"If you do not study, you do not play": the project of Juan Sebastián Verón who arrived in Dubai

Special Envoy to Dubai. Ten years ago, Juan Sebastián Verón was also in the United Arab Emirates. At that time, he played the final of the Club World Cup against the mythical Barcelona of Guardiola, Messi and company. He was the captain of this Estudiantes de la Plata. He is now president and things have changed: he is not in Dubai for football. Or yes: it is rather for football related education.

Brujita will speak tomorrow. He will talk about the educational project he has been conducting with students since he came to power four years ago: the first compulsory secondary school for players in the lower divisions of the club.

The baccalaureate pursues a motto which will be even the axis of its presentation: "If you do not study, you do not play". This is not new. Similar slogans have already been heard in other clubs, although in practice sports are often a priority.

"It's a repetitive slogan, but we take it seriously. It was not something simple, but they understood that football and education are a unique project and converge inevitably. It is a political decision. I do not need to go and convince anyone. I tell you the project, how it was developed and how it should end, and they should all be aligned, "he said. Infobae.

-I guess it must have been difficult to make him understand at first

-Has been difficult. It's a change of root. It is difficult to understand the technician who is depressed because the boys are not available. Boys want to play, they do not want to be left behind. And those who play want to win and sometimes do not understand that the "best" can not help them in the field. We came to lose the games 6 to 0 because they were outside guys who did not have good grades. It's understand that nothing happens, that it's a party and that the road continues.

– Why the link of education with football?

– First, education is a right that boys have. Obviously, because of a need, for the athlete 's training. On the one hand, it's giving tools in case this does not happen, but I also think that it complements the player who manages to consolidate in Premier. This allows you to have the power of decision on your career. Being able to choose what to do and what not to do.

– How much of this "obsession" arises because you could not finish your studies?

-No doubt on the way something that I missed. You put in the hands of other decisions that must be yours. Sports and economic decisions.

Yes Why can not you decide on your career? I understand that it is not something simple and that you need someone to accompany you, but leaving your career in the hands of another person does not make sense to me. This is not good. Studying gives you tools to achieve it. At around age 16 or 17, you have to make some tough decisions for that age and you are not prepared for that.

-What are the first results you see?

-The first thing is the exit that is given to the boy who does not follow in the club or even does not follow in football. Many come from within and can leave with the secondary finished allowing them to leave somewhere else, as the world does not come down. Already in itself is a blow that football does not allow you to achieve your dream. We are trying at least to have a tool.

-The fact is that most do not arrive …

-It is also to make them understand that of the 160 boys who go to school, it is certain that 140 or 150 do not arrive.

-I think you have to work with many children in vulnerable situations. How are they accompanied?

-Yes, you find a lot. We work in an integral way because there are also boys who spend well and all live in a clbadroom. Convergence is healthy, but for the teacher, it's a challenge. They work with a huge gap: there are children with gaps, who do not know how to write and on the other side, there are others who do not miss anything. Fortunately, little by little, it shrinks.

– Is there any idea to extend the educational project to higher education?

-It's not easy, but the idea is. Especially for the need to adapt the methodology to the needs of the child. You must understand that you can not bring 15 books home to give a review the next day because they also make a sacrifice. They come from far away, they arrive at 8 o'clock in the morning, they train, they need to rest. It's fundamental: help them, understand them so that they can finish their studies.