Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Manama: Asia’s flagship club competition the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup have undoubtedly honed youth players’ craft and prepared them for continental national team competitions.
This is evident in the ongoing AFC U-19 Championship Bahrain 2016, which has been graced by breathtaking performances from Asia’s top youth teams, as well as some outstanding moments of individual brilliance.
Amidst the dazzling spectacle, the most notable talent pools for the national teams in Bahrain 2016 are the youth academies from both Asian and foreign clubs.
Among the clubs participating in the AFC Champions League this season, Saudi Arabia giants and AFC Champions League 2012 runners-up Al Ahli are the most significant exporters to the U-19 tournament, providing 10 players for the Saudi national team, while Pakhtakor came in a close second by feeding eight players to the Uzbek side.
Al Muharraq, who reached the 2016 AFC Cup quarter-finals, are the largest benefactor for the Bahrain team, contributing five players to the Reds’ quest for their first ever U-19 Championship title.
Leading the pack with talents from foreign clubs, Australia, though now eliminated, had an impressive six players from some of Europe's top clubs, which included English Premier League giants Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, Serie A's Inter Milan and Eredivisie defending champions PSV Eindhoven.
FC Barqchi are the most impressive, having provided the highest number of players to the Tajikistan national U-19 side with 14 players.
With seven 2016 AFC Cup matches for Iraqi club Nafit Al Wasat under his belt, Ameer Sabah Khudhair would have the composure to succeed, as shown by Iraq's impressive performance at the tournament to date,
The young Lions of Mesopotamia were the first team to qualify for the AFCU-19 Championship quarter-finals and will be hoping to call upon the midfielder's experience when they face Saudi Arabia on Monday for a place in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 as one of the best four sides.
With the U-19 Championship entering the later stages, the quality on display looks set to be elevated as the continent's top eight prepare to battle for the ultimate prize.
Whatever the outcome at the youth tournament, the AFC’s club competitions are definitely one of the most excellent platforms that prepare youth players to grace bigger international stages.
Photo: Lagardère Sports