– Last summer we sent a scout to NF Qualification Camp in Denmark to evaluate the level of the NF Academy players. We were impressed with NF Academy´s work and also saw potential in many of their players, says Academy director in Sporting CP Paulo Gomes.

He was pleased by the collaboration his club just formalized with NF Academy and hopes that it will be fruitful for both parts in many years to come.

– Talent is all that matters for us. We want to attract the best young players from all over the world and Nordic young players have proved over the last years that they have the capacity to be the best. We hope this collaboration can create new opportunities for them and strengthen our scouting structure.

ALSO READ: See how you can qualify for a trial with Sporting Academy this summer.

Talent factory

As a team that contested eight times Champions League since the mid-2000s Sporting CP (colloquially referred to as Sporting Lisbon) has a lot to show for as a club. Still, the club based in the Portuguese capital is more than anything a great talent factory. Top international footballers such as Christiano Ronaldo, Figo and Nani all started their careers in Sporting CP.
It was also Sporting CP production line for world-class talent that made them such an attractive partner for NF Academy.

– Sporting CP has the know-how in regards to developing young players, says NF Academy’s founder and director Jarand Fretheim.

Fretheim says that the agreement will change the landscape of talent development in the Nordic countries in the years to come.

– Now that Sporting CP is our main partner, we will be able to accommodate a lot of our players with the opportunity to present themselves at Sporting CP academy.

An emerging scouting network

So, what does the new agreement really mean for the players signing up for one of the upcoming NF Academy camps this summer?

Quite a lot, to put it lightly.

By participating at NF Academy from now on players aren´t just improving their skills by being coached by experienced talent developers in a competitive setting. The players are now also being exposed to our newly established scouting network that is deeply connected with Sporting CP`s Academy.

Our academy directors will then present a list of talented players for Sporting CP. During the summer players will also have the opportunity to compete for 8 trial spots at Sports Academy by participating in NF International camps in Nordic Countries.

– I really like the concept that you can sign up to a local camp and go all the way to Sporting, says Bashir Huseen Bashiir.

Bashir plays at Alvesta GIF, was one of the Swedish players that participated in NF International events in Sweden in 2019 and got the opportunity for a trial with Sporting.

ALSO READ:  Players that went on Trial with Sporting through NF Academy.

– I am looking forward to competing again in NF International Malmø, says the 15 years old Swedish player.

Out of the eight players that reach the trial this year, two players will also be picked for our NF Academy Scholarship, which will give them the financial and educational muscles to pursue a pro career.

And again, to be considered for the trial and the scholarship players just have to sign up for one of our upcoming events. As soon as a player participates in one of our events, they are essentially “auditioning” for one of the eight golden tickets to Sporting CP`s Academy.

ALSO READ: See here the NF International upcoming events.

A watershed moment

Up until this point, NF Academy has primarily been focusing on talent development, not scouting. NF Academy director Jarand Fretheim, however, stress that this watershed moment also is a continuation of the work that NF Academy has been doing for a long time as player development and scouting often go hand in hand.

– Many of our coaches have scouting experience from clubs such as Sporting and Braga, where scouting is an integrated part of the job. We also think that it is beneficial that our scouts have hands-on experiences with the kids on the pitch. They are well equipped to know what is best for each individual player and his or her development, says Fretheim.

Fretheim thinks top-class Nordic players will emerge from the collaboration that is now solidified.

– Through this collaboration, we will be able to send the best players we have in our program on trial games at Sportings Academy and many of the players will hopefully sign professional contracts when they are mature enough to move abroad.

Take the first step here

Due to Covid-19 NF Academy won’t be able to welcome as many players to our events this summers as usual. To secure a spot you should, therefore, sign up right now.

Your journey to Sporting can start right here.