Haidar: A first-of-its-kind conference with great benefitThe Lebanese Football Association inaugurated the conference presenting an analysis of the global amateur football environment under the supervision of FIFA, in the presence of the association’s president, Mr. Hashim Haidar, members of the executive committee, and Secretary General Jihad Al-Shahef. The event, attended by international lecturers Tunisian Belhassen Malloush and Egyptian Amr Moheb, is being held over two days at the Ramada Hotel. The first day was dedicated to the Lebanese Association’s executive committee and the federation’s working team.The second day is reserved for clubs, practicing coaches, and the technical and administrative staff involved in football academies and amateur football.On the first day, international lecturer Belhassen Malloush spoke, expressing his pleasure at being in Lebanon and welcoming the association’s president, the secretary general, and members of the executive committee. He noted that the programme includes 85 national associations, with Lebanon among them, and that Lebanon participates in all of FIFA’s development programmes.He pointed out that the initiative began with the Talent Development Scheme (TDS), after which FIFA determined the necessity of developing players at an early age. Programs were subsequently developed in cooperation with French coach Arsène Wenger. Lebanon is participating in these programmes and has requested that FIFA send a coach specialized in early player development.Malloush added that only 1% of players worldwide are professionals, while the vast majority are amateurs, which underscores the importance of these programmes. FIFA launched them because youth age groups receive insufficient attention in a large number of countries.Afterward, the association’s president, Mr. Hashim Haidar, delivered remarks welcoming the international lecturers and thanking both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation for the programmes and training courses that help develop Lebanese football and keep pace with global progress.Mr. Haidar noted that this conference is the first of its kind and expressed his hope that it will be of great benefit to clubs and coaches in developing youth categories in Lebanon.