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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”.

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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.

Barcelona visit to Lagos

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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.

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“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.

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“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.”

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The tournament will hold between December 10 and 23, 2016.

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119 comments
    1. Your comment..i love to be the best player in academy am a talented player please contact me football is my dream 08135520364

    1. 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

    2. 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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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.

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. I will like to apply for the online form please i need the registration website. My number 09055965566

  9. 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

  10. 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).

  11. 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

      1. teslim balogun stadium, Surulere. remember 13,500 as registration fee. Paying cash is not allowed either you pay with teller or POS

  12. 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

  13. 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)

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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..

  18. 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

  19. 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..

  20. 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

  21. 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.

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. football for me has always been a burning passion and I want to take it further as a career thank you 08138802780

  25. How i wish am there now, but with God all things are possible this is my number 09029535218 please i need it please

  26. 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.

  27. 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

  28. 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.

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. 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?

  32. 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

  33. 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. .

  34. 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

  35. Your comment..please sir I have the talent of football I no that you can do it for each of us 09050585534

  36. Your comment..My Name Is Ezekiel Damilola Am 17 Years Old And Am Ambitious And Eager To Join And Make Nigeria Proud

  37. 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

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