Acting Director General of 'Youth and Sports': Attracting Global Trainers for 'Baraaem' to Build a Professional Sports Generation

- Selection of coaches based on specialized criteria including “A” and “Pro” licenses and experience coaching age-group teams

- Coaches from Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Croatia, and North Macedonia to work with the under-12 category

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

This statement was made during a press conference launching the project to recruit 15 international coaches, distributed among the 15 clubs, to work with the under-12 category, in collaboration with the Kuwait Football Association.

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Abdullah stated that the under-12 category 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 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 for selecting suitable personnel for the project.

He highlighted that key selection criteria included age limits between 25 and 45 years, holding coaching licenses at the “A” or “Pro” level, and having specialized experience in coaching age-group teams rather than first teams. Proficiency in English was also required, with priority given to coaches who had previously worked in the Gulf or Arab region.

Abdullah noted that the project received approval from FIFA. He added that following the announcement, the project received numerous resumes from coaches interested in participating, after they reviewed the project’s seriousness and objectives.

He stated 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 pointed out 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 periodic reports on progress. He explained that the project is subject to modification and development as needed to ensure its objectives are met.

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

He added that the coaches pay particular attention to the physical development of players at this age group, as well as instilling a culture of healthy eating and good habits, contributing to the development of well-rounded players both technically and physically.

Abdullah expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the clubs for their cooperation and support of the project. He noted that the Authority sought and obtained 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 assurance that all recruited coaches possess the same level of competence, and the differences among them are negligible, making the choice of the nearest club more suitable for both the player and the family.

He revealed a future vision for expanding the project in the coming stages, whether 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, in order to benefit from their expertise, experience, and technical capabilities.

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