Christian Cordova in the Longwood University team

Goalkeeper Christian Cordova, an athlete from the Benfica Soccer School in Washington DC, was selected for the Longwood University (Virginia) team, which competes in the NCAA Division I University in the United States of America. A reason to rejoice for the work done.

College sports in the United States is very present in their society and is an important step in the life of any young person, both in terms of sports and in terms of personal and professional development. This is exactly what Christian Cordova will experience in the near future.

The young goalkeeper, who is part of Benfica's Soccer School in Washington DC, will join Longwood University, in the state of Virginia, as a result of his performance and development, both athletic and academic, in which he has a record of excellence.

Christian Cordova is recognized for his work ethic and effective ability to manage time between school duties and soccer. In addition, the keeper stands out for his evident soccer skills, developed under the high standards of the local Benfica Soccer School program.

The rigorous system and the methodological routine of Benfica Soccer School have produced excellent results and attracted the attention of coaches from the most prestigious high schools and universities, who have recorded information in order to recruit some of the emerging talents.

Who knows Christian Cordova well is Paulo Filipe, Benfica's technical coordinator, who is not surprised with the selection of the young athlete for Longwood University, "given his skills and discipline on and off the field".

"Chicha, as we know him, has been part of our 2005 Premier, U18 team and has been developing his skills with us for the past three years, since the 2020-2021 season, learning our system and methodology", explained Paulo Filipe.

Important for this moment was the experience lived by the goalkeeper last summer. His participation in the Elite Training Camps program, at Benfica Campus, allowed him to define specific aspects to develop, such as coordination, technique, agility, positioning and reflexes.

Likewise, Christian Cordova has put effort into developing his reading of the game, communication, and how to strengthen his mental capacity at key moments in matches.

To Davide Gomes, coordinator of the international programs, this achievement "is just a small proof of the huge work that is being done by the Benfica Coaches in our Benfica School in Washington DC and around the world in the several projects abroad".

The international programs coordinator added that the rewards of long, drawn-out work are beginning to be reaped.

"This kind of projects need time to sow the seeds and let them grow, but we know that in the long term, results will start to appear, and the players´ pathway will be very clear to everyone. This achievement should make Benfica fans", claimed Davide Gomes.

The selection of Christian Cordova to the Longwood University team is a reflection of the commitment of the Benfica Soccer School in Washington DC in the execution of its program, which aims at the integral development of young soccer players, helping them reach their potential. The name of the Club will continue to resonate in the four corners of the world. There is also the utmost confidence that Christian will continue to excel in this new stage of his life.