Young Chinese trainees left kicking their heels after Luis Figo soccer academy shuts without explanation
Parents say calls have gone unanswered, coaches have left and field gates have been locked for two months
A Chinese soccer academy co-founded by legendary Portuguese player Luis Figo has shut without explanation, leaving its young trainees in the lurch.
The Winning League Figo Football Academy in Chengdu, Sichuan province, had not held training sessions for two months and staff had not been seen on the premises, Chengdu Economic Daily reported.
After successful launches in Shanghai and Beijing, the Chengdu branch opened in June 2015 following a deal between Figo and the Chengdu Football Association.
The franchise has 14 branches across China, employing 135 Portuguese and Chinese coaches.
“We signed [our child] up because we thought there would be foreign coaches and it’s named after Figo,” one disappointed parent, surnamed Wang, was quoted as saying.