The Football Federation of Kazakhstan plans to open a football academy in the South Kazakhstan region, according to otyrar.kz. It has not yet been determined if the academy will be national or regional.
Specialists from Spain choose young players in Shymkent for the academy during a selection process ending Aug. 15 and coaches from leading football clubs chose youth from three age groups.
More than 100 children tried out for the academy during each day of the selection process. Specialists looked at how children behaved during the try-outs. Sixty-six children were chosen. Foreign coaches will be assisted by local coaches. The academy will be based on the BIIR football centre.
“Spanish coaches brought something new to our children. It is an exchange of experience. It encourages children and their parents. First of all, the academy means growth in sports for children. We had a quite different childhood. These days a lot is being made for the development of football,” said Oleg Sabirov, the head coach of the South Kazakhstan football school.
