A lot of questions will certainly be asked about the grass-roots systems in these countries. In other words, what are children being taught when they step onto a training pitch?

This can be a grueling job in a place where football is not only a passion, but also a trade practiced with panache. So imagine the need for such grass-roots level activities in a country that has the passion, but not the facilities, for football.

Saudi Arabia is a country with a reasonable World Cup pedigree and national football league. However, there are hardly any facilities where boys can pick up a ball and have a kickabout, such as parks and astroturf pitches.

There are no statistics on how many good facilities are there for children wanting to play football, perhaps a telling sign in itself.

Therefore, it is to the credit of private football clubs such as Jeddah City FC that kids are being provided with any opportunity to hone their technique and hopefully improve the chances of the Saudi national team in the future.

In fact, two boys from the club were recently invited to a trial with established English Premier League outfit Wigan Athletic.

Sixteen-year-olds Maged Kelani and Faisal Ghazi both tried out and although unsuccessful, they received a lot of positive feedback.

“Both did extremely well and were told to work on stamina and strength before trying again at Wigan. They are the first Saudi players to be on trial at the club and they did Jeddah City and Saudi Arabia proud,” says Phil Denton, who runs Jeddah City.

The British-born coach is extremely optimistic that the link with Wigan will give the kind of boost Saudi grass-roots football desperately needs, especially if more children from the Kingdom are invited for trials at the English club.

“There is so much talent in the Kingdom and yet so few opportunities,” adds Denton.

“I have a lot of experience of youth football in England and I am convinced Saudi kids can match and better what is on offer there.”

Denton said Wigan had been so impressed with the set up at Jeddah City that they have offered to send scouts over to the Kingdom.

“While they haven’t signed anyone up yet, we are convinced that Saudi talent is like a sleeping giant in world football.”

Bill Collier, who is head of Wigan’s Centre of Excellence, agrees that there is potential among Saudi children.

“I still have very limited information and knowledge on Saudi grass-roots football but it has come a long way in a short period of time as the players are technically improving all the time,” he says.

“I think with the right coaching and guidance we will start to see young players from Saudi Arabia at Premier League Academies/Centers of Excellence and the clubs’ first teams.”

Despite not being successful at their respective trials, Kelani and Ghazi remain optimistic about their chances of making it as footballers, while also retaining a refreshing degree of maturity about their prospects should they not succeed.

“The trial I did at Wigan was a chance for me to see what world class football was really like, which for sure inspired me to work harder than ever on my fitness and stamina,” says AC Milan fan Ghazi.

“And that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to work hard on my weaknesses.”

Palestinian-born Ghazi adds that if he does not make it as a footballer, he would like to do something to help improve conditions socially and financially in Palestine, such as developing a football team there.

On the other hand, Kelani describes his trial as a “nice feeling” and says that there are potentially great players in Saudi Arabia.

“I would like to thank Phil Denton for giving me this opportunity, as well as (Wigan Athletic youth coach and Everton FC legend) Dave Watson.”

The Arsenal supporter adds that he will never give up football, but would probably pursue a career in civil engineering if he does not secure a professional contract with a club.

Denton is clear about what needs to be done to improve grass-roots football in the Kingdom.

“There needs to be more experienced coaches and an improvement in coaching courses available,” he says.

“At the moment I’m doing my UEFA B coaching badge which is really helping my coaching practice and understanding of how players can be developed. With support, I could set this up in Saudi. An improvement in coaches will result in the long-term development of the game.”