New Soccer Academy from Ethiopia  at the Dana Cup for the First Time

'If we had received our visas a little earlier, we could have participated with two much better teams', explains Bitania Besrat, who is a little upset. He is the coach of one of the two teams that the Premier Skills Ethio academy has at the Dana Cup. It is the first time that the new academy participates in the tournament in Hjørring. 

'We were only founded two years ago, and we are the first academy in Ethiopia to participate in a tournament abroad', the coach says. 

'We had problems getting visas. Therefore, we are missing approximately half of our players. In addition, it became a big challenge for us to get sponsors, because we didn't know if we were going to go at all', Bitania Besrat adds. 

With many players at home in Ethiopia, the sporting opportunities are after all limited, but Bitania Besrat chooses to see the challenge from the positive side. 

'At least, we have seen where our football challenges are. Where our gaps are, so we know what to work on. But we also have some physical challenges, especially with the Danish and Norwegian boys, who are much bigger and stronger than us. We have played well and had the ball a lot, but we have been challenged on a physical level', he admits. 

The players from Premier Skills Ethio do not live at the academy. Most come from the capital Addis Ababa and live at home. They come to the academy three times a week to practice. 

'We are really happy to participate in the Dana Cup, and I hope that we will have the opportunity to come back next year', Bitania Besrat smiles.