Three Demopolis students participated in a soccer camp in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this summer.

Jeremy and Zachary Chu and Oscar Valdivia spent 13 days at the FCBEscola Camp on July 7-19, receiving training from coaches certified by one of the world’s best soccer clubs, FC Barcelona.

All three boys said it was a great experience, and that going from Demopolis to one of the world’s elite soccer facilities was overwhelming at first.

“It was a very good experience,” Jeremy Chu said. “The people were friendly. It was a little overwhelming, but it was a great experience.”

“I’m very glad to have the experience,” Valdivia said. “There was a lot of great competition.”

Zachary Chu said going to the stadium and playing was his favorite part of the camp.

“Seeing their stadium and being able to play there on good grass, it was a great experience,” he said.

The three players plan to play for the Demopolis High School soccer team this upcoming season, and they feel they will be able to bring a lot to the team from their experience in Spain.

“Our passing will improve a lot,” Valdivia said. “We will be able to bring new tactics to the team, and we should be able to help the other players with what we learned.”

Valdivia will be a senior on the team and Jeremy Chu will be a junior. Zachary Chu will just be an eighth-grader, but still plans to help the team.

“After going through the camp, I think I can help the team this season,” Zachary said.

“Zach will add depth for us this season,” Jeremy said. “That’s something we didn’t have much of last season.”

The boys were part of an 86-player group at the camp.

The camp allows participants to discover new techniques as well as improve their mental and physical skills.