One of the positives to come out of lockdown and social distancing is the ability of technology to bring people together no matter where they are or what is going on.
As a result, Foundation of Light coaches have been able to develop a world football project, hosting virtual training sessions across all corners of the globe.
Hundreds of young players have taken part in sessions, with coaches burning the midnight oil to make sure their programmes fit in with different time zones.
Youngsters from Spanish club CD Serranos were the first group to take part, coach José Domínguez organised for the two clubs to work together after meeting Foundation representatives during a football campus and wanting to learn more about the English style of coaching.
Players from the Valencia based side joined the Zoom call with the Foundation’s coaching team and Dominguez was delighted with the progress:
"We have held two meetings, one more specifically for club coaches, and another for 8 and 11 soccer players, and more than 100 people have participated in each one."
"The boys had a great time, they learned a little English, and how English football is lived,” he added.
“The Sunderland coaches, live in their own city, they have a deep-rooted feeling for their team. If you are born in Sunderland, you are from Sunderland. They have a lot of rivalry with other nearby cities, and it is a very important club that was in the Premier League about four years ago. What has surprised me the most about this club is that great feeling of love for their Sunderland.”
Following the sessions with CD Serranos, the team then hosted a group from Canada before brushing up on their Polish to put a group of budding Lewandowskis through their paces!
