Global Fútbol

Real Oviedo have followed up on the club’s social and sporting project in Panama, one which saw player recruitment programmes carried out in the Central American country during the last academic year for young players from areas of high social risk. From this, two of the best young players who participated in these tryouts have been able to enjoy an immersive experience at the club.

This project is the result of a collaboration between the Real Oviedo Foundation and the DFT Foundation, a strategic partner of the club. César Martín, the director of institutional relations at the Asturian club, has described the initiative as “a great opportunity to complete the education of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and to help them build towards a promising future”.

Panama is a strategic market for Real Oviedo for many reasons. Firstly, it is a country with strong links to the club. “Former player Dely Valdés created a special bond between Panama and Real Oviedo that still exists to this day,” explained Martín. These links have now been strengthened through the projects that the club is promoting in the country, such as this immersive experience.

The immersion, as well as being for social and cultural reasons, is also very much about the sporting aspect. The youngsters work out under Real Oviedo's grassroots football methodology at the ‘Tensi’ facilities, where the club's youth teams usually train. “The youngsters get to enjoy every training session and the full programme, experiencing the demands of our coaches and seeing the discipline required from an academy player on a day-to-day basis,” added Martín, who insisted that this type of experience is “available to very few”.

Diego Toro, the president of the DFT Foundation, has attributed the success of this project to the growth of football in Panama. The national team's qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia increased young people's interest in the sport, and football is beginning to be seen as an important factor on a social level. He stated: “There is a lot of talent, but there is also a complicated social situation. These kids have grown up with great difficulties and, when you talk to them, they tell you that they want to play to help support their families.”

Toro continued: “For them, experiencing this is like floating in the air. It’s about more than just whether or not they will be footballers in the future. It's a crazy experience for them to come and get to know a historic club like Real Oviedo, being able to train and experience the methodology from the inside. This allows them to visualise a positive future and improve their quality of life beyond sport.”

“I hope to learn a lot from the football played here and stay to keep playing in Europe,” said 15-year-old Vecchio Gómez, demonstrating the Panamanian people's interest in Spanish football and their desire to prove themselves. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Marcos López added: “We’re going to make the most of the opportunity and bring back positive experiences which we can tell our families and friends about.”

The players have stated that they are very grateful for the opportunity, which is very important for the club. As Martín concluded: “When they return home, they will be our best ambassadors and Real Oviedo will continue to be a leading and beloved club in Panama.”