expressed readiness of the state to collaborate with the club to kick off the academy.
“This visit by FC Barcelona is coming at a point where I believe strongly that we have nothing else to say than to say we are committed into this partnership because we know the partnership will give us the first FCBEscola in Africa,” he said.
“I was made to understand that this is the first of its kind in Africa and so Lagos is priding itself as a major receptor of the next academy to be established in Africa.
“I know that this will create a very good platform for youth development, grassroots empowerment and also for the value of sportsmanship.
“We share the same values with FC Barcelona which are respect, courage, humility, social integration and community service. So, I just want to say that you have our blessing; you have our go-ahead.
“Whatever it is that we need to do to ensure that this project takes off as quick as possible as a government, we are hundred percent ready to support you in the interest of all of us.”
The governor said he believes “sports, entertainment and arts can actually contribute together to lift Lagos and Nigeria away from the problem of unemployment”.
Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who was present at the visit, said the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had just approved the hosting of the first-ever Beach Soccer African Nations Cup in Lagos in December.
“The tournament is a major qualifier for the World Cup and eight best Beach soccer teams in Africa will converge in Lagos for the tournament,” Pinnick said.
“We know that Lagos has always played a pivotal role in redefining and rebranding Nigeria, which we are very excited about.”
The tournament will hold between December 10 and 23, 2016.
dis is a great platform nd opportunity 4 young footballers like me,pls wher is dis academy located?
Your comment..i wish to join 08160011702
teslim Balogun Stadium that where it is held. 13,500 as registration fee.
Your comment..i love to be the best player in academy am a talented player please contact me football is my dream 08135520364
am ready to plAy nd challenge ordErs,I can plAy in any position so this my number 09097188562
I wish to join the academy
Your comment..pls i love to join.
teslim Balogun Stadium
i wish to joined the academy urgently pls help me out
This is so amazing, plz where is it located
Wonderful platform to nurture talents and dreams. Hope to join register with this academy
My comment is I have tarlent for football and I don’t see a hep can employ me for football if you can hep me call me with this number 07038031858 or 09082286014
My comment is I have tarlent for football and I don’t see pesin con hep me to employ in football Academy in Legos stete, I am ege of 19 years thank you for listening to this my comment God bless you thanks
Hope to register with this academy
How can I register with this academy?
i am really intrested in joining d academy
Plz i would love to register with the accademy, to show my god giving talent, plz my dream is to become a footballer one day
Am so happy to here diz,a big tenx to our governor fr dea support nd I proms to b dea first player to register,,Godbless Nigeria
Suis très heureux que le barça ouvre une académy au Nigeria, s’il-vous-plaît suit très intereser.
EKO ONI BAJE….O BAJE TII..
Long Live my Governor,Long live Lagos state. When I first hear this,I was so so and so happy because I belong to FC barca. I represent Barca in my Hood,and I can’t wait to be part of this Academy. I want my dream fulfilled with the help of My Governor and Lagos state. Please sir,how do I register and where is it located??
This is my number, 08139271136. Thanks
Please i want to know what one have to hold before applying
pls when is it starting and were is the venue? 08181321382 or 08177158277 pls contact me pls am intrested.
Your comment..is good to hare this, I we like to be the one of tham…
Your comment.. pls I want to register for these academy how can I join you
Hello Sire, please furnished us with detailed directives, from enrollment form to trial dates and locations including a webpage. Thanks once again for the good work started and God blessed Amen
Thank you, your Excellency for creating the enabling environment for this great project and special appreciation to my club, the Catalonia giant for choosing Nigeria and Lagos State for the project. Sir I am using this opportunity to make a request from Mr Paul Vilanova Vila-Abadal to give my son 14yrs old Emmanuel the chance to play in the accademy. He is a long time supporter of the club, his vision is to play football for FC Barcelona.
Gud Day Governor Akinkunmi Abode,am very happy that you allowed barca to create their first academy in africa and nigeria.and also to bring out more youngsters in lagos.am so much instrested in this and am ready to join am samuel and this my number 08023878772,08023510398.i pray u read this.GOD BLESS U
i would love to play for good team an winners team like barcelona so dat my dream will come truth like leo messi i have desires to be a player an also i love playing football.i am barcelona fans in lagos.i love footbal pls come an get me sir.i dont care any amount dat wil cost.dis is my ful details. My name is. Balogun Sodiq,Am living at bariga lagos, number 35 Okuta road at bariga,an also my phone number.08121836601 or 08028353434
Your comment..plzzz wher is it located ooo…. abeg ah very much wish to join…. plzzz
i wish to join pls wher is d location
Your comment..pls sir, I want to play football like m10 I am interest to join pls 07067412488
I will like to apply for the online form please i need the registration website. My number 09055965566
I will like to join pls how can I get the form
Your comment.. I want to register my brother what are the requirements and location.
am really happy about the academy and i really want to join it dis is the only chance 4 me to prove who i want to be dis is my contact in case of any info07017699058
I would like to join please
thanks to the great lagos and nigeria leaders for this awesome opportunity for a football dreamboy like me,now i can go for my dreams and make them all come through.thanks to God who made it possible for nigeria/lagos and thanks to his Excellency AMBODE for the great deal made.please where is it located and what are the requirements sir?.(08168562418).
i am eager to play in this academy
Your comment..hw wll I jnt d academy plz !
Your comment..its been my dream to play for Barcelona, It will be a great pleasure to start under UNICEF, please sir what are the requirements. 09080749045
Great opportunity to me and the others i can’t wait to join pls date of registration (People uses to call me young Neymar)
Great opportunity to me, pis hw can I join,am in Lagos na.dis is my no. 07031883206 thanks
teslim balogun stadium, Surulere. remember 13,500 as registration fee. Paying cash is not allowed either you pay with teller or POS
i will love to join this new academy in lagos….09053312996 oluwaseun
i would love to join this new academy all i need is how to get the form and other things needed am aged14 this is my dad’s no 08029619952
it’s my pleasure to join,so where is it located,and how can i join?…should in case you may need my contact,here is it(08169352531)
I also will wish to join but the registration fees will be too high
I’m intrested contact me wen its time 08133891344
I wish to join08133891344
I will like to join, were is it located or u can call me (07084024685) thank you
i wil like to join your academy please. inquiries +234(0)7050666674 +234(0)7028526880
My name is chinonso edeh and i would like to join the barcelona academy i live in kaduna barnawa g.r.a my fone number is 07014433205 thank you
Thank God, it was amazing that the best club in the world planing away forward for Africa and Nigeria football in the nearest future. Good one
I also wish to join your academy
I wish to join the academy this my contract 07038453136
I will like to join the football academy
This is very nice i wish to join this team here is my number
Your comment..wish to join and how can I locate u guys
Good day I am Erhus Jeremiah I have great potential as a footballer the best in my school I wish to apply for the academy urgently please contact me 08108984748
i wish 2 join barca academy pls were is their location my number 09092503345
My greetings too my governor I give honor too you and loyal sir I love too be in thiS academy pls sir help me out sir may the lord protect you and guide you duty of lagos Will not exhausted in you in jesuS name sir my number 08162501840
this is a lovely platform for we the young footballers….i will love too be part of this great movement. Pls here’s my number 08125108152..
I wish and love to join Sir., please how can i register Sir…. 08179057000
I want to play for my best club barca I am 19yrs old and my number is 09091843675
please I wish and I will love to join sir. please how do I get registered my contact (08134319117) email ([email protected])
I really want to become a professional footballer and this is an opportunity for me to prove my self please May the Lord bless you
Your comment..I would love to join,pls were is it located
Wow….. i think this is greatest news i have heard this year…sir please i would love to be part of the team,football has been my passion since i was a kid i promise to give 100% commitment to the team.
sir i would like to know how i could join the team, my name is Aaron Abu, am 20 years old , i play 7 and 3 ,am from Benue state, and this are my phone numbers 08064057762 ,08184096703..
I will like to join dis academy.
contact me on 233268483120
email – [email protected]
wow i’m so glad to hear about this thats great for the governor of lagos state and please i will like to join this football academy so i can show what ALMIGHTY GOD gave me. please contact (08083260985) thanks you
the future is now. am so ready to showcase my talent,thanks to lagos and barca for the opportunity. god bless you all for dis great development.
thank u for this opportunity u have giving to us.i will love to join please contact me through this number 08148986652.thanks
Your comment…….pls where is the location of the academy…and how can i apply for it…
My name kalu Emmanuel i am from ohafia in abia state i luv to join this family it we mean alot to me an my household i am 18 years old a student please this my phone number 07018004110 or 08060521110 thank you and GOD bless you
I will lyk to join my contact number 09025l62696
Pls wants to join….were is d academy located pls….08182541097
Am a good fans of FCB and i wish to play for Nigeria my country and fc Barcelona in future…. if God wish
I love to join this Academy 07062166218
Hello! Dats a gud idea.i will like 2 join ur team,i play 4 and 10.i am the nigerian *pogba*.4 more info pls call me @08135682830.I really want 2 be a professional and help my country win titles.Thanks
football for me has always been a burning passion and I want to take it further as a career thank you 08138802780
Your comment..k want to know d location fees and other important things about dat places.for contact pls call 08125470098
Your comment..pls i want my dream to come true how can i join your team sir
I would love to join this academy,my number:08140387440.thank you our good governor
Am fully interested… I would like to join.
How i wish am there now, but with God all things are possible this is my number 09029535218 please i need it please
I’m interested pls 08102920465
Your comment..I wish to join the Academy my name is Gabriel Osei Bonsu my number is 0274818833
please ooo i went to GT BANK in aba to register but the person who was to pay in said he doesn,t know anything on how to make the payment. please is there any one here who has made the payments.
please is there anyone here who has made the payments
Please SIR i will like to be among the team … Please where is the location SIR/MA Please my contact 08108853672
sir I want to join the team this is what have been waiting for since the age of 6 please make my dream come true
here is my number,u can also text me 09058487748 or 08055818958 or 08033048519
Sir,
My name is frank Barinedum Mbee from rivers state, I really want to join the academy sir,
I am 16 years old and a talented soccer player how can I get registered please.
At every oppurtunity I wish to play football. Pls sir, grant me and others this oppurtunity to continue where our heroes stoped. God bless
08122482222
I would love to join I am just 13 years old i love Barcelona with my life
I really want to join this team 08185175831
My name is kalu Emmanuel i am 16 years old i am from ohafia in ohafia local government in abia state i love to join this academy please u can call with this number 08060521110 thank u God bless u
Your comment..i would love to join this fantastic academy because i love football and Barcelona
Good job done… thanks to our Governor Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for these great opportunities to our children. Please can my son still enroll in the Barcelona Academy?
Pls , wish to join Pls contact me on 08062084255 or send me details contact of who I can contact
were is this academy located cause i wish to join
i want to join the academy now my future ambition is football and i have a passion for it
Your comment..my name is Jeremiah Etim am from Nsit ubuim LGA in Akwa Ibom state am 16years old my passion is on football i love to watch and to play am interesting to join for what i have i always like to display it this is my number 09033525483
l WlSH to pl@y for FCB. God help me through you…
i wish to join
i wish to join fcb becauss it’s my best club.
Your comment.. am 18, but I want to join the academy. .. plz send me all the details needed to do so… I stay in calabar. .
God bless Nigeria nd Lagos state government to bring this kind opportunity to we youth, I am talended player am playing for 3sc fielders team before I left there but now i want to join FCB academy if u can help me out this is my no 08177511015
i got tallent about football so if you need an under 14 player contact 0266667764 or 0543891969 pls
Your comment..please sir, I will like to join when
the form is out please contact me 07089196264
Your comment..pls sir I want to join this club
Your comment..pls.sir my parent told look 4 an academy pls am intrested your academy sir pls help me
please sir I have the talent of football sir I no that you can do it for each of us
Your comment..please sir I have the talent of football I no that you can do it for each of us 09050585534
Your comment..I wil want to play in dis gr8 academy
pls were is your location and how to contact the office and then the registration fees
how can my son join your football academy in LAGOS he is 12 yrs old he is a defender
Your comment..My Name Is Ezekiel Damilola Am 17 Years Old And Am Ambitious And Eager To Join And Make Nigeria Proud
My name is chiboy and I will like to join my best club am 16 years and my phone is 09095115922 and pls I will be happy if u accept me
i will want to join this club and i am going to show my skills and talent