Dubai: The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has launched an ambitious future strikers’ programme at the Lyon Club Academy in France.
Each of the six clubs from Dubai has sent promising strikers from its ranks to be part of the programme that is being supervised by former African Footballer of the Year and programme supervisor Freddie Kanoute.
The activities of the future strikers include the same technical programmes that are set aside for trainees at the Lyon Academy.
These include technical and physical training sessions, preparatory matches and technical and awareness lectures held under the supervision of Stephane Laroche, Technical Manager, Lyon Club Academy.
The participating players have been classified into three categories and have been accordingly sent to attend various training programmes along with strikers from the French club. The under-19 category is being looked after by chief coach Cris, the under-17 category by Ormond Garrido and the under-16 category by Lauren Courtois.
These three coaches have during their career trained footballing stars such as Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Olympique de Marseille’s Bafetimbi Gomis, Paris Saint-Germain’s Hatem Ben Arfa and Lyon striker Nabil Fekir.
“The main aim of this programme is to raise the level of our strikers within the clubs so that they have the opportunity to keep pace at the international stage,” Kanoute said.
Ali Omar, Director, Sports Development Department, DSC and head of the Future Strikers’ Programme, said that the programme has helped youth boost their technical levels through the camps under the supervision of top experts. “Such programmes give them a better outlook on life and sport at the same time. I am sure the clubs will benefit from these youngsters in the long run,” Omar said.
“The Future Strikers Programme is part of DSC’s strategy to enhance the youth and grassroots sector and qualify them adequately through first-hand experience professionally and personally,” he added.
