Director General of 'Youth and Sports': Attracting world-class football coaches for the under-12 category to build a professional sports generation

- The recruited coaches come from diverse football schools in Spain, Portugal, Serbia, and other countries.

- A key requirement for selecting coaches is holding a coaching license at the (A) or (Pro) level.

- A joint committee comprising representatives from the General Commission for Youth and Sports and the Kuwait Football Association will monitor the coaches’ work and prepare periodic reports on progress.

Bashar Abdullah, Acting Director General of the General Commission for Youth and Sports, confirmed today that the primary objective of the project to recruit international coaches to work with the under-12 category in football clubs is to invest in the youth and build a professional sports generation founded on sound principles.

Speaking 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, 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 and understand the game faster, while also establishing a solid technical and physical base that can be built upon in subsequent age groups.

He added that the project is being implemented in cooperation with the Kuwait Football Association, which 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 requirements to select the most suitable individuals for the project.

Abdullah highlighted that key selection criteria include coaches aged between 25 and 45, holding an (A) or (Pro) coaching license, with specialized experience in coaching youth categories 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 noted that the project has received approval from FIFA, adding that since the project’s announcement, additional resumes have been received from coaches interested in participating, after reviewing the project’s seriousness and objectives.

Abdullah stated that the recruited coaches come from different football schools and countries, including Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Macedonia, and Croatia, emphasizing that the diversity of experiences and coaching methodologies represents a significant addition to the project.

He pointed out the formation of a joint committee from the Commission and the Football Association to monitor the coaches’ work through weekly observation of training sessions and the preparation of periodic progress reports. He clarified that the project is subject to modification and development as needed to ensure its objectives are met.

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

He emphasized that the project does not aim to create competition among clubs but rather focuses primarily on qualifying and developing talents, discovering their potential, and refining their skills based on sound scientific and technical foundations.

He added that the coaches are paying particular attention to the physical development of players at this age group, as well as instilling a culture of healthy nutrition and proper habits, which contributes to building well-rounded players both technically and physically.

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

Parents were urged to enroll their children in clubs near their residential areas, with the official emphasizing that all recruited coaches share the same level of competence, with negligible differences among them, making the choice of the nearest club more suitable for both players and their families.

He revealed a future vision for expanding the project in the coming stages, either by recruiting more football coaches or by broadening the scope to include other sports. At the same time, he pointed out the possibility of providing opportunities for newly graduated national coaches to shadow internationally recruited coaches, thereby benefiting from their expertise, experience, and technical capabilities.

He expressed hope that the project’s fruits would emerge in the coming years, contributing to the development of Kuwaiti talent and supplying Kuwaiti sports with players capable of sustaining the trajectory of progress and achievement.