Colombian women football players can access discounts on the academic programs offered by Johan Cruyff Institute under an agreement signed with AFUTCOL
Johan Cruyff Institute and AFUTCOL have agreed to undertake collaborative actions with the aim of promoting academic training among professional and amateur female football players in Colombia. All members of the association and its board of directors will be able to access important discounts on the programs in sport management, sport marketing and sponsorship, football business and coaching offered by Johan Cruyff Institute.
The Association of Colombian Women Footballers (AFUTCOL) is a non-profit entity that was formed after observing the lack of information and support available for current and former women football players and the need for an entity that watches over the rights and interests of amateur, professional and national team players in the country.
In the last decade, women’s football has been gaining ground globally. In Colombia, as in many other Latin American countries, the hiring and professionalization of female players has been evolving gradually, with encouraging signs of progress. Both the players and the managers of the industry must be prepared to face new challenges and growth opportunities in women’s football. This agreement will allow AFUTCOL players and staff to obtain academic training to pursue these objectives.
Sandra Milena Sepúlveda, president of AFUTCOL and who was goalkeeper for Deportivo Independiente Medellín and the Colombia women’s national team, expressed her satisfaction with the agreement: “It is an honor to be part of this initiative that positively links the support to our athletes in their academic training. We are convinced that this is the beginning of the consolidation of a support network for our members, allowing for a sharing of experiences and knowledge.” According to the president, “our goal is to achieve, with the help of Johan Cruyff Institute, the greatest number possible of women football players highly trained for a life in sport and after they have retired.”
This collaboration also allows both entities to carry out joint activities and events and offers Johan Cruyff Institute students the possibility to do internships at the association, depending on their availability. “We are proud to close this collaboration agreement with AFUTCOL and contribute together to the professionalization of women’s football in Colombia, through the training of the association’s members and staff. We are convinced of the great potential of this partnership and are very happy to share the same vision on this globally growing sport discipline,” said Edgar Romero, corporate relations manager at Johan Cruyff Institute.
