Real Betis Balompié continues to strengthen its international expansion strategy with the launch of an academy in Eswatini, a country formerly known as Swaziland, located between South Africa and Mozambique, with a population of just over one million.
The initiative aims to promote the development of young talent in the African country by applying the training methodology of the green-and-white club.
The academy was created with the aim of offering young people a structured environment for learning soccer, combining technical and tactical training, values education and activities to integrate them into the local community.
Javier López Alonso, international coordinator of the Real Betis Academy, and Santiago González Márquez, coach of the green-and-white team, are visiting the new academy this week to personally supervise the start of its activities and ensure excellence in its first steps.
The aim of this meeting is to validate the implementation of the working methodology and ensure that young talents begin their training under the quality standards and values that define the green-and-white institution.
SPORTS TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS
The academy will be held at the facilities of UFS International School, the project's local partner, and will initially involve 160 players aged between 9 and 20, in a programme that promotes inclusion and participation for both boys and girls.
Training sessions are held regularly each month, with a model that combines six monthly training sessions and two matches, allowing young footballers to apply the concepts they have learned in competition.
In addition, the programme includes the organisation of specialised sports sessions with other local schools, thus expanding the academy's impact on the development of grassroots football in the community.
Activities will mainly take place on Fridays and Saturdays, making it easier for young people from different parts of the country to participate and balance their studies.
A PROJECT WITH SOCIAL IMPACT AND A COMMITMENT TO GROWTH
The academy also has a social focus that seeks to facilitate access to sport for as many young people as possible.
To this end, the project includes a support system for families and guardians that provides access to transportation, official academy equipment and training materials provided through collaboration with the host school.
In addition, the programme is open to both students from the educational centre and young people from other schools, guaranteeing access to the facilities and the necessary supervision during training sessions.
The project also has a medium-term growth vision. Eswatini has four administrative regions, and the goal is to gradually expand the training network by creating at least one training centre in each region, thus bringing Real Betis' development model to young people throughout the country.
REAL BETIS ACADEMY'S STRATEGIC PLAN IN AFRICA
The launch of Real Betis Academy in this small country in southern Africa is part of the club's international development strategy and plan for the African continent, through which Real Betis seeks to strengthen its global presence and contribute to the growth of youth soccer in different regions of the world.
Through Real Betis Academy, the Seville-based institution continues to extend its methodology and educational model, based on the comprehensive training of soccer players, combining athletic development with values such as teamwork, discipline, and respect.
BEYOND THE PERMANENT ACADEMY: OTHER REAL BETIS PROGRAMMES
In addition to its permanent academies, the Club runs various training programmes:
Real Betis Camps: short-term camps (3 to 5 days) where young people are evaluated by Club coaches who travel to the camp location and are trained using the Club's methodology to improve their athletic performance.
Real Betis Inside: a programme that allows soccer players to travel to Seville to train at the club's facilities, play friendly matches, and get to know the stadium through a personalized tour.
Real Betis Coaches Development: technical, theoretical and practical training for international coaches based on the club's methodology, taught by top-level professionals from Real Betis.
Real Betis Team Alliance: alliances with international clubs to implement the Club's methodology, promoting the football development of all its players.