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THE VIVA Manchester United Soccer Schools (MUSS) programme kick-started today with more than 30 private and public schools taking part in the search for the most promising young footballers from across the kingdom, writes Mai Al Khatib.
The telecommunications provider has teamed up with the English Premiership leaders for a third consecutive year offering 22 talented boys and girls, aged 13-15, an opportunity to attend a week-long training camp in the UK.
United’s ambassador and former star striker Denis Law, touched down in Bahrain over the weekend, as VIVA Bahrain co-ordinated with the Ministry of Education to stage a conference at the Royal Golf Club to inform school representatives of the project.
Ulaiyan Al Wetaid, VIVA Bahrain chief executive officer, said: “In the past, this programme has benefitted 51 talented youngsters who have demonstrated exceptional skills during their training in the UK amongst players from other countries and have made Bahrain proud.
“Taking forward this success, we are launching the third season of MUSS with the aim to continue to recognise and train such talent and take them one step closer to achieving their dreams of being trained the Manchester United way.”
Bahrain Under-19 national team captain Hazza Ali, 18, and Under-15 captain Mohammed Marhoon are two former MUSS winners to have benefited from a trip to the UK.
Shaikh Zeyad bin Faisal Al Khalifa, head of youth national teams for the Bahrain Football Association, said: “They have always been talented young individuals but this programme has developed their maturity and opened their eyes to the potential and opportunities out there. They got to see how professional players train. We soon noticed their leadership qualities and promoted them both to captain status.”
The new soccer programme is designed to give school children the opportunity to show off their footballing prowess through a series of selection criteria including an inter-school tournament which will be overseen by MUSS coaches from May 16 to 18.
The format ensures that every player gets an equal opportunity to showcase his or her skills and is evaluated on all parameters (including physical and technical attributes and individual skills).
Players will be handpicked by the coaches during the tournament. These winners will receive a week of expert training from June 30 to July 6 on the MUSS grounds in the UK. They will get to use state-of-the art training equipment and visit Carrington where the first team trains.
Registration is open until May 11 at the VIVA Manchester United Zone in Bahrain City Centre.
For more information on the programme, visit www.viva.com.bh
