Pedro surprises football coach with award in support of education for young people
Tue 21 January 2025, 17:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
Pedro Porro today visited a local sixth form college to present an award for an exemplary student turned football coach and demonstrate the Club’s commitment to supporting education opportunities for young people.
The defender visited Haringey Sixth Form College during a primary schools’ football tournament organised by Estudiantes, a local grassroots football club which uses the power of sport as a tool for the development of young people.
His visit was organised in order to surprise the team’s coach, Isam Belmoudden, with its ‘Student of the Year’ award to recognise his achievements in graduating from Loughborough College.
Isam earned a scholarship to Loughborough having completed his BTEC at Haringey Sixth Form and now helps to coach the football team at Estudiantes. His journey has been assisted by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation through our Spurred 2 Coach programme, which helps young adults without qualifications get into football coaching.
Pedro expressed his delight at having the opportunity to present Isam with his award, saying: "It was a pleasure to meet Isam today - it is obvious what an inspiration he is to his community. I think it is so important in football to have role models like Isam inspiring the next generation of youngsters and I am very proud that the Club is showing its support for his achievement."
Isam said: “I am still in shock! I knew I was coming down to help referee the football tournament, and then I found out Pedro Porro would be coming down - a player I have loved watching for so many years! This is a very special moment for me, I am just going about my job so to be recognised in this way means all my hard work has paid off.”
Russ Lawrance, Chief Executive at Haringey Sixth Form College, said: “We were delighted to host Pedro, our students need role models whose accomplishments they can relate and look up too. Pedro as a professional sportsman and a leader has those characteristics in abundance. I also must thank Spurs for recognising the achievements of Isam, who has made outstanding progress since he joined Haringey Sixth Form College as an ESOL student in 2017.”
Estudiantes provide a free football and futsal training programme, delivered by UEFA-qualified coaches, on the condition students show an outstanding attitude towards their education. The Club has been supporting Estudiantes since its launch in 2018 by offering opportunities at our Training Centre for its players, including helping its Special Educational Needs team train with and play against the Special Olympics Great Britain National Team.
The Club has always placed huge emphasis on education as being the vehicle for young people to fulfil their potential.
Our Foundation works in schools throughout the community, using the power of football to drive educational attainment. The Club also sponsors a Sixth Form college on its stadium campus - the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham - giving talented local young people the opportunity to access the country’s top universities.
