Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Thirty-three west Asian coaches completed a FIFA regional workshop for youth tacticians recently held on the sidelines of the FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by the UAE.
While Asia was represented by the UAE, Uzbekistan, Japan, Iraq and Iran at the tournament, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen all had representatives at the workshop, along with 10 coaches from the UAE.
All of them attended conferences and theory lessons before applying them during practical sessions on the pitch.
FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke opened the workshop on October 19 with UAE Football Association President Yousuf Al Serkal, Secretary General Yousuf Abdullah, Director of FIFA's Development Office in west Asia Majid Al Abweh and technical consultant Nihad Souqar also present during the ceremony.
Former Jordanian international and AFC ‘A’ Coaching Certificate holder Manar Farij, the only female participant in the workshop, was happy with the structure of the workshop and expressed her hopes for the women’s game.
“This workshop was very useful, even if it didn't last very long," she told FIFA.com. “We analysed several U-17 World Cup matches and looked at the standards of the teams and their ways of playing. That should help us improve our own players.
“I was able to communicate a number of messages. Western Asian societies need to open up, particularly as women's football has developed a lot here in recent years."
“We started developing women's football in 2005. After our victory in the Western Asian Championship, the Jordanian association redoubled its efforts. (Jordan FA President) Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein has shown huge interest in women's football.”