Luis Suarez visits the sport development program of LaLiga and Pepsi Academy

The 23 young Egyptians taking part since 15 September in the training program developed by LaLiga and Pepsi Stars lived a very special day with one of their idols, FC Barcelona player, Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan footballer shared the Monday morning with the young players at the Marbella Football Center, where he took part in a training session and exchanged anecdotes and experiences with the actors of this project. The sport development program and cultural immersion, comprising young people between 15 and 19 years, enters in its third week in Spain. After a long process of training and evaluation, representatives of LaLiga and Pepsi Academy, selected in Cairo (Egypt) the 23 players to enjoy this initiative which is giving them the opportunity to enrich themselves as individuals and football players through an experience abroad.

"Initiatives like this are needed worldwide to promote social work of football and give an opportunity for all," said Suarez, who acknowledged the work of LaLiga and Pepsi Egypt and also stressed the importance of discipline in the sport. "It is essential to work hard to be the best, but stability off the field is the most important. Taking care of the diet and stay focused are two of the basic duties of every footballer", he repeated during the meeting he shared with the young Egyptians players participating in this project.

In addition, the Uruguayan striker, aware of the need for initiatives of this caliber, promised to monitor the project of LaLiga and Pepsi Academy, visiting the players in Egypt in the future: "I promise to go to see them if they fight and become professionals", said the striker of FC Barcelona. After surprising the group in the locker room, the player turned fully into a training session in which free-kicks, penalties and fun became the main attractions.

This visit was part of the set of activities in which participants in the program are taking part during his four weeks of cultural and sports immersion in Spain. Since coming to Marbella, the 23 players and three coaches of the Pepsi Academy have worked in double training sessions led by experts from the Royal Andalusian Football Federation, and have played several games against Andalusians teams from LaLiga of the same category. In turn, the delegation of the Pepsi Academy has been able to attend several matches of Liga BBVA as well as various cultural visits availing these trips. The aim of the Pepsi Stars program is that young footballers can acquire knowledge under monitoring LaLiga specialists, combining games against top teams in Spain with educational and sports visits.