Beach Soccer coaches workshop organized by WAFF and BSWW end on a high note
The beach soccer coaches’ workshop, organised by the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) and Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), proved to be a hugely successful and positive event.
The workshop came as the first activity that WAFF and BSWW are implementing as a part of the joint cooperation agreement signed between them, which will extend for the next three years and include many programs according to a comprehensive strategy and an integrated project aimed at developing beach soccer in the region.
The workshop was held virtually over the course of two days, June 1 and 2, under the supervision of international and Asian instructor, Taleb Bin Hilal, and with the wide participation of former players and coaches in the field of football representing all West Asian associations.
Khalil Al Salem, the General Secretary of WAFF, said, “We welcome the participants and the international and Asian instructor, Taleb bin Hilal, and we thank BSWW, represented by its president, Joan Cusco, for their cooperation with WAFF in holding this workshop. It forms a part of a long-term plan of action that begins by focusing on administrative and educational aspects, to enable the region to raise the level of interest in beach soccer and to ensure its revival and progress to expand the scope of the Federation’s activities in this regard. Another part of the plan is to organise a beach soccer tournament in the West Asian region on an annual basis, in cooperation with BSWW.”
Mr. Al Salem highlighted the importance of the participation of the instructor, Taleb bin Hilal, and the valuable experience and information he provided, which was reflected by both the participants themselves, and the workshop itself.
For his part, BSWW president, Joan Cusco expressed his appreciation to WAFF for the pioneering steps it is taking to develop beach soccer in the region, as well as reiterating that BSWW will continue to work hand in hand with WAFF to provide all the expertise to keep developing beach soccer. Mr. Cusco highlighted that the agreement between the two parties will create great opportunities to benefit the growth of beach soccer, both at a technical and administrative level, always making sure to work towards the implementation of new development plans and actions.
Also, instructor Taleb bin Hilal considered that this pioneering workshop, the first of its kind at the level in the region, will be a real starting point towards boosting the interest in beach soccer, and praised the role of WAFF and BSWW in organising it, describing the workshop as an important platform to highlight the game, expand its base and contribute to empowering its participants, to whom he wished the upmost success.
Throughout the workshop, Bin Hilal presented many axes concerned with the training process of beach soccer, whether those related to workers in the training field or players practicing this type of activities that require special skills related to the nature of the game and its characteristics that distinguish it from others.
It is worth noting that the cooperation agreement between WAFF & BSWW aims to develop the game in the West Asian region through the establishment of various activities, such as tournaments, workshops and courses, targeting all aspects of beach soccer.
Furthermore, WAFF is looking forward to organising its second beach soccer tournament after the first edition, which was held in Iran in 2013, and is in discussion with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to have its tournament the approved and officially sanctioned for the Asian finals.
WAFF had previously organised a beach soccer tournament hosted by the Iranian Federation in May 2013, which included the participation of 7 teams: Iran (Champions), Oman (runner-up), Bahrain, Qatar, Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.
