Real Madrid Football Academy Opens In PH

Admission into Real Madrid Football Academy has begun in Port Harcourt. For now, it shall be ‘day time’ schooling for students. This is a first phase. The second phase will begin when the hostels have been built. That will enable all students to stay in the hostel and devote to football training and serious Academic activities.
The Academy has space for 540 students. The Rivers State government has promised to offer 300 scholarships to students at the academy. There are hopes for expansion.
Rivers State indigenes shall fill 70% of admission quota. The remaining 30% shall be opened for competitive placement from other states of Nigeria.
Nine coaches from Rivers State have returned from Spain where they went for training at Madrid Academy.
At the formal opening ceremony on 21september, 2019, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde cut the ribbon tape.
He agreed that the Academy would groom the next generation of football stars because they shall have been discovered in their early age.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike said Rivers money has been used to execute the project.
He said “That means, Rivers people will enjoy the best of it; Rivers money is for Rivers people. So all Rivers indigenes admitted into the Academy will school and train as footballers free of charge.”
Area Manager of Real Madrid Foundation for Africa and Middle East, Mr Inigo Vallejo commended the commitment shown by Rivers State Governor to developing football.
He pledged the determination of Real Madrid Football Club to offer the technical support needed to make the Academy a success.