The English Academy Kuwait unwittingly picked a momentous occasion for their European Football Development Tour.
Purely by coincidence, the British curriculum school happened to be in Amsterdam training with Ajax FC’s world-renowned Academy coaches on the very day that the club announced that they will be changing the name of the Amsterdam ArenA to the Johan Cruyff ArenA, to commemorate the life and achievements of their most decorated and beloved player.
Even more incredible was that the boys got wind of the news from a club official before the news was officially released to the press!
Group leader, Liam Bell, explains:
“Our Ajax Academy coach broke the news to the lads whilst they were warming up for their session in the shadow of the stadium. He swore them to secrecy, saying he’d get the sack if they told anyone before the official announcement, which made it all the more exciting for the boys.”
Bell said that although Cruyff played in a different era, his students were still honoured to be the first to hear the news:
“Obviously Cruyff stopped playing well before any of our boys were even born, but they’re well aware of what a class act he was, so it’s great for them to be here at Ajax on such a big occasion.”
The school, who are on tour with Trans World Soccer, will spend one more day in Amsterdam, before travelling to Germany, where they will spend three days with Bundesliga giants, Borussia Dortmund. As well as being put through their paces by the BVB Academy coaches, the boys will also get to test themselves against the locals in a series of international friendly matches, before watching Borussia Dortmund vs FC Köln live at Signal Iduna Park.
“The kids at our school are football crazy, so it’s an amazing opportunity for them to get behind the scenes at the clubs that they watch week in and week out on TV at home.”