A Parent’s Perspective: Jorge’s Football Experience with West Ham United Foundation

For a young footballer, the opportunity to travel overseas and train in a different football environment can be an experience that stays with them for years. For parents, however, there is much more to consider than what happens on the pitch. They want to know that their child is learning, developing, making friends and being properly supported throughout their time abroad.

This is why feedback from parents is so important to us at Choices International.

Recently, we received a lovely message from Jorge Ahued, whose son, Jorge Ahued Rodriguez, who joined our Tryout programme and the West Ham United Foundation football programme in London. Read a parent’s testimonial about his son’s experience in the West Ham United Foundation football programme in London, including football training, development, and life in the UK.

Jorge and his family are from Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico, and his experience gave him the opportunity to spend time in the UK, train within a structured football environment and experience life as an international young footballer.

 

From Mexico to London

For a young player travelling from Mexico to the UK, the experience is about much more than simply attending football training.

Moving into a new environment means meeting people from different countries, adapting to a different culture and learning to become more independent. At the same time, players have the opportunity to focus on their football development and experience a different approach to training.

Jorge’s father describes the experience as a privilege for the whole family, particularly the opportunity for his son to play and train in London.

In his message to Choices International, he wrote:

Dear Ian,

It has been such a wonderful experience for my son, Jorge Ahued Rodriguez, to have participated in your West Ham United Foundation Academy for the last season of 2024 and the beginning of 2025.

It has been a pleasure for me, his father, his sister, and especially Jorge Jr. to have the opportunity and privilege to play and train in such a wonderful Academy.

On behalf of the Ahued Rodriguez family, we thank you for teaching, guiding, and taking care of my son. This has been such a great experience for him and one he will not forget for the rest of his life.

Take care and kind regards,

Jorge Ahued and Lilya Rodriguez

Jorge’s parents.

 

Developing Young Footballers in the UK

Football development is at the heart of the programmes delivered through Choices International and the West Ham United Foundation.

Players can work on different aspects of their game, from technical skills and match play to tactical understanding, positioning, and decision-making. The current West Ham United Foundation programmes in London cater for players across different ability levels, allowing training to be structured around the development needs of the individual player.

For international players, this also means experiencing football in the UK and learning from West Ham coaches and fellow players from a variety of backgrounds.

That combination can make a football programme in England valuable both on and off the pitch.

More Than Just Football Training

An international football experience can also give young players an opportunity to discover London and experience a different culture.

Choices International’s football programmes in London combine football development with the wider experience of being an international student. Depending on the programme selected, players can take part in social activities, cultural experiences and organised excursions alongside their football training. Residential programmes can also include accommodation, meals, daily transport and welfare support. Players can also choose from a wide range of academic courses too, so they can get UK qualifications as well as work on their football.

For younger players travelling from overseas, these elements can make a significant difference.

The aim is to create an environment where players can concentrate on their football while also enjoying their time in London, meeting new people and building confidence.

A Football Experience to Remember

Looking back at Jorge’s experience, it is clear that the programme became more than simply a period of football training. For families considering football training in the UK, experiences such as Jorge’s can provide an insight into what an international football programme can offer.

Travelling to another country gives young footballers the chance to test themselves in a new environment, experience a different style of training and meet other players who share their passion for the game.

It can also help them develop qualities that extend beyond football, including confidence, independence, communication and teamwork.

Football Programmes for International Players

At Choices International, we welcome young people from around the world onto our football and sports programmes in the UK and Spain.

Our partnership with the West Ham United Foundation provides international players with opportunities to train in London within a structured football development environment. Current programmes range from junior summer experiences through to longer-term football and academic pathways for international student-athletes.

For some players, a short stay in London may be their first experience of international football training. For others, it can form part of a longer-term plan combining football development and education.

Every player’s journey is different.

What remains important is providing an experience that players and their families can look back on positively.

Thank You to the Ahued Rodriguez Family

We would like to thank Jorge Ahued and the Ahued Rodriguez family for taking the time to share their experience with us.

It is always particularly rewarding to hear directly from parents about what their child’s time with Choices International has meant to them.

Jorge arrived in London as a young footballer from Mexico looking to develop his game and experience football in the UK. He left with memories, new experiences and a story that his family clearly feels will stay with him for many years.

We are proud to play a part in creating those experiences for young footballers from around the world.

Read Jorge’s full message below.