By Muhammad Habash
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Three sports academies in Kobani and Manbij, northern Syria, have come together and launched a project that aims to develop children’s talents in football and change the sports scene in the region.
The project relies on a unified training program aimed at developing the talents of children aged between 5 and 14 in the three academies.
The Youth and Sports Board, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), provides the stadiums free of charge. For their part, trainers have volunteered to coach the children, while parents only cover transportation costs.
Project objectives
Abdulaziz Kader, director and coach at the Kobani Academy, told North Press that their goal is to bring together the talents in the cities of Kobani and Manbij through collaborative work among three academies: Dream, Future, and Kobani Academy.
The collaborative training sessions facilitate the interaction of children’s talents, allowing them to improve and benefit from shared experiences. These sessions also play a role in nurturing their talents, ensuring their continued development.
He also points out that the project aims to expand the cooperation to include football academies in northern and northeastern Syria and then at the national level.
Kader further added that the project is a free program provided by the Kobani Academy.
Talents needing refinement
Ahmad al-Sakaan, the Director of the Future Academy in Manbij, emphasizes that both Manbij and Kobani are home to talented football players who require refinement, development, and growth opportunities.
Al-Sakaan, who has been training children for four years, added that the joint project contributes to the development of children’s talents by integrating them into training sessions, talent pairing, organizing joint training exercises, and arranging friendly matches for children.
He further noted that the project started with organizing matches and joint training sessions in the cities of Manbij and Kobani, and that they aspire to develop the project by involving more academies in the region.
In the city of Manbij, there are six academies dedicated to teaching children football.
Enhancing social relations
Basil Ahmad, Director of Dream Academy in Manbij, believes that the project strengthens social relations among these children.
Around 100 children, aged five to 14, train at the Dream Academy in Manbij.
Ahmad views the project as a unique opportunity to promote talented football players and fulfill the aspirations of the academies in shaping a sports-oriented, educational, and socially aware generation across all age groups.
Ahmad also points out that the collaboration between these academies is a step towards achieving more success in football in the region.
Organized training
The three academies rely on an organized training program, where children receive training twice a week for two hours, allowing them to acquire essential skills.
During these training sessions, children are introduced to the fundamental rules of football, such offside and penalty rules. This enables them to develop a comprehensive understanding of the game and apply the rules correctly.
Coaches work on training children in dribbling, passing, and shooting skills to enhance their technical skills and improve their performance.
As for the future plans of the project, the coaches aim to establish a youth team called the Academy Team to participate in local tournaments.