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Qatar’s talent pool vastly expanding with sports academies

Qatar’s talent pool vastly expanding with sports academies

The Peninsula

With the rapid growth of private sports academies in Qatar, the country’s pool of sporting talent is vastly expanding, and Qatar’s future in sports is bright and assured, Uman Yusuf, the founder of Agbizz Sports Academy, has said.

Yusuf, who together with Amos Adetilewa runs the sports academy based in Al Hilal in Doha, noted that sports academies in Qatar have continued to play pivotal roles in spotting, nurturing, and developing sports talents, and this has greatly contributed to helping the country record major successes in sports over the years.

“The authorities in Qatar must be applauded for their support towards sports academies in the country. They have created an enabling environment for growth, and with the emphasis and interests placed on sports by the authorities, things are moving in the right direction, and Qatar is on the right trajectory to achieve all its sporting targets,” Yusuf said.

Yusuf noted that the sports academy model in Qatar has successfully debunked the misconstrued notion that sports hamper a child’s dedication towards academics, and that devoting too much time to sports results in subpar grades and must be avoided.

“Most of the students in sports academies in the country also have top grades in their classes. The way sports and academics have been run in Qatar has resulted in remarkable successes on both sides,” he said, adding that it is evident that maintaining a balance between sports and academics is of utmost importance for a child’s holistic development.

“While academics provide knowledge, sports teach the invaluable traits of teamwork, leadership, persistence, hardwork, respect for others, stress management, continuous skill enhancement, and, most importantly, the unfazed acceptance of success and failure,” he noted.

Yusuf said that children are now considering sports not just as a physical activity subject of the school curriculum, but turning it into their passion and career to pursue the dream of becoming great athletes to represent the country internationally, and that parents and guardians need to step up their role in helping their children fulfill their dreams. He noted that Agbizz Sports Academy, which was established in 2021, has witnessed massive growth, with almost 70 students currently enrolled in the academy.

“Our academy boasts of some of the best trainers in Qatar, with most of them certified by the authorizing sports bodies. With football being the No. 1 sport in Qatar, we have been focusing on football, where we have recorded remarkable successes with some of our students winning some notable tournaments. We’ve recently added badminton to our curriculum, and the impact has been outstanding,” he added.

Listing the benefits of students engaging in sports, he said that aside from the health benefits, sports help enhance the character of students aside from improving their social life, leadership skills, and academic performances.