RIYADH, 20 July 2004 — A youth football team representing Saudi Arabia is on a visit the UK to take part in a football training camp at Keele University in the West Midlands of England. The visit, jointly organized by the British Council and BAE Systems, is part of the Saudi British sports cooperation program that helps to improve sporting ties as well as helping build bridges between the different cultures.
The players are all 14 years of age or younger and the training camp is one of many that the Football Association puts on with varied activities for the participants. Saudi Junior Football Manager Salman Al-Qerainy is leading the team during the visit. Three games have been organized for the Saudi team against the youth teams of three English Football league sides. They will play against Port Vale on July 24, Stoke City on July 26 and Crewe Alexandra on July 29.
The Saudi youngsters will then travel to Iran on July 30 directly from the UK to take part in an international competition.
“This trip is just one of 50-odd activities taking place this year. The sports program is designed to help with the development of many sports. This year golf and fishing were added to the list, but the program also assists with coach education and sports for the disabilities,” said BAE Systems Manager Peter Waddell who directs the Saudi British sports program.
The youth squad of Saudi footballers on this trip includes Naif Al-Anazi, Khalid Awaji, Sultan Al-Beshi, Yahia Al-Shehri, Raaid Al-Swaileh, Mohammed Al Safri, Yahya Dagiri, Nawaf Al Abid, Mohammed Hazazi, Abdulkarim Al-Blawi, Mohammed Abusabaan, Abdulrahman Bukhari, Abdullah Qaisi, Nawaf Mohammed, Fahad Al Dossari, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Mohammed Al-Shanqit, Omar Khudari, Jaffer Al-Harbi and Ibrahim Al-Hafad.
