MANILA -- A young footballer from Bacolod City has earned a scholarship to train at Levante UD in Valencia, Spain.
Joshua Gabriel Moleje, a member of the University of Santo Tomas juniors squad and the national under-16 team, received a 100% scholarship.
He is the first Filipino player to benefit from the newly-signed partnership between the Azkals Development Academy (ADA) and Levante UD SAD, which hopes to elevate youth football in the Philippines.
Coach Daniel Pastor, Head of International Training Area for Levante UD, with Joshua Gabriel Moleje, a talented young Azkals Development Academy U15 footballer from Bacolod City, and ADA founder, former Azkals team captain Stephan Schröck. Handout photoMoleje is expected to represent the Philippines at the club while also gaining invaluable experience in one of the world's most competitive football environments.
"We are thrilled to partner with Levante UD, a club renowned for its excellence and passion for football. Together, we aim to uplift Filipino youth, providing them with the tools and opportunities to succeed on and off the field," said former national team captain Stephan Schröck, who founded ADA.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to developing football globally. We are excited to work with the Azkals Development Academy to nurture talent and inspire a new generation of players in the Philippines," said Levante UD.
The partnership between ADA and Levante comes on the heels of the ADA U-15 team's performance at the International Football Championships 2024 held in Bali, Indonesia, where the boys secured second place outplaying teams from Australia and Indonesia.