West Ham United’s Academy of Football will play host to international teams from India and South Africa this week.
The Irons will welcome players and staff from Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters and South African Premier Division Stellenbosch FC to east London for a special day-long event on Tuesday.
The two teams will contest a challenge match at Little Heath before heading to West Ham’s historic Chadwell Heath training ground, where they will be given a tour and introduction to the West Ham Way by Academy Manager Ricky Martin, Hammers legend and Academy coach Carlton Cole and current first-team defender and Academy graduate Ben Johnson.
The two clubs are in England to take part in the third iteration of the Premier League Next Generation Cup, a tournament also featuring U19 teams from West Ham and four other Premier League Academies, along with Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC.
“It is a privilege for West Ham United to be involved in the Next Generation Cup,” Martin confirmed. “This prestigious event will provide not only our U19s with the rare and invaluable opportunity to test themselves in a tournament alongside fellow youth teams from across the world, but also for West Ham to assist in the Premier League’s commitment to developing Indian football - an opportunity that has now also been extended to South African teams.
“The Academy is also honoured to welcome our friends and colleagues from Kerala Blasters and Stellenbosch FC to our Little Heath training facility on Tuesday, where they will play a friendly against each other, before joining us at the iconic Chadwell Heath training ground for a look at the methods and philosophies that make the Academy of Football a globally recognised development centre.
“The Club is delighted to put together a day-long programme for our visitors and to provide an insight into the legacy and teachings at Chadwell Heath. Diversity and inclusivity are embedded into the foundations of this Football Club and its Academy and we’re all excited to spend time with, share with and learn from our friends from Kerala Blasters and Stellenbosch.”
West Ham’s U19s will take on Crystal Palace and Kerala Blasters tackle London Group hosts Tottenham Hotspur in the Next Generation Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, with the winners and losers squaring off in the final and third-place play-off respectively on Saturday.