South Africa National First Division (NFD) side Jomo Cosmos has forged a relationship with Portuguese side Benfica where the local side will be sending school children to Portugal for exchange programme and if the pupils do well they will be given the chance to stay at the Portuguese club for development and even first team future.
The project was launched on Friday in Johannesburg and the club’s manager Andrew Rabutla told the Siya crew that it is Bra J’s wish to always see young talented players being given a chance to progress in the career not only here in South Africa but in the world as well.
The project will see Jomo Sono and Cosmos travel throughout the country to identify talent that can then be put on the programme with Benfica in Portugal.
Rabutla himself a product of Mr Sono and has played in Europe before said that this is a chance for the two countries and teams to forge more relationships.
“What Bra J and Benfica have done is exchange of ideas which will help develop players at a tender age. They have targeted schools because they want to give those pupils the chance to do both school and sports. This will also help the Portuguese club understand the African football as many players in their club come from Africa,” the former Bafana Bafana defender said.
