By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Joshua Gabriel Moleje, a member of the Azkals Development Academy (ADA) Under-15 squad, has been awarded a 100 percent scholarship to train at Levante UD in Valencia, Spain.

The Bacolod City native booter will kick off this collaboration by representing the Philippines on an international level and gaining invaluable experience in one of the world’s most competitive football environments.

Moleje, also part of the University of Santo Tomas juniors squad and the national Under-16 team, is the first Filipino player to benefit from the newly-signed partnership between the ADA and Levante UD SAD, which hopes to elevate youth football in the Philippines.

“We are thrilled to partner with Levante UD, a club renowned for its excellence and passion for football,” former national team captain Stephan Schröck, who founded ADA, said.

“Together, we aim to uplift Filipino youth, providing them with the tools and opportunities to succeed on and off the field,” he added.

The partnership between ADA and Levante comes on the heels of the ADA U-15 team’s performance at the International Football Championships 2024 held in Bali, Indonesia, where the boys secured second place, outplaying teams from Australia and Indonesia.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to developing football globally. We are excited to work with the Azkals Development Academy to nurture talent and inspire a new generation of players in the Philippines,” Levante UD said in a statement./ASC, WDJ