On January 18, 2019, the Juventus Academy Shanghai held its opening ceremony at Wellington College International Shanghai.
Launched by Italian top football club Juventus, the academy has its first season with 300 kids. It is hosted at three different locations in Shanghai, including Puxi, Pudong Jinqiao area and Wellington College International Shanghai. Sessions are run for kids aged from 3-17 years old.
"We are honored to represent one of the biggest football clubs in the world," Mr. Matteo Rovescala, Managing Director of Juventus Academy Shanghai, said on the ceremony. "It is a great step to develop football in China and it is highly valued by the Shanghai community."
The academy runs programs coached by professionals. In addition, the young players have the opportunity to travel to Italy to participate in the Juventus Training Experience as well as the Juventus Academy World Cup.
The Juventus Academy currently constitutes 80 projects around the world. "All kids are happy to play and learn football at Juventus Academy," said Dr. Radfan Mahyoub, the Juventus Academy Shanghai Football Manager. "We all feel the spirit of Juventus in us.”
Former Juventus striker David Trezeguet came to the opening ceremony to show his support as well. Mr. David Trezeguet is a Juventus Ambassador, Juventus Legend President and former Juventus and French National team striker. He has played 11 seasons with Juventus from 2000 to 2010 for 320 matches and 171 goals. At international level, Trezeguet scored 34 goals in 71 appearances for the France national team between 1998 and 2008. He also helped the France national team win the World Cup champion in 1998 and European Cup champion in 2000 (where he scored the golden goal during extra time).
The next day, Mr. Trezeguet went to watch the Academy teams games and cheered for the kids. Mr. Trezeguet told the JUVE Shanghai kids to train hard and follow their dreams. It was an amazing moment for kids to play while Trezeguet was cheering "Go JUVE". Apart from playing hard to show Trezeguet that they are good footballers, kids also received autograph and took photos with the legend.
For more information, e-mail hfc@hattrickfc.org or visit https://jacademy.juventus.com/en/academies/shanghai/
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[All images via Juventus Academy Shanghai]
See listing for Wellington College International Shanghai here.
