For the children of the FCBEscola Peru in Lima, counting down the days until they board a plane for Barcelona, where they'll compete in the FCBEscola's V International Tournament, is nerve racking.
They still have clear memories of the good times they had last year. So much that, at school, there is only one topic of conversation: the tournament. The tickets are already bought and rooms are already booked at the hotel where they'll be staying in Esplugues de Llobregat. In total, five teams are coming from Peru — two pre-training teams, two training, and one pre-competition.
"They are excited not only to play at Barça's facilities, where their idols trained, but also to visit the city. For many of them it is the journey of a lifetime, especially for those who have never left their country or their families. It's a very big challenge," said Juanjo Luque, director of the FCBEscola Peru.
Visit to the FCB Museum
The FCBEscola Peru's expedition will arrive in Barcelona on Saturday, 19 March and will train that Sunday and will likely play a friendly with the different teams of the local CF Igualada to get in gear for the tournament. In the afternoon they'll visit the FC Barcelona Museum before opening competition on Monday. The V FCBEscola International Tournament takes place from 21 to 24 March at the fields adjacent to the Miniestadi. More than 1,200 players from around the world will participate in what is sure to be yet another blaugrana festival.
