It is going to be a while before Adam Alif Mustafa and Muhammad Firdaus Amirrudin can live down their experience at the recent Allianz Explorer Camp (AEC) — Football Edition in Munich, Germany.
The duo joined 50 others, aged between 14 and 16, from 23 countries — including from Germany, Spain, Argentina, South Africa and Japan — to participate in the six-day camp from Aug 22.
At the camp, the youngsters took part in daily training sessions with Bayern Munich’s youth coaches at the club’s Saebener Strasse training ground, where they were put through their paces and working on various techniques, like passing, ball control and shooting accuracy.
An added bonus was when Bayern’s Spanish midfielder, Thiago Alcantara also made a surprise appearance during one of the sessions.
“It’s not every day that you get the chance to train at one of the biggest clubs in Europe. I feel lucky to have had that opportunity. Everything was great here, from the weather to the training drills and techniques that we learnt. Even the grounds at Saebener Strasse were amazing. I think this has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Adam, 16, from SMK Ahmad in Pekan, Pahang.
Other highlights from the camp included a tour of the Allianz Arena, the chance to watch Bayern’s 3-0 win over Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.
The duo also went on a city tour to explore the Bavarian capital and showcase their skills in a football tournament on the last day of the camp.
“This experience was more than just about football. It was about learning to be in the moment and being able to try things outside your comfort zone. I tried surfing for the first time in my life, made some new friends and even picked up some new words in German and Polish! I just loved every second of it,” said Firdaus, also 16, from SMK Khir Johari in Sungai Petani, Kedah.