Challenging times for the FLF football academy

The way the situation presents itself at the moment, the academy will most likely remain on lockdown until 31 July. Although the national team players cannot be in Mondercange physically, the young "Roud Léiwen" (Red Lions) still receive training programs from the FLF.

Thanks to modern-day technology, an alternative way of conducting training sessions is still possible, explains head-coach of the academy Manu Cardoni:

"There were many unknowns at the beginning, but we quickly provided the lads with work-out routines. Everything works via video conference or recordings, and we stay in contact through Whatsapp. After the first month, we now feel the enthusiasm declining."

In regular times, the Luxembourg youth team plays a friendly against a foreign team almost every single week. Pitch experience is naturally being missed to a great degree at the moment.
"Even the best preparation over the course of an entire year cannot match the experience you get from being on the pitch in a competitive game. But we are not alone in this situation. Even the professional players have to train at home in isolation at the moment."

The FLF normally makes use of the final months of a season to decide which players remain in the team in the coming year, and which young athletes get their first chance to play for the U11 team. This year, adjustments had to be made due to the exceptional situation of the lockdown.

Coach Cardoni believes a reopening of the academy is not yet in sight. The only apparent thing at the moment is that no football will be played before the end of July.