Schools get chance to show off their skills at academy base in Swansea City AFC Foundation's EFL Utilita Kids Cup
Blaenhonddan Primary School came out on top and secured a special prize as a number of schools took part in Swansea City AFC Foundation's EFL Utilita Kids Cup finals, and got the chance to show off their skills at Swansea City Academy's Landore Training Ground earlier this week.
Ten schools from Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, and Carmarthenshire were in attendance – having qualified via local heats – looking to earn a place in the regional finals.
The tournament gave participants the opportunity to use the professional facilities at the academy’s training ground, with each side facing off in a round-robin tournament, before semi-finals and a final.
Additionally, a number of academy scholars were on hand to provide advice, lead warm-ups and talk to the aspiring young footballers throughout the day as club, foundation and academy combined to give the schools in attendance a day to remember.
Swansea City AFC Foundation education manager Ceri Phillips was delighted to offer the schools opportunity to use the facilities at Landore, and thanked the academy for supporting the event.
“It’s a really key part of our calendar, it’s a break from working with the schools in the school settings when they get to take part in our tournaments, and we are delighted to have held this event in Landore,” said Phillips.
“We are really grateful to have been here, it’s a fantastic venue and it’s great that our participants have had the opportunity to play here.
“There was plenty of competitive football, a really exciting finish to the tournament and it’s been a great day overall.”
There were 13 scholars on hand to help as Iestyn Jones, Ramon Rees-Siso, Tom Searle, Callum Deacon, Sammy Henia-Kamau, Josh Pescatore, Teo Minchev, Aidan Higgins, Rohan Davies, Ewan Griffiths, Cameron Llewellyn, Jack Cooper and Aimar Govea all attended.
Head of academy education Jordan Morris was delighted to see the young players engaging with the community and feels it is a key part of their development as people.
“It’s been good seeing them interact with the community, Swansea City is a community club so to see these players interact with young people has been a real highlight and they will take a lot from this,” said Morris.
“The academy players involved will have been in the same position as the participants at one point, so we just want them to share the message of enjoying their football as much as they can.
“We want to work with the community to see our players outside of football and expose them to these environments and develop others along the way.”
Blaenhonddan came out on top after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win in the final. They will go on to represent the Swans in the regional tournament.
But, as an additional reward for their efforts, they will also be part of the guard of honour for Swansea City's Championship fixture against Southampton on Saturday.
Blaenhonddan's captain Osian was delighted to win the tournament and is excited to welcome the teams onto the pitch at the Swansea.com Stadium.l this weekend.
"We've had an excellent day, loads of goals, loads of fantastic plays and I just want to thank all my teammates, they've been excellent and I'm just landed," said Osian.
"I'm so excited to be part of the guard of honour, I'm so pleased that we've won and just excited for Saturday."
