Spot The Spark
Talent Identification & Development Workshop
An interactive half-day workshop where young athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts (16-30) learn directly from industry professionals about talent identification, career pathways, and what it really takes to succeed in sport.
About the Workshop
What separates a good player from a pro? Is it talent? Hard work? Or is there something else scouts look for that most players never understand?
"Spot The Spark" was designed to answer those questions.
This workshop brought together 20+ young people and 4 industry experts for an honest, unfiltered conversation about talent identification, academy pathways, and the realities of building a career in sport.
In an intimate semi-circle setting, participants heard from:
🎤 Jonathan – Elite Scout, KV Mechelen
🎤 Christophe Van Pottelsberghe – Academy Director, Royal Knokke FC
🎤 Bjorn De Wilde – Ex-Professional Footballer
🎤 Godwill Moraka – Elite Coach
No lectures. No filters. Just real talk from people who’ve lived it.
What Participants Experienced
| 🔍 The Scout’s Eye | 🧠 The Academy Pathway | 💪 The Pro Mindset | 🗺️ Career Roadmap |
|---|---|---|---|
| What scouts look for beyond technique | How academies develop talent | Handling pressure, setbacks, and success | Actionable steps to build your future |
Plus: Panel discussion, live Q&A, networking with professionals and peers.
Speakers
Christophe Van Pottelsberghe
Academy Director, Royal Knokke FC
With decades of experience in football and leadership, Christophe shared insights on academy pathways, player development, and the mindset required to go from talent to professional.
Godwill Moraka
Elite Coach
Bringing practical coaching wisdom, Godwill focused on what it takes to be coachable, how to handle feedback, and why the best players are also the best learners.
Bjorn De Wilde
Ex-Professional Footballer
Bjorn opened up about the highs and lows of a professional career – the pressure, the setbacks, and the lessons he wishes he’d known at 18.
Jonathan Setodji
Elite Scout, KV Mechelen
Jonathan gave participants a rare look behind the curtain of professional scouting – what he notices in the first five seconds, what makes a player memorable, and what kills a player's chances.
What’s Next?
This was just the beginning.
The second workshop, "The Digital Playbook" – Sport & Technology, takes place on 26 April 2026 in Ghent.