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Young football players in Bahrain will be offered the chance to sample Premiership-style coaching when Arsenal open a soccer school later this year - after club officials spotted the potential of youngsters kicking about on waste ground.
The school will bring professional soccer coaching and facilities to children of all nationalities living in the kingdom, encouraging and teaching the youngsters to 'Play the Arsenal Way'.
It will be located adjacent to the Bahrain Football Association, next to the National Stadium and within close proximity to many secondary schools.
The school will boast two Fifa-approved Astroturf pitches, a large retail store, supporters' club, a clubhouse and cafe. This facility will be part of an ongoing community initiative to develop the sport at the grassroots level in Bahrain. The cost of the project has not been released but the school should open by August.
Paul Shipwright, head of Arsenal Soccer School, said: "Setting up in Bahrain is a fantastic addition to our worldwide network of schools and gives us our first footing in the Middle East.
"On previous visits to Bahrain, we have seen the passion for soccer with a huge number of local pitches in villages and at the side of the major highways."
The school's coaching programme will be open to boys, girls and young adults between the ages of five and 18.
Bahrain Football Association president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim bin Hamad Al Khalifa said he was 'delighted' to welcome the initiative which he believes will be a great asset and positive force in promoting football amongst children throughout the country.
Membership of the school is likely to be between BD50 and BD70 a month.
