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TOUGH tackling Bahraini youngsters have impressed a team of coaches from Queens Park Rangers on a Gulf Air-sponsored football-in-the-community mission.
The English Championship side, whose shirts are sponsored by the national carrier, held a series of training sessions for soccer mad schoolchildren this week at Isa Town.
Danny Edwards, 23, QPR community football coach, said: "The youngsters are very enthusiastic. I've been impressed with their attitude and they certainly don't appear to feel the pain when it comes to tackling!"
Amongst the senior coaches from the west London-based outfit were QPR's Andy Evans, community scheme manager, and Martino Chevannes, who used to play professionally in Portugal and Cyprus.
They were joined by Amy Murphy, 21, women's and girl's football co-ordinator at the club, who is a creative midfield star in QPR's league-topping Ladies Team, who are currently playing in the SW Combination League and are just one step away from the English Premiership, which features the likes of Arsenal and the Doncaster Belles.
She hopes to return to Bahrain shortly with her high-flying team-mates for a match against the kingdom's impressive ladies national team.
Scores of Bahraini and expat children joined in the training sessions for junior players. Little Irish wizard Alex Egan, five, a pupil at St Christopher's School, said: "It was great - QPR really are the Super Hoops!"
Back in England, the senior side are struggling to mount a serious bid for promotion to the Premiership and this season may be a time for consolidation under new coach Paulo Sousa.
QPR had to settle for a point in the all-London clash at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.
Palace went close through both Paul Ifill and Craig Beattie but were frustrated by Rangers. Heidar Helguson, however, making his on-loan debut for QPR from Bolton, rolled an effort wide with the goal gaping.
Sousa said: "I am proud of the side because we have changed our ideas and way of playing in just a few training sessions and that is difficult to do.
"We have made a big jump and we are in a good way. I hope in the next game that we can go one better and win the match.
"The team is growing and developing. In the future, I hope we will be better and have more quality in games like this. I am sure about that."
