Eight South African talents – four boys and four girls – were recently invited in a development camp in Madrid, including training sessions, matches, and cultural experiences alongside LALIGA and its clubs.
Following the LaLiga x EA SPORTS Next Gen Draft Tournament held earlier this year in Rustenburg, eight exceptional young players (four boys and four girls) were selected for an exclusive training camp in Madrid, Spain.
The South African talents were part of a 40-participants squad from 11 different nationalities who were the winners of the international Next Gen Draft program, who arrived in Spain to enjoy an unforgettable experience.
This initiative, promoted by LALIGA and EA SPORTS as part of the EA SPORTS FC FUTURES social impact project, offers promising young footballers a unique reward experience combining training, football, and cultural immersion at the heart of the LALIGA ecosystem.
The winners, representing eleven different nationalities, were selected after passing the different phases in their respective countries: Guatemala City (Guatemala), Rustenburg (South Africa), Dubai (UAE), New York (USA) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). To enter the competition, candidates were selected through the various LALIGA academies around the world, in collaboration with local partners. The selection process took into account not only sporting criteria, but also social factors.
Of these, eight participants per region (four boys and four girls) were rewarded with an exclusive 10-day camp in Madrid, combining high-level training sessions, matches against youth teams from LALIGA EA SPORTS clubs, specific training modules and visits to iconic Spanish soccer locations.
For Juan Florit, Head of Sports Projects at LALIGA, the objective of this final stage was clear: “This final phase in Spain aimed to inspire and create new opportunities for these young players both on and off the pitch. Our main goal was to instill in them the values of sport and LALIGA, offering the right educational and sporting stimuli through training and competition, combined with cultural and educational activities related to LALIGA and its clubs.”
The camp took place from 26 May to 4 June at the Los Ángeles de San Rafael sports complex, Atlético de Madrid’s training ground. The schedule included technical and tactical sessions based on the LALIGA Academy methodology, performance analysis workshops, individual development activities, and leisure time to foster team bonding.
The agenda also featured a tour of Madrid and the LALIGA headquarters, visits to LEGENDS, The Home of Football; the themed restaurant LALIGA TWENTYNINE’S; and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, among others. On the sporting side, participants played matches against youth teams from Atlético de Madrid, CD Leganés, and Rayo Vallecano, strengthening the link between development and competition.
This initiative reflects the shared commitment of LALIGA and EA SPORTS to promoting grassroots football, fostering equal opportunities, and creating transformative experiences for young players through innovation, education, and sport — all with the aim of shaping the future of football in a more inclusive, global, and forward-thinking way.
