"This has been once in a lifetime experience"

Former FC Barcelona player, Andrea Orlandi, was last friday the 26th the host of the Life Experiences conference, held at the 1899 Auditorium at the Camp Nou and organized by the FC Barcelona former players Association and ISL. The participants of the activity were kids from the United States and their families. The main goal of the conference was to share the values of the Club to those young talents that dream of becoming professional players.

Life Experiences' values

Throughout the session, Orlandi went over his professional career with special emphasis on his time at Barça. The audience was particularly surprised with the host's anecdotes with great players such as Messi, Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Xavi.

The kids also had the oportunity of interacting with Orlandi thanks to yellow and red cards that they could find on their seats at the beggining of the session. These cards were used as a tool to explain the Club's values through practical examples, though the kids also used them to show a yellow or red card to the host, who joked with them from time to time. At the end of the show, both parents and children were able to ask questions to the former Barcelona player.

The families' satisfaction

"It has been once in a lifetime experience for our kid to get to know the Club and their values", says Samantha Ledford. His son, Mason Ledford, aged 9, is a player for the Barça Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina. At this conference, families like Mason's have the chance to listen first hand to a former Barcelona player talking about their experience. "Mason's dream is to be a pro soccer player and it's great that he has been able to see how a former player got there, what he learned and also the mistakes he made to have an idea of what it's like to make it and for him to have self-confidence", Ledford claims.

The pride of representing Barça

Beyond the kids and their families, this conference is a whole experience for the host too. Andrea Orlandi tells that he feels "privileged and proud" to be able to represent the Club at the 1899 Auditorium at the Camp Nou. The former player reckons that the presence of the families is "really positive" so they can learn how to support their kids all along their careers. "I am thankful to the Association for counting on me to do this activity", Orlandi says.

The Association of Players offers this Life Experience conferences to companies that seek to dig into Barça's values, the motivational skills and the ability to overcome any dificulties, always hosted by former professional players who are members of the Association.