The world-renowned Ajax football academy has begun operations in Uzbekistan.
As reported by İdman.Biz, citing Uzbek media, the football school operating under professional club Navbahor has been placed under the management of the Ajax football academy for three years, with the aim of developing young players according to international standards.
A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the Namangan Regional Sports Department and Amsterdam-based Ajax, one of the most successful clubs in European football.
Founded in 1900, Ajax boasts one of the world's most famous youth development systems. The Dutch club's academy has produced generations of top-level players, while transfers of its graduates to leading European clubs generate significant revenue.
Under the bilateral agreement, Navbahor and Ajax will establish a joint youth football academy. The Dutch club's management and development model will also be introduced for the training of young footballers and coaches from Namangan.
As part of the project, a team of experienced coaches, scouts and methodology specialists from the European academy is already working in Namangan. The Dutch experts have studied the region's football infrastructure as well as the system used to develop young players across its cities and districts.
A selection process was subsequently conducted under the supervision of the Dutch specialists. Talented youngsters were identified from a large pool of candidates based on their technical ability, game intelligence, decision-making speed and physical qualities.
Players who successfully passed the selection process will now begin training under the guidance of European specialists and qualified coaches.
Ajax have won the European Cup and UEFA Champions League four times in their history, as well as the UEFA Cup, and their academy remains one of the most influential talent-development systems in world football.
