Amman, April 22 (Petra) -- Sports experts have described HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II’s decision to relaunch the Prince Ali Grassroots Centres as one of the most significant sporting moves in recent years, calling it a strategic step to rebuild the foundations of Jordanian football and expand talent identification across the Kingdom’s governorates.

They said reviving the centres forms part of an integrated national project aimed at developing young talent and preparing players to represent national teams in the future, stressing the importance of drawing on experience to ensure the success of the next phase.

Former technical director of the grassroots centres Ziad Akouba said the project ranks among the most important initiatives launched by the Jordan Football Association to develop the sport, noting its comprehensive nature and wide geographic reach across the Kingdom, which enabled access to a broad pool of talent.

He added that the Jordanian experience proved successful by all standards and contributed to the emergence of several players who reached the national team, including Musa Al-Taamari, Ali Olwan, Yazan Al-Naimat, Musab Al-Laham and Ali Al-Azaizeh, among others. He also highlighted its role in advancing coaching standards, with experienced trainers overseeing the centres, some of whom now coach professional teams.

Akouba noted that the project won several Asian awards, including Best Project in Asia in 2014, stressing that its revival is particularly important amid the need for initiatives that sustain progress following the national team’s qualification for the World Cup finals.

He said Jordan is rich in talent across all governorates, not confined to specific areas, adding that the centres demonstrated that talented players can be discovered anywhere, making the project a strategic initiative that should be reactivated in a strong and structured manner.

Former administrative director of the Prince Ali grassroots centres Atef Assaf said the initiative went beyond technical training, serving as a comprehensive program to build players’ character, with coaches and administrators playing educational and behavioral roles alongside sporting development.

He added that players received integrated programs covering discipline, conduct and sports education, in addition to on-field training, helping to produce a generation with balanced personalities both on and off the pitch.

Assaf said the success of the centres was driven by several factors, including direct support from the football association and the availability of infrastructure and organized technical supervision, as well as their nationwide presence from north to south.

He noted that the number of centres reached 32 for both male and female players, operating under a structured age-group system that supported gradual player development and linked them to federation competitions.

He added that the centres were a key feeder for national teams, noting that the youth team that qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals was largely composed of graduates of the program, marking a historic achievement for Jordanian football.

Coach Osama Qasem said the relaunch represents an important step toward rebuilding a strong foundation for Jordanian football, stressing that its success requires clear professional planning to ensure continuity over the years.

He added that the focus should be on developing players both technically and mentally from an early stage, in line with the demands of modern football, to enable a smooth transition to higher levels within national teams and clubs.

//Petra// AF

22/04/2026 22:40:19