Construction of Futuka Training Centre to host Katumbi Football Academy has been completed in Futuka, Lubumbashi, DR Congo.
The modern training facility owned by TP Mazembe sits on a six-hectare piece of land and boasts three football fields; artificial pitch, natural grass and sandy field still under contraction.
It also have full boarding facilities including 28 rooms, 2 dormitories capable of accommodating more than 20 beds each, two apartments for employees, a swimming pool and a large cafeteria.
In future, a basketball and tennis courts will constructed.
The Katumbi Football Academy, named after revered president of TP Mazembe Moise Katumbi will move into the new facility from Plateau Golf Center where they have been putting up.
The academy has been in existence for five years and acts as talents breeder for Mazembe.
It offers both sports and academic studies to rigorously recruited young talented players from Lubumbashi from the age of 11 for free.
This ensures that those players who do not transit to professional football have a fall back plan.
The academy’s goals are “to bring together the best young people in Lubumbashi to train and play together to the highest level possible,”
“Play matches against stronger teams to encourage progress because you can only progress when you gauge yourself against stronger sides than yourself.”
According to Regis Laguesse, the Director of KFA, the success of the project lies in the dedication of the talented youngsters who will evolve alongside those who are average.
“Put together 9 average players and 2 very good players, the 2 good players will become average. But if you put together 9 very good players and 2 average players, all will become good.”
