The UEFA qualified coaches, Lami Sonola and Ben Charlton, with years of playing and coaching experience, will choose the final 22 winners from over 300 young players who have registered for the VIVA Manchester United Soccer Schools 2013 programme and will be representing their school football teams.
Coach Lami Sonola has been with the Manchester United (MU) Foundation since four years and is responsible for managing the MU Foundation Education Department and Community Cohesion departments. She has also been the Head Coach of under 18’s Girls Centre of Excellence team.
Coach Ben Charlton, who has been with Manchester United for over 6 years, is equipped with an extensive FA GTT qualification with Level 1+ 2 FA coaching awards. He is credited to have actively supported and developed grassroots football training in the local community and in MUSS to help produce, identify and nurture talent. He has also led Old Trafford’s kick project and MU Foundation Street Reds at their Head Coach.
Day one (May 17th) of the try-outs will witness 24 boys football teams, competing in the first stage of the inter-school tournament by playing seven-a-side matches. Day 2 (May 18th) will have 8 girl football teams demonstrating their soccer skills and boys teams shortlisted in the preliminary round of try-outs competing in the inter-school tournament.
Manchester United Foundation coaches will also recognize Best Player, Best striker, Best goalkeeper and top three performing schools of the inter-school tournament, in addition to 22 players who will go on to win a trip to Manchester to live, play and train the United way in the home of football, UK, courtesy of VIVA Bahrain.