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Bahrain's first Arsenal Soccer School Youth Team will fly all-expenses paid to London tomorrow to take part in the annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival (AISF).
The 17 soccer starlets from schools and local clubs across the kingdom, aged between 14 and 17, were hand picked by a panel of judges after participating in an exciting two-day Bahrain Arsenal Soccer School Festival back in April.
The AISF offers the chance for young talents from all over the world to get together for eight days and test their wits and skills against each other.
And over the weekend, the young 'Gunners' of the Bahrain Arsenal Youth team played a friendly game against the Bahrain National Youth team in preparation for what's to come.
Both teams put on a good show on the ground behind the Bahrain Football Association in Riffa with the match ending 3-1 in favour of the Bahrain National Youth Team.
The Arsenal team has been training under the guidance of Neil Stewart Harvey, an Arsenal certified coach who has been involved with the club for the last seven years. He headed the initiative in France, running the soccer school there for the past three years.
As previously reported in GulfWeekly, the soccer school will feature two FIFA-approved third generation astroturf pitches, a large retail store, supporters' club, a clubhouse and Arsenal cafŽ.
Harvey said: "I am excited about working with the Bahrain Arsenal Soccer School. It's nice to get in on something that is starting from ground zero so it will be rather enjoyable.
"The plans for the school and the facilities are going to be incredible so it is a dream come true for any coach.
"I was pleasantly surprised with the squad we selected in terms of quality, then again Bahrain does have high standards when it comes to football. Technically they are very good players so we will see when we go to London and I am sure the team is going to give it a good go.
"I would never enter a tournament I didn't think I could win."
Team captain Amar, 16, a student at Isa Town high school, from Isa Town, said: "I am extremely excited about jetting to London and taking part in such a grand festival. I can't begin to express my appreciation to the school and I hope to lead the team to victory. We play well together and will make ourselves known."
Team mate Joshua Smith, 16, who lives at Diraz and studies at St Christopher's School, said: "This is a great experience. I love the game of football and am happy to be a part of the team. My family has played the sport and my father got me interested in the game."
Hussain Al Safi, 17, from Sitra, who goes to Awal School, said: "We have a very good team that gets along very well. The match against the Bahrain National Youth team was a good one and quite fun. We really learned a lot and although we did not win, it was training before the big games ahead."
Nijm Al Din, technical director of the Bahrain National Youth Team, said: "The friendly match was good for both teams and it allowed us to evaluate the capabilities of the new players at the Arsenal Soccer School."
Bahrain National Youth player, Bareq Salem, 16, from Hamad Town, said: "It was a very exciting game. We played against some of the best players in the kingdom and it was a good experience. Football is my life. I would love to play professionally in Bahrain but if I was ever to be snapped up by an English team I would love it to be Arsenal."
For more details and to register visit www.arsenalschoolbahrain.com
