Eight young South African footballers have recently returned from an unforgettable trip to Madrid, Spain, where they proudly flew the nation's flag high, competing against top teams including Atlético Madrid.
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Earlier this year, four boys and four girls from Rustenburg were selected by UEFA Pro-licensed coaches — working in collaboration with LALIGA — to attend an exclusive camp in the Spanish capital.
There, they joined peers from Guatemala, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and Vietnam for a once-in-a-lifetime experience with LALIGA and EA Sports FC. From 26 May to 4 June, the players trained at the Los Ángeles de San Rafael sports complex, Atlético de Madrid’s training ground.
At the camp, the youngsters participated in technical and tactical sessions based on the LALIGA Academy methodology, performance analysis workshops, individual development activities, and team-bonding leisure events.
But it didn’t end there — the players also faced youth sides from Atlético Madrid, CD Leganés, and Rayo Vallecano in competitive fixtures, strengthening the crucial link between development and competition.
When explaining the purpose behind the initiative, Juan Florit, Head of Sports Projects at LALIGA, said:
“This final phase in Spain aimed to inspire and create new opportunities for these young players both on and off the pitch. Our main goal was to instil in them the values of sport and LALIGA, offering the right educational and sporting stimuli through training and competition, combined with cultural and educational activities related to LALIGA and its clubs.”
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Ultimately, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was a reward for the players’ outstanding ability on the pitch. One of the South African participants, Kgatliso Raseloma, reflected fondly on the experience:
“My most memorable moment during the camp in Spain was when I assisted my teammate Monica to score a goal. My favourite part of football is the feeling I get every time I cross the white line onto the pitch.”
