WAFF and BSWW Discuss with Member Associations the 2nd WAFF Beach Soccer Championship

 

This meeting was held in association with the Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup organized by BSWW in Dubai during the period 2-6 November 2021, with the presence of Khalil Al Salem, General Secretary of WAFF, Joan Cusco, President of BSWW, Joseph Ponset, Director of Event of BSWW.

 

Representatives of 6 member associations from the region also participated in the meeting: Rahim Lafta (Iraq), Abdulmohsen Al Muamar (KSA), Talib Hilal (Oman), Aref Al Manaai (Bahrain), Ali Hamad AlBadwawi (UAE), Hussam Al Hussein (Palestine).

 

During the meeting, Al Salem announced the organization of the 2nd WAFF Beach Soccer Championship to be hosted by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation at a date to be determined, and will be held expected with the participation of 9 teams from West Asia: KSA, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq. 

 

Al Salem revealed a proposal to invite one or two teams from outside the West Asian region to participate in the second championship, depending on the number of teams participating in the championship from the region.

 

The General Secretary also pointed out that WAFF intends to organize a championship for beach soccer clubs, proposing it be held in the last quarter of next year, and heard from member associations about their desire to host this championship, and that its arrangements will be formally agreed upon in the coming period.

 

In addition, the meeting included a review of the beach soccer workshops that have been organized so far in cooperation with BSWW, which included an online workshop to develop coaches in August 2021, aiming to organize another workshop for referees during December 2012, and a workshop on match organization in association of the upcoming WAFF Beach Soccer Championship.

 

Al Salem stressed that the interest of WAFF in activating the educational and competitive aspects of beach soccer in the region is part of its strategy to develop the game in general and expand its activities to include all sectors of football, and in line with the cooperation agreement it has signed with BSWW, which extends to three years, and includes many items and plans to activate this sector in the region.

 

On the other hand, Cusco confirmed that BSWW is always ready to provide its expertise and technical advice and assistance in the field of beach soccer and work with WAFF to develop this sector in the region, whether through administrative activities and various courses or through coordination to organize championships that deal with teams and clubs.