JEDDAH, 5 July 2005 — Organizers of Soccastars 2005, the sports-based reality show which is hunting the most talented football player in the Arab world, admitted yesterday that the overwhelming response from candidates for the tryouts had forced them to reschedule the event in the Kingdom.
Following last week’s trials in Egypt where hundreds of football hopefuls descended on Cairo’s Al Shams Stadium to try their luck, and the subsequent media attention to this prestigious event, organizers said the Jeddah office of Soccastars 2005 was flooded with inquiries and requests for participation since the announcement of the KSA tryouts in the media two weeks ago.
In order to accommodate all requests, the organizers have decided to conduct the Saudi Arabia tryouts over three days in mid-July.
A top official of Soccastars 2005 pointed out that the trials were originally scheduled to be held in the first week of July but the experts supervising the event had advised against it.
“In view of football’s unrivalled popularity in the Kingdom, we have taken extra measures to thoroughly test and evaluate the participants here before we shortlist the top players,” explained Amr Koura, CEO of alkarma edutainment and Executive Producer of SoccaStars 2005. “However, we were completely taken by surprise by the scale of the awareness generated in such a short time. In order not to disappoint the contestants and to give everyone a fair chance, we had no option but to move the tryout dates to a later time.”
The reality show, to be aired on Future TV in Sept., will seek to identify the most talented football player after shortlisting participants from around the Arab world. The lucky winner of Soccastars 2005 stands to win an opportunity to play for Newcastle United, whose celebrated players include Alan Shearer and Shay Given.
“The Jeddah evaluation session will see another group of young talented sportsmen being selected to compete with their counterparts from the rest of the Arab world,” explained Dr. Nadim Munla of Future TV. “We are excited by the terrific response in Egypt and expect to witness a keen contest among the thriving community of football enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia.”
Participation in Soccastars 2005 is open to all men aged 16 years and above. After identifying football talent in Saudi Arabia, the talent scouts will head to Kuwait, Manama, Algiers and Beirut to find the next group of promising talent from all over the Arab world.
Hisham El Kheshen, a licensed FIFA players’ agent and a member of the SoccaStars panel, pointed out that in view of the large numbers expected, the tryouts in Jeddah will be conducted over three days, unlike other destinations in the Arab world where these are being held for two days.
