The 1st edition of the “Road to Benfica Campus” ended on Sunday, April 9th. It was an innovative program launched by the International Department that brought together teams with technical partnerships with Sport Lisboa e Benfica in a training camp at Benfica Campus, where they tested the working methodology of the Eagles.

During one week, from April 1st to 9th, four teams with players from Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden, United States, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, South Africa and Japan trained at Benfica Campus and prepared for their participation in the IberCup Cascais 2023 tournament.

The innovative program, developed by Benfica for youngsters coming from different competitive contexts, allowed the work methodology taught by the Club’s coaches, in partnership with the respective coaching staffs, to improve skills to be applied in competition.

The committed and cooperative way in which the teams worked contributed to the North Americans of FC Sudamerica reaching the U-17 women’s final in the same competition, where they were defeated in the penalty shootout.

“We couldn’t have started this technical partnership with Benfica better. The ‘Road to Benfica Campus’ is a perfect and immersive program. We got into the Reds’ mentality. We had high expectations, we prepared our teams during the last months, but this week in Lisbon has exceeded what we thought, from the men’s program to the women’s program, the mix of 11-a-side soccer with futsal, the quality of the coaches… It was the first opportunity for these young South Americans, who live in the United States, to come to Europe to test their talent. There is a lot to learn, but we realize that, with Benfica’s support, we will grow tremendously in the coming years. It was amazing to reach the women’s final against Sporting, a competition where a new star shone, Tuscany Khachab, who dreams of playing for Benfica one day”, she revealed.

The participants in the “Road to Benfica Campus” had also the opportunity to take part in futsal training sessions and to visit Estádio da Luz and the Benfica Museum – Cosme Damião.

Text: Editorial Staff / Rui Miguel Gomes
Photos: SL Benfica / Liz Accorsy
Last update: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Source: SL Benfica