Positive experience for Birkirkara Under-17 squad in Valencia

The Birkirkara FC Youth Nursery Under-17 squad travelled to Valencia in Spain for a 6-day training camp between Thursday 28th October and Tuesday 2nd November.

The squad was engaged in five training sessions in all, the most busy day being that of Friday 29th, with two training sessions. The session held on Sunday 31st October morning, at the Valencia Training Grounds, was carried out under the guidance of Valencia’s Youth Academy Coach Mr Juan Carlos Magro. Mr Magro was really enthusiast to lead the Maltese boys’ training session. Once the session was over, he took the Birkirkara players and delegates around the premises explaining what goes on day in day out.

The Stripes were involved in two friendly matches, with the first being won with a resounding 8-0 scoreline against a local team called Canet d’En Berenguer. The second game was against a higher profile youth academy called San Jose’, based in the centre of Valencia. This academy avails itself of top-class facilities and is run in the most professional way. Birkirkara managed a 1-1 draw against this side, a very positive result considering the huge gap in resources.

There was also plenty of recreational time for the boys, as the whole contingent had the opportunity to visit the city centre on more than one occasion, with shopping malls and entertainment complexes attracting everyone’s interest. The highlight though was the Valencia versus Real Zaragoza match from the Spanish Primera Liga at the Mestalla Stadium. Although the match never reached the levels one would have expected, the atmosphere was magninficent.

Needless to say that this was a great experience for the whole clan, one which whould not be the last as long as Birkirkara FC Youth Nursery is concerned.