With a progressive vision and the ambition of revolutionising local sport, the Municipality of Pemba announced in a Facebook post the launch of a bold project, in partnership with Sport Lisboa e Benfica, called 15/15. The first stone of this sporting venture was laid at the Avani Beach Hotel last Wednesday, 17 May 2023.
The city of Pemba, with its 13 neighbourhoods, was the stage chosen for the development of this project, whose main aim is to select 15 young prospects, boys and girls of different age groups, who have a passion and talent for football.
In the statement, Florete Simba Motarua, the dynamic President of the Municipal Council of the City of Pemba, highlighted the importance of this project, both for the health and well-being of young people and for putting Pemba on the world sporting map. In the hope that the talents discovered through this project may, in the near future, represent major clubs around the world and even Mozambique's national team, the municipal leader was confident in his intervention.
The same post clarified that the selection process will be conducted through competitions held in the neighbourhoods of Pemba, and then among the selected neighbourhoods. Benfica's coaches will then be responsible for training the athletes chosen to represent the city. The project, over a renewable period of 5 years, aims to select a total of 120 athletes.
Although the project initially covers only football, there is a possibility that other sports with potential in the City of Pemba may be incorporated in the future, according to the information released on Facebook.
This is a giant step for sport in Pemba and in Cabo Delgado, bringing renewed hope and opportunities to all local young people with sporting ambitions. Thanks to the initiative of the Municipality of Pemba and the partnership with Sport Lisboa e Benfica, the dream of an international career in football has never seemed so tangible or so close to reality.
