21 September 2009
Por Favor Profesor! GHA Players Swap the Training Pitch for the Class Room
Players from the Glenn Hoddle Academy Club have begun a new course in Spanish to prepare them for a future footballing career that may well see them move on from the academy to senior Spanish clubs.
The move follows the success stories of four GHA players moving to Spanish clubs in the Academy’s very first year and is designed to improve communication skills between the players and their potential new clubs.
The players have taken to the lessons well, and all understand the need for a sound grasp of the language, essential not only for when they potentially leave to Spanish clubs, but also during the regular matches against senior Spanish opposition.
Class teacher Mila Galán joins the academy four times each week and has begun the lessons with an introduction to basic conversational Spanish and will move on to specific footballing terms as the class progresses.
So far four players: Ikechi Anya, Dave Cowley, Lino Goncalves and James Simmonds have made the move to Spanish clubs, where they are already learning the language.
Profesor Galán said: “The players have really taken to the lessons very well indeed and have already picked up the basics of the language and improved their vocabulary which will help them in every day life in Spain. We will be moving on to some more football specific phrases in the future, but I am really pleased with their dedication and progress so far and they are a pleasure to teach.”
Academy new recruit Nathan Woolfe has joined the classes and said: “Moving to a Spanish club would certainly suit my game, but without the language could make communication between the coach and players a problem. These lessons have already provided a basic understanding of the language and it’s a very relaxed environment with the other lads and we are all working hard.
“I am really keen to play in Europe and having a better understanding of the language here in Spain is also something that prospective clubs will certainly be interested in. The lessons are good fun, and I am really enjoying the challenge, muchas gracias!”.
For further information please contact: Neil Duncanson - nd@glennhoddleacademy.com
Fergus Bell Signs Up with the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain
Aspiring professional footballer Fergus Bell, aged 19, from Durham, has received a scholarship to the prestigious Glenn Hoddle Academy, a unique professional football development centre, based at the Montecastillo Resort in Jerez, Southern Spain.
