Local football players off to London

THE lives of 14 Port Elizabeth football players will be changed forever after they set foot on a plane to the UK on 23 September.

For most of the boys it was their first international trip when they boarded a flight to the UK to be hosted by Dulwich College in South London as part of week-and-a-half sporting and cultural exchange, made possible by United Through Sport and partners.

The boys will visit the Arsenal Football Academy and go on a tour of the Emirates Stadium in London, as well as attend a Premium League football match between Crystal Palace FC and Norwich City during their time in the UK.

But the boys will not only be sight-seeing as they are afforded the incredible opportunity to play football against top local professional academy teams and schools in the UK, said United Through Sport Director Nick Mould.

In addition to playing a friendly match against the Arsenal Academy’s U/12 and U/13 teams, the boys will also be playing against Crystal Palace Academy and their host school, Dulwich College.

“There will be school and club scouts watching the boys, keen to offer an opportunity of a scholarship to players that stand out. Aside from the football taking place, the boys will participate in an academic and cultural exchange programme designed to broaden their horizons, sensitise them to cultural similarities and differences, teach them about career opportunities and foster long lasting exchange relationships with their UK counterparts,” said Mould.

The football team travelling to the UK is made up of U/12 and U/13 boys from United Through Sport’s programmes based in the disadvantaged areas of Port Elizabeth as well as boys playing club football at Calledonian Football Club in the city.

The boys will be hosted by families from Dulwich College in South London and attend school and train with their fellow football players from the school. Dulwich College is an academically selective independent school for boys based in London, which recently celebrated its 400th anniversary.