Promising footballers Enrique Russell, Kane Critchlow, Knory Scott and Jahkari Furbert have been afforded a wonderful opportunity to broaden their athletic and academic horizons in Spain.The foursome are the first of what is hoped will be many BAA Football Academy footballers to take advantage of the club’s partnership with Spanish amateur club UECornella.BAA struck a deal last summer with UECornella who hold official ties with FC Barcelona.The philosophy of BAA and UECornella is based upon providing the opportunity for all with the understanding that only a few will become professionals while all participants can be good citizens.Come August the local foursome will join the UECornella Football Academy where they will further their football development and education while playing in official Catalan Football Federation (FCF) matches.Thanks to the partnership, BAA technical director Kenny Thompson said his players now have a “realistic chance” to move towards their dream of professional football.“The relationship that we have with UECornella provides a realistic bridge between what we are doing here at BAA and professional football,” he added. “It would be unrealistic to think that our players can go into a top professional academy straight from here.“Those chances are very small so it’s more realistic to go from here to Cornella that is an amateur club but in youth development works very, very professionally and also sends a lot of players to professional clubs.”Spanish defender Jordi Alba, who was signed by Barcelona for $17.4 million last week, is just one of the many players to have honed their skills at UECornella.“Cornella do this sort of thing on a regular basis,” Thompson said. “They are able to develop players and send them to professional clubs.“The whole relationship with UECornella is a great one because they are a high quality amateur club and in terms of youth development are the third best club in the whole of Catalonia behind FC Barcelona and RCDEspanyol.”Twelve-year old defender Russell is determined to put his best foot forward in Spain.“I am very excited and I hope to do my best and achieve my highest goals,” he said.Midfielder Critchlow, also aged 12, has high expectations.“My goal is to get in the ‘A’ team of Cornella and then stay there for a while and then probably go to Barcelona,” he said.Thirteen year-old striker Scott said: “I’m looking forward to the change of environment and culture and above all pursuing my football dreams of being a professional.Willis Ming, the father of 13-year old midfielder Furbert, is delighted to see his son get the opportunity to fulfill a dream of playing football overseas.“I am definitely excited to see my son have this opportunity because it’s something he’s wanted for a long time,” he said.During their stay at UECornella the local foursome will get the opportunity to learn a new culture and language andy further their education. Each player will receive “first class” academic education to enable them to take advantage of the relationship between UECornella and an agency in the US which promotes UECornella players to colleges and universities should professional football fail to materialise.“If the level (professional) is too much then they can fall back on getting a scholarship through their football development in Spain,” Thompson said. “They will be good enough to get scholarships in the United States so it’s a win-win situation for the players.”The BAA youth footballers will be in Spain for at least a year.