Soccer school is flying high

Arsenal Football Club is to expand its soccer schools across the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of its successful explosion on to the kingdom's soccer scene.

Alongside the club's base at the Shaikh Isa Sports City Development the English Premiership giant currently operates three other soccer schools in the region in Dubai, Oman, Egypt.

The Bahrain school runs in association with International Business Group which will partner Arsenal in its further expansion in MENA.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "We are delighted to be expanding Arsenal Soccer Schools across the Middle East and North Africa, giving more children the opportunity to become involved in football.

"The vision of Arsenal Soccer Schools is to promote a positive learning environment in which young players can both improve their understanding of the game, developing technical skills and gain confidence as individuals. We are confident these new sessions will be immensely popular."

The partnership is set to see the opening of at least six new schools in countries across the region by the end of 2011 with more following over the next five years.

Paul Shipwright, who lives in Saar, has played a major role in the development of Arsenal Soccer Schools, both in the UK and internationally, and has joined IBG to oversee the MENA expansion programme.

The first of the new schools recently launched in Casablanca was opened by Arsenal's Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh.

Arsenal Soccer Schools provide professional football coaching to children of all nationalities and abilities, teaching youngsters to 'Play the Arsenal Way', and provide some free places to less advantaged children within each community.

The teaching practices are based on the principles and methodologies Arsenal boss Wenger has developed and implemented during his illustrious 14 years in charge at the north London club.

The schools aim to build on the passion that the region already has for football and create a sporting environment that fosters teamwork, self development and empowerment whilst developing confidence in each young athlete.

IBG's chairman, Abdul Wahed Al Kooheji, said: "All around the world children dream of emulating their heroes. That is very true in the football crazy countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

"Following the success of the school in Bahrain and the positive reaction from players, parents and the Bahrain Football Association, we believe that setting up these schools will give children in the region an opportunity to achieve their goals as well as benefiting from a healthier lifestyle and teamwork skills."

Arsenal Soccer Schools have been operating since 1985 and have become one of the world's largest soccer school programmes, establishing a global presence across 21 countries. The MENA territories, in addition to Bahrain and Morocco, include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Iran, Iraq and Yemen.

For further information on the Arsenal Soccer Schools in the Middle East and North Africa, please visit www.playthearsenalway.com/mena or contact Paul Shipwright on 17561615 or info@arsenalsoccerschoolsmena.com or www.ibgbahrain.com