Young football academy students restore hope to Algerians

[Al-khiyal]

Young football academy students restore hope to Algerians

February 27, 2009 -- Every Thursday, hundreds of football fans meet in Hydra municipal stadium (central Algiers) to admire the incredible play of barefoot kids attending the Paradou Athletic Club's JMG Football Academy. Barely 12 or 14 years old, these youngsters - dubbed the "virtuosi of the beautiful game" by the Algerian press - have quickly become a real phenomenon, drawing as big a crowd in the stands as any first division club and restoring hope in the future of Algerian football.

The admiration of the spectators, who sometime travel from Algiers’ neighbouring wilayas, is all the greater because of how the Paradou students play: barefoot, on a dried up pitch and without a goalkeeper.

The Paradou boys have become so good that players in their own age categories are unable to keep pace. They have to play junior squads. And when they do, they often win – by wide margins. They defeated USM Koléa 9-0, NARB Réghaia 16-1 and CRB 6-1.

Admirers are left open-mouthed with amazement. The young players' prowess has prompted much discussion in Algerian homes, offices and on the street.

"With these little ones, you can finally hope that one day you will see Algeria become world football champions. Their play is a real sight for sore eyes. Fluid, disciplined, and with unbelievable talent, the number 8 is a magician. They can hold their heads up high alongside Zidane or Benzema,'" said Madjid, a 40-ish businessman and a great follower of football.

The programme got under way just two years ago.

Jean-Marc Guillou is a former French international who captained his national side at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. After his retirement, he set up the Abidjan football school, (where he discovered Cote d'Ivoire brothers Kolo and Yaya Touré, who now play for Arsenal and FC Barcelona) before going on to open other football academies in Africa and Asia.

Kerridine Zetchi is an Algerian football fan who was getting tired, he told DZ Foot, of waiting for the government to help clubs train young football talent.

In 2007, the two joined forces to open a training centre bearing Guillou's name - the Paradou/JMG Academy - and forever changed the face of Algerian football.

The school's inaugural class of 16 students was chosen from 20,000 candidates across Algeria. School officials have been delighted by the youngsters' serious approach and desire to learn. One thing took some adjustment for the youngsters, however: no shoes.

Their trainers say that making them play barefoot improves their technique.

'These are boys who weigh 30 kilograms. Add boots, socks and shin pads, and that will really weigh them down," says Olivier Guillou, nephew of the academy founder and manager of the Algiers school.

"It's only here that it comes as a surprise," he adds. In the rest of Africa, it’s completely normal for players their age to play barefoot. If you want a technically gifted player, he only has to play barefoot; it allows the youngster to kick the ball cleanly and precisely and with much greater sensitivity."

As to why the children play without a goalkeeper, the academy’s managers say that since it is unclear how big their players will be in a few years’ time, it is too risky to train youngsters of this age for such a sensitive job.

In their residence hall - a villa in the western suburbs of Algiers - academy students awaken at 7 in the morning, then head to the stadium for two hours of practice. After a few hours of lessons and a siesta, they’re at it again: training until 5 or 6 in the evening. After dinner, they pursue other activities or watch TV until "lights-out" at 10 o’clock. Two women look after their well-being at the villa. There is also an education manager, a house supervisor and a driver.

"It’s like a brotherhood," explains assistant coach Aich Djamel, who is with the boys 16 hours a day. "They do almost everything together."

Some students already dream of getting signed by a European side. "The reason I’m in this academy is because I’m ambitious. I’m working my socks off with my classmates to be a good football player," says Abderaouf Benguit, who has come to Algiers from Laghouat.

"My dream is to play in the Champions League with Real [Madrid], and I’ll do everything to get there," he tells Magharebia.

More than anything, these youngsters dream about putting on an Algeria shirt and restoring Algerian football to its former glory. There is a clause in their contract – which runs for ten years – banning them from wearing the colours of another country.

On February 6th, a new wave of youngsters born between 1996 and 1998 began try-outs for spots at the Paradou Academy. "There’s no limit on numbers. The current team has 16, but for the next, even if we find 40 who meet our criteria, we’ll take them all,” says Olivier Guillou.

The academy has a capacity of 80 places. Competition is tough.

"These youngsters make people happy. It’s like a party on the stands," Said tells Magharebia as he watches his son audition in Hydra. "You don’t find that in stadiums. There’s far too much violence; I can’t even take my children there."

"Thanks to this team", he adds, "Algerians are returning to the spirit of the sport."

"I haven’t seen people so enthusiastic since 1982."

Said will have to wait, however, to learn if his son made the cut. Academy officials say only that the final selection will be announced "soon".

One young Algerian is already on his way to a stellar football career. Ever since British newspaper The Sun introduced the world to Madin Mohamed last week, bloggers and sports enthusiasts around the world have been calling the 6-year-old football prodigy the "next Zinedine Zidane".

More than a million people have watched the video clip of his prowess on the pitch.

Mohamed, who emigrated to France with his family three years ago, has received a scholarship from the French Football Federation (FFF), while scouts from Real Madrid and Chelsea FC are reportedly tracking his progress.

"He can cross the ball, control it, swerve, pass between the legs — he is spectacular with the ball... he really is magic with it," The Sun quoted his local club president as saying.

This is not the first time international football fame has come to such a young player. In 2007, Manchester United signed nine-year-old Rhain Davis after the club saw him in action on a DVD sent by his grandfather.

For the talented youngsters accepted by Paradou AC –and their supportive parents – the first steps to football stardom have only just begun.

Zizou, here they come.

[Al-khiyal]

Paradou AC hosts international youth football in Algiers

June 23, 2009 -- An international junior football tournament sponsored by Algeria's Paradou AC kicked off on Monday (June 22nd) in the Algiers suburb of Hydra, DZ Foot reported. Algerian clubs ASM Oran, CABBA, CS Constantine, JSK, lMSP Batna, USM Bel-Abbès, US Biskra, WA Tlemcen will be joined for the 3-day event by Tunisia's Club Africain and ES Sahel, Villareal of Spain and Morocco's Hassania d'Agadir.