Real Madrid forge youth partnership

The 48-year-old Butragueno was speaking at yesterday’s launch of the Atlantic Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports School, which was staged at the Jaffa Restaurant at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain.

“We are confident that this will be the start of a long and successful relationship together,” he said.

He offered his thanks to Atlantic LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Company of Trinidad and Tobago and the La Forest Academy, who have been contracted by Atlantic to conduct the programme.

“We all acknowledge that football has enormous appeal,” said the soft- spoken Butragueno, who was on a day-long visit to Trinidad. “And it can be very important to social integration.

The ex-Real Madrid and Spain striker noted that his club is “well-known and respected throughout the world for its titles and successes.”

The Social Sports School, which will be based at St Dominic’s Home in Belmont, is part of Atlantic’s partnership with Real Madrid Foundation to establish a football training school for underprivileged children.

Also addressing the gathering was Toni Sirju-Ramnarine, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Communications at Atlantic LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

“It was the dream of our former CEO Oscar Prieto, from the time he came to Trinidad and Tobago, to create a football programme with an international football club,” she said, adding that Prieto left the local group in September.

“His Excellency (Ambassador La Borde) made a suggestion that (it) would not just be about football, but a deeper link between Atlantic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Spain — an alliance with the Real Madrid Foundation to set up the first school of this kind in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Sirju-Ramnarine acknowledged, “Thanks to the Ambassador for his support and input, and for his work in strengthening dialogue and discussion between our two countries.”

She also extended her gratitude to Real Madrid FC, the Ron La Forest Academy and the St Dominic’s Home for their combined desire to making the venture a success.

“The main objective of the Social Sports School is to expose boys and girls, between the ages of eight and 14, to football training that focusses primarily on building values and good citizenship,” Sirju-Ramnarine said.

Turning her attention to the youngsters in attendance, Sirju-Ramnarine noted, “When you enroll in this school and its programmes, give your very best to every class and session.

“Be confident that whatever you have set your heart on to achieve, you will achieve,” she added. ‘And, most of all, continue to dream.”

In his address, Sports Minister Anil Roberts told the students, “you’ll get life skills which will stay with you.”

Regarding the sponsors, he said, “I’m very pleased with Atlantic’s management and (their) taking the lead, and I call on other corporate Trinidad and Tobago companies (to help).”