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Spanish Football Giant Barcelona to Open Football School in Indonesia
Wimbo Satwiko | January 25, 2012

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11:18am Jan 27, 2012

"the consortium said it would target children from upper-class families". BINGO, that's the key sentence. Most talented footballers are normal kids from the streets that lacks guidance and coaching to turn professional. This academy is just the same as what Arsenal, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy have been doing. This isn't opening a training facility. It's just another marketing stunt.


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Another European club is prepared to add to the growing ranks of foreign football schools in Indonesia.

Spanish giant Barcelona announced on Wednesday that it would open FCB Escola Indonesia, one of its officials schools, in partnership with Excellion Analytics, a consortium of seven local businessmen.

The academy will be built in Sentul, West Java, and is expected to open in September. The local consortium owns land in Sentul, but details about other infrastructure were not available.

Consortium member Franky Nelwan said the investors hoped the partnership with Barcelona would benefit Indonesian football in the future.

“With this academy, we hope Indonesian children can enhance the quality of their lives as football players, and in this way Indonesian football can take great strides in the next 10 years,” he said.

The consortium has high expectations for the academy, setting a bold target of its first graduating class helping Indonesia break into the top four in Asia in 10 years and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Few details regarding the cost of the academy, which will house 250 students each academic year, were provided at Wednesday’s news conference. In a release, the consortium said it would target children from upper-class families while also offering 20 full scholarships each year. Students will receive a formal education in addition to their football training.

FCB Escola director Xevi Marce said the club had made a long-term commitment.

“When we establish a project, we want to stay for the long term and work with the children. It’s not good if we leave them,” he said.

“There will be FC Barcelona staff staying in Indonesia to make sure the academy is running at our highest standard. If necessary, we will send more staff and I will put the academy under my direct supervision.”

Barcelona also has official schools in Fukuoka, Japan, Seoul, Dubai, Egypt, Kuwait, Peru and Warsaw, Poland.

Several European clubs have targeted Indonesia as they try to expand their brand. Arsenal has a football school in Jakarta, while AC Milan has held camps for the last three years. The Los Angeles Galaxy charged kids Rp 6 million ($680) to attend its clinic during its tour of Indonesia in November.