Fathi reveals the secret of Al-Sadd age groups’ success
Fathi reveals the secret of Al-Sadd age groups’ success
07 Sep 2015
Fathi Abdoun, technical director of the academy and coach of the age groups at Al-Sadd Club for up to 23 years, says that the professional style of the club as a whole and not just the age groups as such, is one of the most important secrets of our success – success that has included the bronze medal finish at the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup after being crowned Asian champions.
Fathi said, “The Buds players of the club, all of them born in 2003/2004/2005, are considered the Team Level A, the best Qatari club team without a doubt. We build our strategy around this Team A as the basis, and whosoever improves, joins this team. We prepare them for the age groups league and the achievements of all our various age group teams is proof of the success of this strategy.”
Everyone knows of the great responsibility towards Qatari football and this responsibility is taken care of under the supervision of the club officials led by Mohammed Ghanim Al Ali, head of football; and as always Al-Sadd is the main source of the Qatar Cubs, Junior, Youth and First national teams. Our support extends to the other teams too in terms of great players – Wesam Rizk, Majid Muhammad, Ali Sanad, Khaled Abdul Rauf and Diab Annabi Mohammed al-Jabri, Abdul Aziz Al-Buanain and Khaled Mohammed al-Maadheed (Al-Jaish) – Adel Ahmed, Ahmed Mualla, Reza (Lekhwiya) – Hamood Al Yazidi (Al Wakra) – Nasser Nabil and Saud Nasser (Al-Arabi) – Basel Samih (Al Ahli) – Hamad Faraj Abbas (Al-Shamal) – Taher Zakaria, Mohammed Jasser (Al-Rayyan). Imagine this huge number of players transferring from Al-Sadd to other clubs without Sadd getting affected by this; this is the definitive proof of the systematic and deliberate action of the club and fortunately, the club policy will not change.
There are also special players on the way that, God willing, will be able to carry the banner of Al-Sadd in the near future. They include Mishal Al-Shammari, a striker of rare style; Ayoub Mashhoor, Hamad Mansour, Hatem Kamal ,Ghassan Waheed, Abdul Aziz Al-Jelaby and Hassan Ahmed, another talented striker. Further we have some players in the European training centers: Akram Afif, Abdul Aziz Mahmoud, Hossam Kamal, Fahd Shanin, Nasser Sankees and Salim al-Shahwani.
The technical director of the Academy said, “We at Al Sadd Club are working in accordance with the philosophy and methodology to realize a vision of our own, based on respect for the characteristics of each age group, going all the way to the first team. The vision remains important because they touch on the flaws and work to avoid them and to promote the positives. As for me, I am working at club where there is not a place of favouritism or nepotism and you deserve what you get; working for Al-Sadd adds value to any person, be it a coach or a member of the administrative staff. ”
Fathi also noted that the development department of the Qatar Football Association is one of the most important of its bodies, entrusted with the responsibility of developing the Buds and age groups sector. “This category of players is the ammunition for Qatar in the future, especially as we prepare ourselves for an important event – the hosting of the 2022 World Cup.”
“After the change in name of the Technical Committee to the Development Department, there also should be restructuring in all respects, one of the basic components of development practiced all over the world. Another important matter for the Technical Supervisor is why the Technical Supervisor of each club does not continue at the club for successive seasons so that the two can complete the program and link the work done during the two seasons, instead of moving every season from one club to another. This is just an idea I put forward to Ali Jassim Muftah, Director for Development.”