FC Porto sets up academy in Zimbabwe

Portuguese giants FC Porto are the latest European team to set up an academy in Zimbabwe.

“The Football Academy will be located in the Alex Sports Club Facilities, which have two 11-a-side soccer fields, a gym, support rooms and a restaurant,” the club said in a statement.

“In March 2023, Dragon Force travelled to the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare, to accomplish an FC Porto World Camp.

“The success of this event, which had more than 120 players, opened doors for the development of a new international school under the Dragon Force project,” the former European champions further said.

As for the standards, FC Porto says it is on lock.

“All the staff of GEA Sports Zimbabwe, FC Porto’s partner in the country, will be trained according to FC Porto’s working methodology, thus allowing the implementation of the Dragon Force International Certification. A multidisciplinary team (in the areas of management, technical expertise, psychology, education, and nutrition) will constantly monitor all the activities.”

Tichaona Moleni, General Manager of GEA Sports Zimbabwe, was quoted as saying, “This is the first step towards sustainable growth, but with the great objective of expanding horizons. We believe in the training methodology of Dragon Force, based on a Club with a lot of history, knowledge and victories, and which has a differentiating pedagogical component that will help develop many players, as well as the future citizens of Africa.”

Ricardo Frey Ramos, from the Executive Board of Dragon Force,”The new expansion model now allows us to respond more confidently to market interests, sharing the good practices of Dragon Force football schools, capable of adapting to any reality. We have been working on processes and procedures for 15 years, thinking about the training of our players and coaches in detail, anticipating the day to day, with the ambition of showing that it is possible to make a difference and develop the capabilities of all those who believe in us.”

Porto join English Premier League side Everton and Spanish La Liga outfit Real Betis to set up local academies in recent times.