MANAGUA - Inter Campus Nicaragua opened in the capital, Managua, three years ago. There have been a number of return visits since then and the local programme has evolved, building on the foundations laid in 2014, and we were excited to be going back to check on the progress made by the children and our local coaches, Arquimedes, Wilbert, Alexander and Cesar.
We were met by the same kids we left three years ago, a bit taller and a bit older. They could barely kick a ball when we first started - this is a country where basketballs, boxing gloves and athletics tracks dominate the sporting landscape. In such circumstances, the fact that none of the kids have dropped out is in itself a huge achievement. Indeed, the commitment shown by all the youngsters to their weekly training sessions demonstrates that they're more passionate than ever.
Educating through football is the objective we set all our coaches around the world, who we like to see as 'educators' first and 'trainers' second. In Nicaragua they've done a great job in shaping a close-knit group and guiding the kids in the right direction, without losing any of them along the way.
Our work is also paying off from a football perspective. Training sessions are well organised and carried out with passion, the youngsters' technical skills have improved and constant variety ensures the exercises are both appropriate and enjoyable.
Arquimedes deserves a special mention. A firm believer of Horst Wein's FUNino method, in which developing the children's personality takes priority over improving their technical skills, Arquimedes has nonetheless taken our suggestions on board and adapted it all to the children he is has to work with.
Wilbert, another of our coaches who has grown and improved with us, now works for a club playing in Nicaragua's Primera Division – not that it prevents him from continuing his work with the Inter Campus children.
Meanwhile Alexandre and Cesar, with their dedication and assiduity, have also become pillars of our project.
Inter Campus aims to build long-term social projects with no time limits: we have worked in Brazil since 1997, Romania since 2000 and Cameroon since 2001. In comparison, Inter Campus Nicaragua is very much a fledgling project, but having taken its first steps it is now running along very nicely.
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