Thousands of Saudi students will receive football instruction as part of the Kingdom’s $500 billion megaproject NEOM’s ambition to develop the country’s next grassroots stars. The programme kicks off with its first event at the Fahad Bin Sultan University in Tabuk, from 12-16 September.
The second edition of the Shuhub Community Programme, organised by NEOM, a global partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will train over 3,500 youngsters from around the Kingdom, including Tabuk, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. Registration is currently open for all Saudi boys and girls aged 7-12 years.
The programme kicks off with the first event at Tabuk’s Fahad Bin Sultan University from 12-16 September
Building on the success of last year’s first edition, the initiative will organise four events from September 2023 to March 2024, providing a platform for boys and girls to sharpen their footballing skills.
The Shuhub Community Programme will include specialised coaching from Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) coaches, as well as sport-tech integration to measure and strengthen each participating child’s footballing ability in areas such as shooting, reaction time, and passing accuracy. There will also be friendly matches, allowing children to put their new skills into practice.
The Shuhub Community Programme will include specialised coaching from Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) coaches
Managing Director of Sport at NEOM, Jan Paterson, explained: “The Shuhub Community Programme continues to reflect NEOM’s commitment to providing a platform for developing the next generation of footballing talent across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while also offering boys and girls the chance to improve their skills, have great fun and make new friends along the way. The programme will not only pave the way for individual growth but will also contribute to the growth of community sports across the Kingdom.”