Youngsters thrilled by opportunity to play soccer abroad
By ABDALLAH MSUYA, 28th January 2011 @ 12:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 91
TANZANIAN soccer youngsters Salum Bakari and Khomeni Abubakar could not hide their delight as they embarked on their final preparations before jetting off to Qatar to attend the grand finals of Aspire Football Dreams, the world's largest-ever scouting programme in football.
The promising soccer stars are set to leave the country this afternoon for Doha, the capital of the rapidly football developing Arabic nation aboard Qatar Airways for the trials set to last for one month.
"I thank God for this opportunity. It's a fantastic opportunity for me and I am really excited,'' Bakari said and added:
"I have worked hard every week waiting for the opportunity, thanks God that I have made it, I know this could not be without God's blessing, I always put him ahead." Young Bakari who hails from the Zanzibar Islands vowed to grab the chance with both hands, "I will make sure that I work even harder to impress the trainers out there."
On his side, Khomeni had this to say, "It is such a golden chance that never comes twice. I'm more than ready for the challenge."
Bakari, the budding sensational midfielder and eagle eyed shot-stopper Abubakar were among the most talented youngsters selected from the East African region to join Aspire Academy last year.
Others were Kenyan Augustus Mukaisi and Rwandan Blaise Itangishaka. The highly rated upcoming stars were discovered after intensive review and consultations by a team of Aspire Academy scouts which traversed the East African region in search of budding talent.
They will meet other players, born between 1994 and 1996, from Thailand, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Vietnam, Paraguay, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda to train with and play against each other.
While there, the boys will enjoy a three-week long trial and condensed training programme, including friendly games against Aspire football students and the youth teams of some European top clubs.
In addition, they will benefit from Aspire's sports science facilities. These include hi-tech equipment, physical tests, fitness tests, scanning and medical treatments. Aspire's football coaching staff will work hand-in-hand with the programme's scouts and country co-ordinators.
The boys will train and play under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff, who will introduce them to the latest coaching methods and techniques.
At the end of programme, the Academy's football experts will nominate at least three of the boys to be granted full scholarship to the Academy.
Those nominated and if willing to do so, will be sent to Aspire's football academy in Senegal. Khomeni had an uplifting message for fellow youngsters; ''They need to work hard in training and follow instructions from their coaches."
The duo will be accompanied by the Aspire Africa country co-ordinator, Eugene Mwasamaki at the finals.
"This is good for them because if they succeed, Aspire will find them team in Europe. Apart from that during their scholarship programme, their parents will be offered 2,400 US dollars per year."
The two become the first youngster from Tanzania to secure a move to Aspire Academy for sports excellence in Qatar branch.
Mwasamaki said the youngsters' success was a great achievement for the Aspire programme and a boost to youth football development initiatives in the country, hence he challenged parents to allow their children take part in the programme in the future.
The Aspire programme started in 2007 and runs in 15 different countries throughout Asia, South America and Africa, with two high class soccer academies in Qatar and Senegal.