After successfully graduating one player to Valencia for football and education, the Lions Sports Academy continues to network, expose and produce talent to different world regions.
The Lion Sports Academy players who were scouted last year in December from Tanzania, in the East African Chipkizi Tournament held in Arusha, safely returned from Lusaka, Zambia.
The trio had travelled for continental trials that were being held to select the elite players to go to Europe.
Happiness Atwiine Matsiko, Glen Akandwanaho, Rayyan Katende and Darren Abenaitwe were on the list that took part during these 10 days residential camp training in Lusaka.
“Football in West Africa is top-notch,” remarked Ronald Alonso, the academy CEO who travelled with these junior players.
He highlighted how talents in the West African countries are far ahead of us, in terms of investment, talent, business and opportunities.
Alonso made the revelations after spending a week in Zambia networking, watching and attending a trial residential program.
Football is taken more as a business than here who think its leisure or a by the way game, some parents give in all to see their children succeed. However, our players performed well and earned themselves accolades at the end of the training. Two of our boys were selected, and still under individual tracking and supervision by the scouting team. Further details will be communicated when all preparations are done. It is always a good platform for our boys who get such opportunities to play football outside home and taste the diference as they are growing.
Ronald Alonso, CEO – The Lions Soccer Academy
Captain Matsiko revealed that they showcased much resilience and character and explained how this has made him a better player than he thought he would be.
“The trials in Lusaka (Zambia) were well conducted. We showed the right character and fighting spirit. We met different players and coaches. We remain better players than we were when we left Uganda,” Matsiko said.
The future of the young players remains bright with such continuous exposure programs.
