Rush Soccer Academy celebrates one-year existence

Rush Soccer Club of The Gambia recently ended what is believed to be the one-year celebration of the existence of the Academy marked by some spectacular highs and some difficult moments.

Tim Schalz, founder of Rush Soccer Club in America who was in Banjul to witness the launching ceremony of the Rush Soccer Academy a year ago, presided over the opening of a football tournament that includes both the male and female categories.

The tournament, held at the Serrekunda East Mini-stadium, is part of celebration marking the one-year existence of the Rush Soccer Academy.

Tim Schalz says he is in The Gambia to witness the one-year celebrations since Gambia Rush Soccer Academy was established.

"The main highlights of my visit to The Gambia is to witness the one-year celebration of Rush Academy and to see the progress and development registered by the Academy, and I am extremely delighted to find out that there are some incredible talents within the Academy who can make it abroad," said Tim Schalz, who spoke to Pointsport in an interview at the Serrekunda East Mini-stadium.
"The incredible development has been registered by the academy because we started from nowhere and at the moment a significant progress has been achieved and I am definitely proud of such a wonderful achievement," he added.

Tim Schalz says he is pleased to see the development, the level of play, and the professionalism in the academy and vowed to scout some of them for trials in the US.

Rush Soccer Club of The Gambia has also succeeded in exporting a good number of the country's youngsters that are showcasing their talents mainly in the United States of America.

 A perfect example to this achievement is the exportation of at least ten players from the Academy, four to Colorado, one to Texas and five to the United States.

Omar Ceesay, the inspirational figure behind the establishment of the Academy who also spoke to this reporter, dwelled on the significant achievements the Academy has registered this shortest possible time.

He said the academy had achieved a lot of success having succeeded in exporting a teeming number of Gambian youngsters, among other local achievements over the past year.

Ceesay disclosed that the idea of establishing Rush Soccer Academy was brought into the country by him with the help of his friend Kemo Ceesay, whose aim is to help export the Gambian young talents to professional leagues across the world.

Many other youngsters have also set their sights on following the footsteps of their colleagues in the Academy, who are now making names for themselves in their respective football clubs abroad but according to Omar Ceesay, more players are expected to follow suit.

He dwelled on some of the challenges they face on their journey to success but thanks the Almighty God for making their dreams a reality.