Osasuna, ktech team up to empower football in Kuwait

Earlier this month, Club Atlético Osasuna and Kuwait Technical College (ktech), in partnership with the Kuwait Public Authority for Sports, launched Aupa Ya Kuwait, a talent development initiative in the Arabian Gulf. The project aims to empower young Kuwaiti soccer players through a holistic approach that combines academics and athletic training, with the values and methodology of the Rojillo academy at its core.

 “With this project, we reaffirm our commitment to investing in young Kuwaiti talent—inside the classroom and beyond. Sports are now a global professional pathway, and our youth deserve access to it,” said Meshari Ayman Boodai, chairman of the board of trustees at Kuwait Technical College.

He also noted that having an Osasuna delegation travel to Kuwait is a significant long-term investment in knowledge transfer and professional skill-building. “Our goal is not only to discover talent, but to empower it through world-class methodologies,” he said.

The project is supported by Bashar Abdullah Al-Salem, acting director general of the Kuwait Public Authority for Sports, as the initiative aligns with Kuwait’s strategy to connect youth with global opportunities. Al-Salem is Kuwait’s third most-capped international player, with 134 appearances, and the national team’s all-time top goalscorer, with 75 goals—a mark that ranks him among the top 20 international goal scorers worldwide.

Throughout the week, Tajonar technical director Patxi Puñal, head of methodology Gorka Chocarro and Tajonar coach Julen Borja evaluated 120 participants in the program. After several sessions, the Rojillo delegation selected 25 players to visit Navarre in January to train under Tajonar’s formative method as part of an exchange that will allow them to experience life as Osasuna academy players for a few weeks.

The program began with an introduction to Osasuna’s history and methodology. Leading Kuwaiti football authorities attended the session, including members of the Kuwait Football Association, FIFA representatives for the Kuwait national team, and representatives from several Kuwaiti clubs.

On the field, 120 players ages 18 to 24 registered individually and were divided into teams to compete. Participants included ktech students, members of the Kuwait Youth National Soccer Team, and Kings League MENA champions from November.

To select the players visiting Tajonar, the delegation evaluated technical skill, tactical intelligence, discipline and consistency.

The program is part of the sponsorship agreement signed by Osasuna and ktech, under which both entities commit to continue exploring educational and athletic exchanges, football development programs, support for grassroots activities and events geared toward youth empowerment.