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:: ARSENAL LAUNCH ACADEMY
English Premiership club Arsenal have officially launched a football academy in Egypt - their first such venture in
Africa.
The project is the result of a community and football development partnership between the Gunners and local club
Wadi Degla.
"I think it's a very successful partnership," said Alan Sefton, Arsenal's schools football manager supervising the project.
The academy is managed by former Egyptian international Zakaria Nasef.
Nasef told BBC Sport website that it will help to develop the game in the North African country.
He said: "We started from scratch and we're sure we'll harvest the fruits of it in the end."
Wadi Degla are keen to make the most of their co-operation with one of the world's top football clubs.
The academy has already attracted more than 200 recruits, including two girls, between the ages of 8 and 14.
Youngsters who excel will be rewarded with scholarships to Arsenal's academy in London.
"I believe that very soon one of the boys will join the Gunners," said a confident Nasef.
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