Africa-Press – Gambia. At the 2025 World Travel Market (WTM) in London, The Gambia’s tourism stand attracted international attention, including notable visitors like Daniel Guardia, Chief Commercial Officer of Spain’s Real Betis, who revealed concrete plans to launch a football academy and youth development camp in The Gambia by January 2026.
Speaking in an interview with this medium, Daniel described Africa and The Gambia in particular as a continent “full of talent” and central to the club’s long-term development strategy.
“Africa is the future. People love football. It’s not just training; it’s education, values, teamwork,” he said. “What we started last year will continue. Next January 2026, we will start our first academy and campBy in The Gambia. We are more than happy to begin this meaningful partnership.”
The reason for choosing The Gambia, he noted, is in connection with the country, both cultural and strategic. Born and raised in Barcelona, he highlighted the strong African community in Spain and the ease of travel between the two nations.
“There are a lot of Gambians in Spain. We are very close. This collaboration will help us discover new players and young talent. Africa is full of it,” he said, referencing the high number of African players in major tournaments, including the UEFA Champions League.
Real Betis’s vision extends beyond setting up an academy, says the club intends to create channels for talented Gambian players to also train abroad and possibly advance into professional football.
“We will select players, develop their talent, and I’m sure some will travel to Seville to train with us,” he explained. “We can also arrange international camps with players from our academies. Developing young talent worldwide is part of our core mission.”
The Spanish club executive emphasized that the academy is only the beginning of their engagement with The Gambia.
“We will do more for communities and neighbourhoods that need support,” he said. “Football is a universal language. It’s a tool to help young people grow, not just as footballers but as individuals.”
He hinted at broader tourism-related investments, inspired by the models of Rwanda and Congo, which have successfully used sports partnerships to increase global brand visibility.
“Why not Gambia?” he asked rhetorically, saying, “We want to help the country grow in terms of brand awareness and attract more visitors.”
Within a few years, he expressed his vision, Gambian players would rise to compete in top European leagues.
“It would be a pleasure to see Gambian players in La Liga. That will show the importance of what we are doing; it’s a great project to build together,” he said.
The initiative is expected to boost both sports development and sports tourism, positioning The Gambia as an emerging hub for international football collaboration, he expressed.
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