National Football Academy : Talents In The Making

The National Football Academy (ANAFOOT) is living up to the task. Created on 25 September, 2014, the ANAFOOT’s mission is to initiate and oversee young people in the practice of football, in initial and continuing training of trainers in theoretical teaching. The academy features three specialised divisions including: vocational training, vocational and technical training in high-level football, research and documentation. Many may not have understood the importance of this structure from the beginning. As the years go by ANAFOOT has been working endlessly to accomplish its mission. ANAFOOT is represented in all the ten regions of the country.  
The National Football Academy has already recruited the first and second batches of trainees. The first batch made up of 50 boarders (30 boys and 20 girls) aged between 12 and 13 years were recruited in 2018. The 50 trainees aged between 12 and 13 years are drawn from all the ten regions of the country. For the 2018-2019 sports season, 38 children (12 girls and 26 boys) have been selected for ANAFOOT Training Centre. The players are selected through scouting, a process introduced by ANAFOOT management to ensure fairness and professionalism. The 2019-2020 sports season was launched on Monday September 16, 2019. Jean Marie Didjiwa said since the ANAFOOT does not have facilities yet the children are grouped during the Christmas, Easter and long vacations. He explained that the children train in their different regional poles and live in their homes. He said the children go to school normally and that is why training takes place from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in all the regional poles. Training at the ANAFOOT Centre lasts for seven years. 
The children train ...