São Paulo – São Paulo Futebol Club should train Moroccan youths aged 14 to 17 at the President Laudo Natel Athlete Training Centre (CFA), in Cotia. The training of the Arab athletes was agreed on between the Brazilian football club and company OCP S.A, from Morocco, early this year, but the starting date has not yet been defined.
OCP S.A is part of OCP Group, a state-owned company established in 1920, currently the world’s main exporter of phosphates and their products. The company also has installations and programmes to foster sports activities in Morocco. “It is a sports partnership, in which we are going to present the São Paulo methodology and work concept. OCP has a tradition in the sports area, which includes tennis and athletics. They are now including football. I believe we have much to exchange,” explained Marcos Tadeu Novais, São Paulo youth football director.
The agreement should stretch for five years. Over the period, several groups of up to 20 youths will travel to Brazil to spend eight to ten weeks training alongside the São Paulo team athletes. “They will train as part of the São Paulo categories so that they learn about the club’s operation. We are not going to set up independent groups,” explained Novais.
Apart from athlete training, the agreement also forecasts activities for professionals in the technical area of Moroccan football. “To work at São Paulo, you have to have knowledge of field logistics. We are going to present the concept São Paulo uses in its youth football to a technical commission selected by OCP,” explained the director. The agreement also forecasts the possibility of promotion of activities in the Arab country. “There may be a São Paulo workshop in Morocco,” said Novais.
To take part in the training in Brazil, the Moroccan youths will be pre-selected by OCP. São Paulo should participate in the final decision regarding what athletes should come to Brazil to practice. Apart from practice sessions, the players should also play for the team. “They will not be registered to play in official matches in Brazil, but they will play friendly games in the country, within the partnership,” said the youth football director.
Part of the difficulty in definition of the athlete training dates is due to the World Cup, to take place in Brazil in 2014. “Our (training) centres will be occupied by teams from other countries,” said Novais. The school calendar for the young Moroccans, different from that of Brazil, is another factor under consideration for the definition of the start of practice. “We are discussing how to operate during the Cup and how to adapt the school calendar,” finished off the director.
*Translated by Mark Ament
