Soneva Fushi has announced plans to host an exclusive five-day Festive Football Camp with legendary international football stars, Mikael Silvestre and Karina LeBlanc.

Young football fans at Soneva Fushi are in for an exciting treat over this year’s festive season. Between December 20 and 24, the world-leading Maldivian resort will be hosting an exclusive Festive Football Camp with former professional football stars, Mikael Silvestre and Karina LeBlanc.

It will be the second time these legendary players have shared their skills and experience with Soneva’s guests, following on from the popularity of the previous football camp that took place over Easter earlier this year.

French player Mikael made his name playing for some of the world’s best-known football clubs – during his illustrious career he played for Inter Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as gaining 40 caps with the French national side.

Recently retired from her professional career on the pitch, Karina played in goal for some of North America and Canada’s most prestigious women’s teams, as well as representing Canada in five World Cups and two Olympic Games, winning bronze at the London 2012 Olympics.

Aimed at children and teens of all levels and abilities, Soneva Fushi’s five-day programme is priced at USD150++ per child per day.

Training sessions will take a holistic approach, focusing on the different aspects of the ‘beautiful game’ – this will not only include technical and physical skills, such as hand-eye coordination, dribbling and running with the ball, changing speed and controlling and directing the ball, but will also look at psychology and the young players’ social and emotional connection to the sport, including gaining confidence, decision-making, communicating, team-building and making new friends.

Each day will feature around two to three hours of training, split into morning skills sessions and a match every evening. As well as being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from two of the world’s top former players, participants will also receive a t-shirt as a souvenir of this unique and memorable experience to take home.

World-leading luxury resort operator Soneva runs two resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.

In 1995, the award-winning luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi pairs Robinson Crusoe fantasy with intelligent luxury.

Sixty-two private villas with their own stretch of beach are hidden among dense foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef. Intuitive service is provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers.

Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, counting Saturn’s rings in the high-tech Observatory, the home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, five hundred wines to choose from, six different restaurants and countless destination dining options. In November 2015, Soneva launched a floating villa concept, Soneva in Aqua, a treasure trove children’s Den and a multi-purpose facility encompasses a glass gallery, boutique and studio where guests can learn the art of glass blowing.

If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: No news, no shoes. No pretensions either.