Independiente del Valle’s youth and anti-racism model aims to test Flamengo again | OneFootball

Independiente del Valle, the backbone of Ecuador’s national team and reputed giant-killers, have built success on academy work and anti-racist education, and now meet Flamengo in the Libertadores quarter-finals seeking another upset.

Since 2019 they have won the Sudamericana twice, in 2019 and 2022, and the 2023 Recopa at the Maracanã against Flamengo. In nine years they rose from Ecuador’s third tier to the 2016 Libertadores final. According to Globo.com, long-term investment in youth and infrastructure underpins it.

Their base is the Ciudad Deportiva Valle de los Sueños in Sangolquí, beside the 12,000-capacity Estadio Banco Guayaquil, built in a year. For Flamengo they will use the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa on Thursday at 21:30, Brasília time. The site has eight pitches and two stadiums.

Education is central, notably Latidos del Valle, launched three years ago within IDV Raíces to tackle racism and strengthen identity. Staff training and therapeutic support cover about 250 adolescents aged 10 to 19. A planned response by the under-13s to racist abuse led to a crowd sanction.

Player care intensified after the 2019 killing of prospect Mauri Quiñónez, and bridge team Independiente Juniors eases the step to the seniors, a route taken by Anthony Valencia. More than 10 million dollars has gone into the training centre serving over 400 players daily. Caicedo’s 133.5 million dollar Chelsea fee sits in an untouchable fund, while the budget is 12 million dollars, including 8 million for the first team.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”