Real Madrid will open at least seven football academies for children in Indonesia next year, Indonesia's sport ministry said on Friday. "Real Madrid has agreed to open the schools next year, although we don't know when exactly. We are very open to collaboration with European clubs," sports minister Andi Mallarangeng told AFP.
The project will be funded by the Real Madrid Foundation, as part of the club's corporate social responsibility programme, in collaboration with the International Social Sports Development Foundation. Mallarangeng said he hoped the schools will create opportunities for Indonesians to play in European leagues, as in the case of local star Arthur Irawan, who plays for the Junior Espanyol league. Real Madrid will open schools in the capital Jakarta and other major cities, including Jayapura in the restive Papua region, from where several national players hail.