From 2020 "Vilnius Football Academy" operating in the capital of Lithuania celebrated its fourth birthday with a special gift. The football academy founded by former Lithuanian national team player Darvydas Šernos and football coaches Robert Šuškevič and Tomas Staniūnas has become the first educational institution for football players operating in Vilnius, with a stadium that meets international UEFA standards.
There are more than two dozen football schools and academies operating in Vilnius, but until now none of them could boast of their own stadium, and used rented sports infrastructure facilities of the capital for their purposes.
However, Vilnius Football Academy proved that the stadium belonging to the academy is not a utopia. The idea nurtured by VFA manager Darvydas Šern for four years became a reality this year: with the real estate development company "Males"with the help of the Lazdynai micro-district, the football stadium was substantially renovated and adapted to the needs of the academy's pupils and the Vilnius football community within half a year.
The football stadium on Bukčių Street is equipped with a field that meets international standards with an artificial surface and modern lighting, as well as a renovated main tribune, arranged seats and a roof. The modular building on the other side of the pitch houses the players' changing rooms and showers, the gym and the administrative facilities of the VFA. At that time, the needs of spectators and stadium visitors will be met by a special modular cafe building.
"According to the current parameters, our stadium will meet the requirements for UEFA category I stadiums, with the possibility of reaching a higher category in the future.
However, the most important thing is not the categories, but the very fact that the victims of our academy will finally have their own home. I have no doubt that this will provide even more motivation to football players and coaches, the quality of training will also increase, and the children of our academy will have the best conditions to improve not only in Vilnius, but also in the whole of Lithuania.
In general, with this football base, we present a strong application to become a sustainable, professional, football academy that gathers football talents from all over Lithuania under its roof. I personally believe that more than one member of the Lithuanian youth and national team will grow up in this stadium. This would be perhaps the highest possible assessment of the academy's activities", said VFA co-founder and head D. Šernas.
More than 800 boys and girls attend training at Vilnius Football Academy, which is starting its fifth season, training is held not only Lazdynas, but also in Kalnėnai, Baltupiai, Šnipiškii and Žirmūnai microdistricts.
From 2023, VFA uses the "Fanų" stadium, athletic training and gymnastics halls on a lease basis. However, according to D. Šernos, who has played football professionally in Lithuania and abroad for almost two decades, rented facilities cannot replace own stadium.
"Abroad, every serious club or football academy has its own training bases. This is the absolute foundation of club football. When I decided to create a football academy after finishing my football career, my main goal was a private stadium that belonged only to the academy.
In other words, an academy home where every member of the academy would be welcome, have their own place and know that no one will kick them out of here. The road from the idea of a new stadium to its implementation was long and difficult.
During those four years, I had to hear a lot of negative answers, there were many doubters, non-believers, but in the end I managed to overcome all the obstacles and now I can confidently say that our academy has its own home!", stated in 2010. D. Šernas was elected the best Lithuanian football player.
The new stadium will also mark the beginning of another important phase of the academy's qualitative growth. "This season, we have our teams not only in all divisions of the Elite Junior League, but also in the Lithuanian Junior (U14) Championship, as well as in all competitions of the Lithuanian Children's League (from U8 to U13).
So this season we really have a full football pyramid, from the youngest to the U18 teams. Now the men's team is in our immediate plans. This is one of the goals of this season. We have the necessary infrastructure, capable young people are maturing in EJL divisions, so we want to give them the opportunity to test their strength with men as well.
We hope that in 2025, the VFA team will already participate in the LFF Second League matches, and in the future they will try to break through to higher-level national football competitions," said the head of the VFA.
The opening of the new "VFA-Hanner" stadium will take place on September 10. The festive program includes not only the official ribbon cutting and congratulations, but also an exhibition football match where representatives of the world of entertainment and show business, legendary football players, academy students and coaches will test their strength. During the event, the performers Justė Kraujelytė, Jovani and Donatas Montvydas, and the host of the event Justinas Jankevičius will create a festive mood.
