The first youth intake of the V Sports era has arrived, and while Aston Villa, Annecy and Vitória have all welcomed promising youngsters into their academies, two players immediately stood out to the recruitment department. As part of our long-term commitment to developing the best young African talent, Helton Soares and Moutarzi Tounkara have been identified as the standout prospects from this year’s intake and will now begin their journey through the V Sports development pathway. Finding genuine homegrown African talent is one of the most rewarding aspects of this save. Rather than relying solely on external recruitment, the emergence of academy graduates who already fit the identity of the network represents another major step towards building a sustainable future. While both players remain several years away from first-team football, the foundations are there for two exciting careers.

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Helton Soares

Vitória SC
Age: 15
Position: Left Winger
Nationality: Cape Verde

Helton Soares becomes the first African academy graduate to emerge from Vitória’s youth system and immediately catches the eye with the profile of a modern wide forward. Naturally left-footed and operating from the left flank, he possesses the raw athleticism and technical qualities that suit the V Sports philosophy. His standout attributes are his pace and acceleration (both 15), giving him the explosive speed to attack defenders in one-on-one situations. Technically, his crossing and finishing already sit at 12, while technique (11) suggests there is a solid footballing foundation to build upon. Mentally, perhaps the most exciting number on his profile is his flair of 18. For a fifteen-year-old, that creativity and willingness to try something different could become his greatest weapon. Like many academy players, Soares remains physically slight and will require patience. His first touch, decision making and positional awareness all need considerable work, but that is exactly what the development pathway is designed for. Over the coming seasons he will continue his education within Vitória’s academy, learning the tactical principles that every V Sports club follows before eventually making the step into senior football. Cape Verde has quietly become an increasingly productive football nation, and V Sports hope Helton can become another success story. If his technical ability develops alongside his athleticism, he possesses the profile to eventually become a dangerous inverted winger capable of progressing further up the network.

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Moutarzi Tounkara

Annecy
Age: 15
Position: Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder
Nationality: Mali

Annecy’s headline academy prospect arrives in the form of Malian midfielder Moutarzi Tounkara, a player whose profile is very different from Soares but equally intriguing. At just fifteen years old, Tounkara already demonstrates several outstanding mental attributes rarely seen in academy players. His aggression (18) and bravery (17) immediately stand out, suggesting a fearless competitor who enjoys the physical battle in midfield. Combined with first touch (12) and respectable technique (10), there is the outline of a player capable of dictating play while never shying away from defensive responsibility. Physically he remains underdeveloped, which is entirely expected for his age, but his mentality gives coaches an excellent platform to work from. The challenge over the coming years will be refining his passing range, improving his decision making and allowing his body to mature naturally. If those areas progress, Tounkara has the potential to become an energetic box-to-box midfielder or disciplined holding player capable of controlling games. Mali has produced some exceptional midfield talent in recent years, and V Sports believe Tounkara has the personality and competitive edge required to follow a similar path. His development will be managed carefully at Annecy, where regular academy football should provide the ideal environment before any future step into senior football.

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Looking Ahead

The arrival of Helton Soares and Moutarzi Tounkara highlights another important milestone for the V Sports project. Recruitment across Africa will always remain central to the network, but producing our own African talent through academy systems is arguably an even greater achievement. Both players are several years away from challenging for first-team football, but that is exactly why the network exists. Every club plays a role in developing young players at the appropriate level, giving prospects the time, coaching and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential. For now, Helton Soares begins his journey in Vitória’s academy, while Moutarzi Tounkara starts life with Annecy. They may only be fifteen years old today, but they are the first academy graduates to embody the long-term vision of V Sports—and perhaps the first of many future stars to emerge from within the network itself.