The best of Bahrain’s young footballing talents are battling for a place on the trip of a life time to the Viva Manchester United Soccer School at the soccer giant’s training camp in the UK.

The 18 young footballers chosen will not only get the opportunity to be coached by world-class, UEFA certified coaches, but will also get the full unique Manchester United experience by living on campus in Myerscough College, UK, with 30 other footballers from the UAE and Kuwait as part of a regional initiative.

Kicking off the programme’s second season, Ulaiyan Al Wetaid, VIVA CEO, said: “We are delighted to bring back the programme and help make the dreams of young Bahraini footballers come true. Our aim is to cultivate the football talent in the kingdom, it being the number one sport between all generations. The extraordinary potential and skills we saw in the 33 winners of last year’s programme is one of the main reasons we are bringing it back for a second season.”

Places are open to young players, both boys and girls, aged 12 to 15-years, who registered in May for a spot in the auditions which take place this month.

120 footballers will be selected by local coaches certified by the Bahrain Football Association in try-outs that will take place at the Bahrain Football Association training pitches before getting a chance to demonstrate their skills in front of Manchester United Soccer School coaches who will fly into Bahrain specially to evaluate their football skills on June 8-9, 2012 and select the lucky 18 winners.

The finalists will win a week of expert football training from July 8-14, on the Manchester United Soccer School grounds in Myerscough College, UK, using state-of-the art training equipment and undergoing the true routine of footballers as well as receive training at Carrington where the first team trains.

In 2011, 200 applicants were whittled down to 33 winners who got the Manchester United Soccer School experience in the UK to attend a week-long training and skills workshop led by Manchester United Soccer School coaches.

The first batch of players were invited to share their experience at the launch of this year’s programme and had an opportunity to meet Reds’ former winger, Lee Sharpe who said: “I am looking forward to seeing the talent that is developed at the Manchester United Soccer School. I am also happy to be part of a programme that is focused on developing local talents. I believe Bahrain has much to offer and I’m excited to see the young footballers step up to the plate.”