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Bradshaw Christian High School student Ishaan Sharma will soon kick it with the professionals, working with some of the best soccer players in the world.
At 15 years old, Sharma was just accepted into the FC Barcelona Academy in Arizona.
The academy is a full-time residential academy program in the U.S. partnered with Spain’s FC Barcelona.
“It still feels like a dream,” said Ishaan’s father, Praneet Sharma. “There’s days where I pinch myself to see if I’m still awake or this is a dream.”
Ishaan and his family will move to Arizona so he can follow his dreams on the soccer pitch.
“It is life-changing that I have to lift up everything and move, leave my family and friends, but he’s my only son, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes for him to achieve his dream,” Praneet said.
But Ishaan will not forget his time at Bradshaw Christian High School anytime soon.
“While at Bradshaw Christian I learned how to strengthen myself through Christ and be a more confident person,” Ishaan said.
Because of Ishaan’s high skill level and technical prowess on the field, his coach knew it was only a matter of time before Ishaan got his shot at the big leagues.
“I expected it was going to be at some given point where he was going to get his opportunity,” coach Jose Ortiz told KCRA 3. “For Barca, I think it’s a really top academy, it’s very prestigious here in our country of America. It is a tough academy to make it, it’s rare for these kids to make it.”
Ishaan will join the academy as an under-17 player, but will play on the U-19 team in the fall.
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