Acting Director General of Youth and Sports: Attracting world-class coaches for 'Al-Buraq' to build a professional sports generation

Kuwait City, Sept 24 (KUNA) — The Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports, Bashar Abdullah, said on Thursday that the primary objective of the project to recruit international coaches to work with under-12 players in football clubs is to invest in the youth and build a professional sports generation founded on sound principles.

He made these remarks at a press conference marking the launch of the project to recruit 15 international coaches, assigned to the 15 clubs to work with the under-12 category, in collaboration with the Kuwait Football Association.

Abdullah stated that the under-12 age group is one of the most critical stages in a player’s development and the formation of their sporting identity. He explained that proper foundational training helps players develop more effectively, understand the game faster, and build a solid technical and physical base that can be relied upon in subsequent age groups.

He clarified that the project was launched in cooperation with the Kuwait Football Association, which had submitted 150 resumes from coaches of various nationalities. He noted that these applications were reviewed and personal interviews were conducted with several candidates according to specific criteria and conditions to select the most suitable individuals for the project.

Abdullah highlighted that among the key selection criteria for coaches is an age range of 25 to 45 years, holding coaching licenses at the ‘A’ or ‘Pro’ level, and possessing specialized experience in coaching youth age groups rather than senior teams. Proficiency in English is also required, with priority given to coaches who have previously worked in the Gulf or Arab region.

He pointed out that the project received approval from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). He added that following the announcement of the project, the authority received additional resumes from coaches expressing interest in participating, after reviewing the project’s seriousness and objectives.

Abdullah confirmed that the recruited coaches come from diverse footballing schools and countries, including Spain, Portugal, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Croatia. He emphasized that the diversity in experience and coaching methodologies represents a significant addition to the project.

He noted the formation of a joint committee from the Public Authority and the Kuwait Football Association to monitor the coaches’ work through weekly observation of training sessions and the preparation of periodic reports on progress. He stated that the project is subject to modification and development as needed to ensure it achieves its goals.

Abdullah explained that the authority had agreed with the clubs to grant the coaches full authority to make technical decisions related to their work, ensuring that their expertise and capabilities are utilized optimally.

He stressed that the project does not aim to create competition among clubs but focuses primarily on qualifying, developing, and discovering talents, and refining their abilities according to sound scientific and technical foundations.

He added that the coaches place particular emphasis on the physical development of players at this age group, as well as instilling a culture of healthy eating and proper habits, which contributes to building a well-rounded player both technically and physically.

Abdullah expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the clubs for their cooperation and support of the project, noting that the authority sought and received the clubs’ approval before implementation, and that they provided full support and attention to ensure the success of this initiative.

He called on parents to register their children in clubs close to their places of residence, emphasizing that all recruited coaches possess the same level of competence, with negligible differences among them, making the choice of the nearest club more suitable for the player and the family.

He revealed a future vision to expand the project in the coming stages, either by recruiting more coaches in football or by extending it to other sports. At the same time, he mentioned the possibility of providing opportunities for recent graduate national coaches to shadow the recruited international coaches, benefiting from their experience, expertise, and technical capabilities.

He expressed hope that the fruits of the project would emerge in the coming years, contributing to the development of the level of Kuwaiti talents and supplying Kuwaiti sports with elements capable of continuing the path of development and achievement. (End) S.A.D / A.M.H