Perth wheelchair basketball star Ben Leitch's impressive journey to signing pro contract in Spain
dailyrecord.co.ukBen Leitch was doing what he loved and doing it rather well.Óscar Trigo Diez, the head coach of UNES FC Barcelona wheelchair team, was watching intently from the sidelines and becoming more impressed with every passing phase of play.He had not so long ago led the Spanish men’s national team to fourth place at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo so knows a thing or two about the sport and what talent represents.As Leitch left the court at the Palau Municipal d’Esports Juan Carlos Navarro arena, soon a question would come his way that was simply irresistible to turn down.“I was over in Barcelona in June with the under-25 Scotland squad,” Leitch (20) explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.“I was there as part of an Erasmus trip, which is a project involving education as well.“We played games against different clubs and the Barcelona coach, Oscar, was taking our sessions.“I went over originally to network and my plan was to stay another year in Scotland.
I wasn’t going to Spain with any intentions of getting a contract.“But after our final game, Oscar asked me to come and play for them.“I came back and found out more detail but, to be honest, I think I had already made my mind up.”Leitch, from Perth and a former St John’s Academy student, had indeed made his mind up and has now signed a professional contract with UNES FC Barcelona.
He jets out at the end of this month.“When I first started wheelchair basketball and realised I could take it somewhere or do something with it, then it was always a dream to play abroad or professionally in a league somewhere,” Leitch said.“I have been given the opportunity to do that now and at quite a young age still.
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