Z’bar, Real Madrid seal youth football development deal
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR has partnered with the Real Madrid Foundation to strengthen youth football development through specialised training programmes that nurture local talent and improve coaching standards.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Unicorn Zanzibar Sports Limited, is expected to introduce professional football training for young people and pave the way for a permanent academy in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi witnessed the signing ceremony in Madrid on Tuesday, saying the collaboration would complement the government’s investment in sports infrastructure with international expertise and modern coaching techniques.
Mwinyi said the government had developed more than 30 football pitches across Zanzibar, adding that the focus was now on ensuring young people had the skills, guidance and opportunities needed to realise their potential.
He said talent alone was insufficient to produce successful footballers, stressing the need for qualified coaches, discipline, education, adequate facilities and effective systems for identifying and nurturing promising players.
The president said the initiative should also be judged by its wider contribution to young people’s personal development, including building self-confidence, respect for others and determination to achieve their goals.
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Unicorn Sports Chairman Sergio Garcia said the company planned to begin with specialised training programmes before establishing a permanent academy at Zanzibar’s sports facilities.
He said experienced coaches from the Real Madrid Foundation would work alongside local coaches, who would also receive training to strengthen their capacity to develop young players. Garcia thanked the Zanzibar government for facilitating access to sports infrastructure to support the implementation of the initiative.
Unicorn Sports Vice-Chairman Mohamed Sleiman said the company hoped to extend the programme to boys and girls from different parts of Zanzibar, particularly talented young people who had lacked adequate opportunities to develop their abilities.
