Sports science and sports coaching students from Wirral Met have been chosen for the trip of a lifetime to Portugal for training with professional footballers S.L. Benfica.
During the two-week trip, the 17-strong group from Wirral Met will take part in an intensive team training camp with youth team coaches, observe the professional teams and learn about the 'Benfica way' through presentations about nutrition, scouting, welfare, game model and psychology.
S.L. Benfica is a professional football club based in Lisbon that competes in the Primeira Liga, the top flight of Portuguese football.
The trip is a chance for the Wirral Met students to develop their skill through professional coaching sessions with Portuguese youth coaches, before facing Portuguese opposition in a series of three friendly 90-minute matches.
Based at Benfica Campus, students will experience the team’s training methods and benefit from the state-of-the-art training facilities which include nine pitches, two gyms, physiotherapy rooms, locker rooms, cafes, swimming pools, Jacuzzi and sauna.
Outside of the training camp, students will visit the Benfica Museum, the Estádio da Luz Stadium and explore Portugal’s thriving capital city.
Alex Weller, a sport coaching student at Wirral Met said: "It's an amazing experience and will show us exactly what it takes to work for a top class sports team in an elite environment."
Principal Sue Higginson said: "Working closely with Portuguese football team S.L. Benfica, our sports students will gain experience of working abroad as well as a fantastic insight in to the world of professional football.
"Experiences like this are so important to help our students build confidence as they learn new techniques, leadership skills and knowledge to further their future careers.”
This trip was made possible thanks to funding from the UK’s new Turing scheme, and Erasmus+ programme secured last year.
Aged 16-18? Interested in sport, coaching or personal training? We have places on courses starting September 2022.
