Whittle: youth clubs are one of our top priorities to support the national team

Baghdad-INA

The new Technical Director of the Iraqi football association John Whittle confirmed that his upcoming work will focus on the youth category, pointing out that a great effort must be made to improve the capabilities of the players in the Iraqi clubs.

Whittle said in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), on Thursday that the next work will start with collecting  information through holding formal and informal meetings with coaches, and the Iraqi clubs, emphasizing that his focus will be on youth clubs to form an adequate idea of the reality of Iraqi football.

Whittle added, What I have been told, and which I believe in, is that the players in the Iraqi clubs need continuous work and development in the coming years, noting that the player's development takes five years to cut half the way to reach the professional stage.

Whittle pointed out that he will work on creating skilled players to support the national team, in addition to provide advice for the success of the Lions of the Mesopotamia  team in its next mission.