AFU – Academy of Football Uvita

Author: Jan Stahl Benavent

It all started two and a half years ago when Omar created a soccer academy for youth in Uvita. Previously, Junior Brenes had already organized a youth team with whom he trained and played friendly matches. Omar and Jason met with Junior and the children’s parents. They presented their ideas and visions: an academy in which, apart from sporting fun, players are trained to their maximum potential on and off the court, including educational components such as respect and discipline, values that serve, and being off the field.

Today, the academy gathers 70 children between 4 and 15 years old. Alongside Omar as the head coach are Jason, Christine, Carly, Adriano, Devon, and Johnny, a very international squad of coaches and caregivers (Costa Rica, United States, Canada, Italy, and Argentina), who support him where they can. The door is always open for volunteers from all over the world. I arrived from Germany, not knowing what was in store for me, and they welcomed me with open arms. PURA VIDA lives in the academy and on the beach, mountains, and coexistence. I have not only found coaches but also made friends on this side of the world. It is a highly recommended experience.

Good people who do a good job. Even though so many children are interested, it is still a struggle for resources. The academy carries a lot of weight on its shoulders to sustain the project in the long term and would highly appreciate a sponsor. There won’t be 70 professional footballers, but AFU does everything to ensure a professional environment and allow everyone to realize their dreams. All that effort and work is not always valued as it should be.