Collecchio, 10 December 2025 – An afternoon discovering everything about Mandela Keita, both on and off the pitch, and getting a taste of life as a young journalist. Today, class 5C from Primaria Sanvitale, part of the Istituto Comprensivo ‘Parma Centro’, enjoyed a wonderful experience in the press room of the Mutti Training Center in Collecchio. 25 pupils, accompanied by two accompanying adults, took part in the first edition of “Gialloblu Youth Reporters”, a series of regular sessions giving young students the chance to meet Parma Calcio’s male and female players up close.
Gialloblu Youth Reporters is a project centred on a series of press conferences for groups of children aged 6 to 10. Young primary school pupils will have the chance to meet and tour the training facilities, get a closer look at the world of sport through the stories of the Club’s male and female players, and finish the day by sharing a small culinary moment together.
‘Mande’ was the first to address the youngsters, who welcomed him with enthusiasm, passion, and plenty of questions. There was keen interest in his life as a footballer, from his earliest experiences with the ball: “As a child, I had energy to spare, and thanks to my mum, I was able to channel it positively into football.”
There was also curiosity about his private life (Mande’s love for his dog Mallow proved particularly popular) and current issues, especially how to confront and fight racism. On this topic, Keita spoke candidly: “Racism must be fought every day, even through small gestures. When I see incidents like that, I feel sadness; it gives me strength to know that together we can make a difference.”
The midfielder then added: “Sometimes, you face difficult situations, but you should never respond with hatred. The most important thing is to speak up, report it, and stay united.” Finally, he shared a direct message with the young audience: “Seeing children interested in these issues makes me believe the future can be better.”
After the questions, ‘Mande’ signed personalised cards for everyone present, as a keepsake from an afternoon that will leave them with many positive memories.
A special day that complements the ‘Classe Gialloblu’ project, which this season involves nine schools, 29 classes, and 637 pupils. Its goal is to introduce young children to the world of sport, particularly women’s football, through a series of dedicated sessions with the players of Parma Calcio Women. The initiative has been very successful and is further enhanced by the pupils’ attendance at home matches at the Noce in Noceto, as well as the drawings and other creative work produced by the students themselves.
