Barca Academy parents’ forum preaches importance of education to sportsmen

An educated sportsman is likely to make more informed choices than his illiterate counterpart, the Barca Academy has told aspiring footballers.

At its 2019/2020 parents forum held at the Children International School (CIS), Lekki, parents of the youths in all its facilities across Lagos were intimated with the academy’s programmes and also introduced to Jorge Couto, who has joined the academy as the new technical director.

Chairman, Blaugrana Group, promoters of the Barca Academy in Sub-Saharan Africa, Leslie Oghomienor explained that the session was planned to fully prepare parents ahead of every project, especially those involving external trips that would expose the participants to activities that would make them better leaders responsibility for their actions.

During the forum, medals were presented to students, who excelled in the 2018/2019 school year and those who made Nigeria proud during the Academy’s excursion to Barcelona, Spain, where they beat American and European academies.

Speaking on behalf of the parents, Shiva Kumar praised the academy for excelling within a short period, adding, however, that there was still room for improvement.

“Though parents are happy with what the Academy is doing, we anticipate to see that quest and zeal for excellence that came with the launch in Surulere, Lagos, which was more like a mini global cultural fiesta where the Nigerian culture was robustly showcased. People came all the way from Spain, India, America and other countries,” he said.

Another parent, Mrs. Elizabeth Omubuariri, who also praised the academy for its recent successes, said the promoters of the academy should work towards owning their own facilities.

“Educating a child, though starts with the parents, is a collective responsible. A lot of parents, who know what they want, appreciate what the academy is doing, especially in terms of morals, values and discipline. They do not compromise any tiny detail that is of value to child development and growth,” she explained.

Couto promised to do his best to add to his predecessor’s achievements and appealed for support from the forum.

“Working together as partners would enable us achieve more good results and conquering more grounds is bound to happen. Therefore, I humbly solicit for your complete support believing that the upbringing of a child is work for all.”