LaLiga side Real Betis have launched a second academy on the African continent, this time in Cape Town, South Africa. Here is all you need to know!
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Journalists and media personalities from around South Africa attended the exciting launch on Wednesday at Clifton Fives in Cape Town as Betis furthered their efforts to expand on the African continent.
A press release from Los Verdiblancos read:
Real Betis aspires to become a global brand and for this end it has arrived in Africa to launch a second academy project and to offer unique experiences to its local community of fans. At an event held in the city of Cape Town, a Real Betis delegation together with its local partner, LaLiga executives and the Consulate General of Spain, the club's growth project in Africa was presented to the country's main media and institutional guests.
As part of the club's strategic plan to extend its brand globally and transmit the values of the institution, Real Betis is opening another academy on the African continent. Real Betis already launched a first academy in Harare (Zimbabwe) in 2020, and now the club will have presence with a second academy in Cape Town (South Africa). Real Betis believes that the best way to build a solid base in the African market is through the practice of football and by supporting the social development of the region with long-term academy projects. Ignacio Pinilla, Head of International Sports Projects at Real Betis, mentioned that the club seeks "to be closer to the club's fan community and to encourage an increase in our followers" although he also stressed that "the sports projects are a first step and African fans will see a Real Betis more active than ever in the market".
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Proof of this is the event that will take place in Harare around the match between Real Betis and Sevilla FC this weekend for the club's local fans and academy players. Gerald Sibanda, head of the Betis Academy in Zimbabwe and Cape Town, has pointed out that since the launch of the first academy "in Harare everyone wears green and white", and that "now it is time to replicate the model in South Africa, with the aim of having more academies next season and continuing to promote Real Betis in Africa".
Marcos Pelegrín, LaLiga Managing Director in Southern Africa, expressed the leagues enthusiasm in receiving Real Betis in Africa, "we are very happy to see Real Betis becoming a stronger club in the continent and we are looking forward to supporting them in all their endeavours". About the growth of the Spanish league in the continent, the league "hopes to see more Spanish clubs following the Real Betis path in a continent that is in love with football and where there is space for anyone willing to work on its development".
With this action, the club demonstrated that it is committed to the African market and that it has ambitious plans to further support the development of local football and to offer unique experiences to the club's fans on the continent. Real Betis not only has these academy projects in the region, as it has also managed to grow its local partnership network with several African sponsors who have joined the project. In addition, Real Betis has important former African players in its recent history, such as Achille Emaná, Finidi George and Benjamin Zarandona and current players such as Youssouf Sabaly that allow the club to be recognised and followed from the African territory. With this action, the club demonstrated that it is committed to the African market and that it has ambitious plans to further support the development of local football and to offer unique experiences to the club's fans on the continent.
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