25 chairs, a circle and an hour in front of them to be able to ask anything they wanted. This was the meeting that Mouctar Diakhaby had with the young players of the Valencia CF Academy Residence with whom he participated in a Workshop Against Discrimination and Racism organised by the Psycho-Educational Department within the VCF Educa program of the VCF World campaign (+INFO)

"We have to fight against all racist insults and we have to continue as Valencia CF is doing very well, fight very hard, make a good campaign and educate people, not hide the problem, and talk to the kids about what it is and how to eradicate it," Diakhaby told VCF Media.

The Guinean centre-back explained to the youngest players his experiences on an issue such as racism that transcends the football field. "Racism is a fight that goes beyond football. We have to be forceful in the face of racism", Diakhaby told them in his meeting with the youngsters aged between 12 and 14 who live in the Ciutat Esportiva de Paterna.

Diakhaby also shared his experience and journey to Valencia CF with the youngsters, recalling his arrival at the club and his beginnings in professional football. At the end of the meeting, the youngsters could take photos with Diakhaby and reinforce the message against discrimination and racism that they had previously worked on with the VCF Academy's Psycho-Educational Department.

Diakhaby also shared with the youngsters all his experience and his path to Valencia CF, recalling his arrival at the Mestalla club and his beginnings in professional football. "To become a professional you have to have a bit of luck, hard work and discipline and be very strong mentally," Diakhaby explained.

When I made my debut I thought: I want to experience this feeling again. That's why the most important thing is not to get there, but to keep working and be mentally strong," said Diakhaby, who enjoyed a chat in which they talked about motivations, frustrations, joys, titles, how to remain clear-headed and focused, the help of teammates, family, injuries - like the one Diakhaby is now recovering from - many topics over the course of an hour that was short.

"I liked this meeting with the kids from the VCF Academy. We have to repeat it so that we can share with them the experience of how we got to the first team".

VCF Educates

These dynamics and workshops are part of the VCF Educa program through which the VCF Academy aims to give a global education to its players. Following the motto "We educate people, we train footballers" the VCF Academy players participate throughout the season with the VCF Foundation in different social actions #AcademiaEnComunidad, #Academia360 training workshops to reinforce the values that make up the philosophy of the VCF Academy: Sentiment, Courage and fellowship.

VCF World

The VCF Academy's VCF Educa program is part of the VCF World project, a values project encompassing different actions and activities that are part of the VCF Academy's philosophy: Sentiment, Courage and fellowship.

The VCF World campaign kicked off with a Decalogue against Discrimination in which Diakhaby himself took part along with various social representatives of the organisation.