Bolton Wanderers, the English Premier League football club, has announced plans to set up two football academies in Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain by March 2012.
The club, through its Institute of Sport initiative in the UAE, is planning to launch a total of seven academies, one in each emirate, by September next year, according to Phil Gartside, BWFC’s chairman.
Accompanied by Sir Dave Richards, chairman of the Football Association, BWFC senior officials held discussions with Al Ain Football Club and Sharjah Football Club recently.
Adam Bass, director of International Development, Institute of Sport in the UAE, said: “We are here to help children and youngsters of the UAE to become world-class professional footballers backed with international qualifications through enrolling in the institute.
“There is tremendous football talent in this part of the world and the newly launched institute will highly contribute in developing these capabilities.”
BWFC has held discussions with several UAE professional clubs to start cooperation with the institute.
Gartside said the institute would go a long way in laying a strong foundation for creating an education platform for footballing culture and techniques.
James Tucker, education director of Bolton Wanderers Institute of Sport, added: “I am amazed at the response the institute is getting throughout the UAE. We are confident will be able to make rapid strides in our goal of grooming young generations on how to play world class football.”
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