JEDDAH, 6 September 2007 — Al-Ahli Club Academy received a huge boost in its goal to become the first world-class football academy in the Kingdom after it signed a memorandum of understanding with Sporting Lisbon Club Academy in Lisbon, Portugal.
The agreement was hammered out during the visit in Lisbon of a delegation from Ahli club led by Prince Khaled ibn Abdullah, president of the board of trustees of Al-Ahli Club Academy for football.
Prince Khaled was accompanied by Ayman Abdul Ghaffar, member of the board of trustees of the Al-Ahli Academy, and Andre van Derley, the Dutch coach at the academy.
The prince was briefed on the courses being offered at the Lisbon academy, toured around the facility and watched the actual training in progress. He also met with the vice-president of the Lisbon Sporting Club, Miguel Roberto, and professor Pedro Hueminz, the administrative head at the academy and discussed the potentials and expertise of the Lisbon academy to benefit the Saudi youths training at the Al-Ahli academy.
Ayman signed on behalf of Ahli and Pedro represented the Lisbon academy in the signing of the agreement.
The Lisbon academy, a subsidiary of the Lisbon Sporting Club, has been commended as one of the best in the world by Brazilian coach Philip Scolari, who is currently training the Portuguese national team and former Argentine coach Pickermann. Elite international players such as Luis Figo of Italian Serie A club Inter Milan, Christiano Ronaldo of English Premier Manchester United club and Quarizma of Porto of Portugal are a few of the star products of the academy.
Though it is not listed among the top tournaments in Europe, the Portuguese League is a major platform for the South American players. The common language could be the factor that attracts the South Americans. The league with the participation of 13 clubs serves as a gateway for the South American football talents to enter the outside world and build their reputations.
The Lisbon Sporting, which had won the league title 17 times, is one of the formidable training grounds for the most outstanding football talents in the world. Saudi Arabia has a strong youth base endowed with extraordinary skill in football. The Al-Ahli academy will offer a home training ground for the gifted youths who would, undoubtedly, emerge as world-class players and do the country and the club proud.
The Lisbon Club established its football academy after realizing the vast potentials of the youth in that country. Several first class football players of the world have had their training there. Interestingly, the most eminent footballers to graduate from the Lisbon academy are wing players. Those names include Joe Montino, Nani, Luis Figo, Christiano Ronaldo, Luis Bo Morti, Dani of Ajax, Ricardo Quarizmo and Simao Sabrosa who played for Catalonia Barcelona Club.
