Sport

Bahrain's young footballers tipped for the top

December 10-16, 2008
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Gulf Air held a special football coaching session for 70 promising young players from Bahrain's National Youth Development Squad as part of its on-going 'football in the community' initiative.

Bahrain's future football stars were given the opportunity to test and improve their soccer skills with six visiting coaching professionals representing Queens Park Rangers, the London club whose shirts are sponsored by the national carrier.

Head coach Andy Evans said: "We have a lot of experience working with young football talents. The ability and skills of the children we saw today were outstanding and a testament to the hard work of the Bahrain Football Association. I have no doubt that the future Beckham of Bahrain is among them!

"In conjunction with Gulf Air and the Bahrain Football Association we are exploring ways in which we can further support and help develop the careers of the talents we saw today."

BFA president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa added: "This is one of the many local initiatives supported by the Government Organisation for Youth and Sport (Goys) to help promote grassroots sport in Bahrain. I am delighted that Gulf Air is supporting sport in the kingdom. It is very important that young footballers are adequately supported.

"Today's youth are tomorrow's future and we urge local businesses to continue investing in developing the sporting talent in Bahrain."

Gulf Air director of communications Alec Peck said the football camps have been a great success. "We are delighted to be in partnership with the Bahrain Football Association and help the development of grassroots football in the kingdom," he added.

The camps were split into five different sessions including one specifically for the Bahraini Girls National Team who are set to play the QPR ladies team in the near future.

The QPR girls are riding high on top on their league and their male counterparts were impressive last weekend too.

A stunning 20-yard strike from captain Martin Rowlands earned QPR victory over Championship leaders Wolves in a match featured live on the Show Sports TV channel in Bahrain.

Mick McCarthy, manager of the month in November, saw his 27-goal strikeforce of Chris Iwelumo and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake blunted.

Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey made a number of crucial saves but could do nothing to stop Rowlands's dipping shot.

Sam Vokes was denied an equaliser by a Radek Cerny save and QPR's Samuel Di Carmine shaved a post in stoppage time.

QPR manager Paulo Sousa said: "It was a great performance but more importantly we needed three points. I'm proud of the players, they are working very hard and they have beaten the team at the top of the league.

"When you have time to work with the players the team becomes better, and you could see that in this game."

QPR are lying in seventh place in the table, just one of a play-off position for a coveted Premiership place and equal on points to Sheffield United in sixth. They play Plymouth on Saturday.







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