The Mediterranean College of Sport, in their bid to strengthen its commitment to global football youth development, has announced a partnership agreement with Portuguese club SL Benfica.
The comprehensive agreement spans five years and signifies a pivotal move in SL Benfica’s overarching strategy for international expansion and reflects their dedication to fostering athletic and academic growth.
“The collaboration entails the establishment of an international school in Malta, where SL Benfica’s renowned coordinator will spearhead the football programme,” the Portuguese club said in a statement.
The agreement was signed at the Portuguese club’s headquarters in Lisbon. Mediterranean College of Sport chairperson Pio Vassallo, and CEO Charlo Bonnici signed on behalf of the Mediterranean College of Sports whereas Rui Costa, president of the board of directors of SL Benfica and Luis Paulo da Silva, the club vice-president, signed the agreement on behalf of the club.
Also present for the event were Natalie Briffa Farrugia, chairperson of Vassallo Group, and George Micallef, MCS’s Director of Sport Development.
As part of the agreement, student-athletes at the Mediterranean College of Sport will also be reviewed and assessed in Portugal and will have the opportunity to participate in tournaments. They will also be able to register in the Benfica International Elite Programme and participate in internships offered by the Portuguese academy.
SL Benfica have forged numerous partnerships across the globe. Benfica have established football schools in Luxembourg and Lithuania to nurture talent and promote the sport.
In terms of technical partnerships, Benfica have joined forces with FC Pyramids in Egypt, Al Nasr SC in the UAE, Eastwood Community FC in the UK, Brazil’s Coimbra Sports, FC Sudamerica in the USA, and Sreenidi Deccan FC, in India.
Furthermore, Benfica has inked collaborative agreements with FC Dallas and Gotham FC in the USA.
Benfica has won the award for best academy in the world three times at the prestigious Globe Soccer Awards in the United Arab Emirates.
Nestled within the state-of-the-art Benfica Campus, this renowned institution has honed the skills of countless young athletes, nurtured their potential and propelled them onto the global stage.
The Mediterranean College of Sport opens its doors next September. The school is located within the St Aloysius Sports Complex in Birkirkara.
The complex will now incorporate two football pitches, a newly-refurbished multi-sport pavilion, a gymnastics hall, two dance studios, two padel courts, a 25-metre pool, a sports performance centre, a hostel for athletes, an eatery as well other facilities to host other sports.
