K.Lierse S.K., Wadi Degla and the JMG-Academy are starting up a football academy in Belgium.
The initiative was announced at a press conference a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile we’re a bit further down the line, and the first recruitments are in progress. The first selections have already been made. The JMG-Academy is the only professional organisation in the world which offers a complete education to young footballers.

JMG stands for Jean-Marc Guillou, who founded his first Academy in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in 1994. Since then 7 other Academies have been started up:
In Central Africa: Madagascar (2000), Mali (2006), Ghana (2008)
In North Africa: Egypt (2007), Algeria (2007)
In Asia: Thailand (2005), Vietnam (2007)
The football academy in Lier will therefore be the ninth academy, and the first in Europe.
The basis of the JMG-Academy exists to create the best possible surroundings for young talent, so to stimulate through tuition the blossoming of the player.
The results have to be seen. Eighty per cent of the players who complete the Academy, make it as professional footballer.
They don’t necessarily all reach the level of Yaya Touré (Barcelona), Kalou (Chelsea), Eboué (Arsenal), Boka (Stuttgart) and many others (which you can find back on the Academy website www.academie-jmg.com), but they stand out through the intensive education received.

Currently we’re organising scouting days at various places in the country. Any player of 11,12 or 13 who has talent, can take part in these events, and can eventually be selected to enjoy a good, complete and free coaching (free education, free football coaching, free food, free football kit).
The selection process is strict, but those chosen, can be assured of the best tuition and education to make his dream come true. We start on the 1st September 2008.
The working and the directorship of the Academy will be completely assured through the local consultant chosen by the JMG Academy. This will be in conjunction with the ex-youth coordinator of St Truiden, Thomas Caers. The education of the children will be fully taken on by the football academy:
Football via training sessions, theoretical courses, video lessons, promotional trips, compulsory education (following the obligatory educational programme in Belgium), learning at least two foreign languages, IT training, household work and food. Everything takes place in and around the Academy, in boarding school format. The young players sign a 6-year contract (via parents or guardian). That contract is renewable once for a period of 3 years.

For more information over the Academy and over recruitment, you can contact directly Roger Smets - 0477/497522 -  
smets.roger@pandora.be
There is also the website: www.academie-jmg.be