La Liga Next Gen Tournament taking place at a 2010 FIFA World Cup Facility
Image: Obakeng Meletse independent Newspapers
A host of trials will be performed as specialist scouts from the Spanish league will be exploring the talent on the field with hopes to create a pathway hopefully to being amongst the best players in one of the best leagues in the world.
The selected eight players, who must be under the age of 15, will not only get the opportunity of a lifetime to tour one of the world's greatest footballing countries, but they will also get a chance at teaming up with other youth talents from the United States of America, Guatemala, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking at the launch currently taking place at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus, Managing Director of La Liga in Africa Tresor Penku was excited about seeing some of the best young talents in South Africa over the course of the competition.
“In South Africa, we have a huge fan base. The Next Gen Draft will be stating this weekend with more than 200 boys and girls having the opportunity to showcase their talent.” Penku said during the launch of the tournament.
“I am certain there is going to be a showcase of some amazing skills over the course of the weekend and we are eager to see them display those skills. We will be doing some EA Sports drills with them and after we will be selecting the best players from there.
“The last day of the draft will conclude the selection of the best players in each category, the four boys and girls will join up with the rest of their teamates from the rest of the countries in this competition.”
The group of eight will spend a good ten days on Spanish shores and even though there are no guarantees of them succeeding in the future, Penku believes the experience will benefit them as they progress further in their careers.
“The focus for LaLiga in Africa is more on exposure, and that could be anything from playing with teams until some of them decide that talent fits their specific needs or demands.
“Even if no club ends up not signing any of the players, many of them will come back with a different way of thinking in terms of football, but if any club says one of the talented youngsters fits their needed set of skills, the clubs will be free to engage directly with the families if that happens.
“We want to provide this platform for these young boys and girls but the bigger goal is exposure and a lot of education.”
Former Bafana defender Nasief Morris has been a part of the program and Penku added that they will be looking to add more legends in the future.
“We have had Nasief Morris, who also played in La Liga before; it is great to have such legends talk to these young boys and girls because we understand that having someone that you look up to next to you can often get the message through a little better.”