“Navbahor” football school to be managed by “Ajax” academy

An agreement has been reached to transfer the "Navbahor" football school in Namangan to the management of the renowned "Ajax" football academy of the Netherlands for a period of three years. This was announced on September 16 at a meeting on the socio-economic development of the Namangan region chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

"We cannot come to Namangan and not talk about football. For the youth of Namangan, football is not just a game, it is a way of life. Every child grows up playing football in the neighborhood. Every match of 'Navbahor' is a big holiday for the city," said the head of state.

It was noted that under the agreement, 11 coaches, scouts, and methodologists from the Ajax Academy will be brought to Namangan to work with young players.

The President expressed confidence that the collaboration will help train a new generation of players capable of joining top clubs around the world and showcasing their talent at international championships.

For reference, the Ajax Football Academy, based in Amsterdam, oversees 13 youth teams for players aged 7 to 18 and serves as the main training center for the Dutch club Ajax. On September 11, 2020, CIES published its annual ranking of clubs that train players in the top 31 divisions of UEFA member associations, in which the Ajax Academy ranked second.