News

March 2011
Letter from John Rudge, Director of Stoke City Football

I visited Senegal in March 2011 to view a tournament between your academy teams, Galaxy Kedougou, Galaxy Dakar, Rufisque and the club team of Dakar, Sacre Coeur.

The tournament was played on the field turf of Dakar Sacre Coeur training ground.

I found the organisation and running of the tournament in general terms good.

The players were enthusiastic and competitive towards all of the games.

The standard of the players in general terms was above average and showed raw talent in all the age groups.

Scouting for young players in the area has merit but has several logistic problems such as training facilities to be upgraded, work permits/registrations of players, cost of running the academies, transport and accommodation costs.

I enjoyed my visit to Senegal and confirm there are players with raw talent available.

John Rudge
Director of Football
Stoke City Football Club