Dubai: One of Chelsea's top youth coaches says he can see no reason why the Gulf cannot supply a future star for the Premier League giants.
"I don't see why we can't find a top-quality player who can possibly play in the senior team for Chelsea," Rob Udberg, head coach of the Samsung Chelsea FC Youth Football Camp and the club's senior international development officer, told Gulf News.
Udberg was part of Chelsea's maiden foray into the UAE with a two-day training camp for juniors aged between nine and 13 at Mirdif City Centre's Soccer Circus last Friday and Saturday.
As many as 135 aspiring young footballers made use of the opportunity to get training tips from four of the club's youth academy coaches.
"During my visits to so many different destinations around the world, I have been fortunate to witness talent first hand and it is no different here. This is the first time for Chelsea in the UAE and it won't be the last," Udberg said.
Work cut out
The head coach added that Chelsea's band of more than 50 football scouts have their work cut out when it comes to tapping talent in the region. "We now move on to Qatar and I am sure we will have some more youngsters impressing us there," he said.
Udberg, who holds a Uefa ‘A' coaching licence, is also involved in educating the next generation of professional coaches around the world.
"At Chelsea we are always looking at youngsters with talent in football and I am sure our scouts will be here soon," he said.
