With a full smile on his face despite the long trip, promising Barbadian footballer Nicoli Brathwaite arrived in Buenos Aires for a local Premier League tryout. The harsh South American winter was not an obstacle for the young athlete, who immediately received a warm welcome from his Argentine hosts at Club Atlético Lanús.
During his training in Argentina, Nicolai proved to be a natural and impressed the coaches and scouts with a combination of brilliant footwork and steadfast determination. Along with his good performance on the field, the exchange resulted in a beautiful bond of friendship between him and the Argentine players.
After a demanding and memorable journey, Nicoli said that “I will remember this opportunity forever, not only from the football perspective, but mainly as a life experience. Living with Argentine players of my age and hanging out with them impacted me as a person, and gave me the chance to open my mind and heart to a new culture. I’m deeply grateful to all who made this possible, from the Ambassador to the Lanús´ coaches, players and staff”.
Expressing his pride in this initiative, Ambassador of Argentina to Barbados, Gustavo Martínez Pandiani, congratulated the young Bajan for his performance, and his family for their support. He also predicted “A bright future for Nicoli if he keeps working with enthusiasm, joy and discipline“.
Additionally, Pandiani stated “This is the kind of cooperation that I like the most, because it´s about real people, not just technical matters. I strongly believe that football, as a popular sport, is a perfect vehicle to bring our youngsters together across all borders“.
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