体坛英语资讯：Feature: Barca Academy in Egypt, place to learn magic of football, human values

CAIRO, Feb. 16 -- In Egypt, the most populous Arab country, some 700 talented youngsters are learning how to pick up the beautiful game of football at Barca Academy.

Located in October 6 city, near the capital Cairo, Barca Academy, the official soccer academy of FC Barcelona in Egypt, provides boys and girls between six and 18 years of age with a comprehensive training and educational environment.

The academy is currently the oldest international FCB academy in the world, having been open now for over a decade.

At the academy, players are offered the opportunity to learn the same way Barca players do by following the same methodology of Barcelona Football Club, one of the best football teams in the world.

The technical management of the Barca Academy in Egypt is entrusted to Leonel Delgado and Jaume Quintana, two Spanish managers from FC Barcelona who oversee the sports program established by the FC Barcelona Sports Department.

"We teach the players the basic concepts of football in order to be able to deal successfully with sporting challenges in the future, while also teaching them the values that are so representative of FC Barcelona which is respect, effort, ambition, teamwork, and humility," Delgado said.

At the modern facility, which is located in an upscale neighborhood, the academy implements the Barca philosophy which includes a creative and attacking brand of football.

The technical management focuses on the comprehensive education of the players, passion for sport and transmission of the values represented by FC Barcelona in order to expand the Barca name, Delgado noted.

"The academy is meant to promote Barca values of becoming a universal brand and leaders in the sporting and human education of players," he told Xinhua.

The objectives of the Barca Academy are mainly teaching the basic concepts of football and transmitting the education value of football spirits in terms of basic rights, guided by the principles of coexistence and fair play.

Delgado appreciated the performance and the quality of students at the Barca Academy in Egypt, noting that the academy will participate in the Barca Academy World Cup 2020 and hope to have very good results playing the Barca style.

"We are really happy with the talents of our players in Egypt," he stressed as he watched a group of players warming up before a training session.

Joshua Harrott, a 14-year-old British boy, recently moved with his family from Dubai to live in Egypt. Finding a high-quality football school for him was a priority for his mother, and Barca Academy was the best choice for the youngster.

"I just moved to Egypt recently...my mother was looking for a good place where I can train and play. I'm very happy that there is a Barca Academy in Egypt," Josh told Xinhua as he prepared himself for rondo exercises.

He added that the training at the school is very professional, noting that he has learned much about football techniques in a short period of time.

His Egyptian colleague, Omer Ayman, said he does not only learn how to play football at the academy but also how to be a good person.

"I have been playing here for seven years now...the management really takes good care of teaching us the Barca way of playing and values," the 12-year-old boy told Xinhua after he finished an exercise.

Barca academies, mainly La Masia in Barcelona, produced great players such as Argentine maestro Lionel Messi, Spanish midfielders Andres Iniesta, Xavier Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas as well as Spanish defenders Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Jordi Alba in addition to a large of renowned footballers.