We join Global Sports Partners Intern Lianna Gates in celebrating a successful football-focused internship with GSP Saudi Arabia. Gates is an asset to the GSP team both on and off the pitch.
At Team Up for Sports (Jeddah, KSA), Lianna’s coaching skills were used to facilitate trainings for the 5–10-year-old age group over the past year. She coached alongside of Academy Director and GSP Representative, Travis Stark, as well as other new coaches looking to develop their talents. From skills training to fun gifts from the athletes, Gates returns to her home country with a new appreciation for coaching young athletes.
“This past year of coaching has motivated me to gather more resources and further my education in the field so that I continue to grow as a coach and facilitate players’ growth” – GSP & Team Up Intern Lianna Gates
Lianna also trained this season with Al-Shabab Women’s Football Club in Jeddah (formerly known as the Storm). Al-Shabab WFC participated in the Inaugural season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League, finishing in 3rd place. Gates enjoyed contributing her experience playing university football in the USA as well as learning to play with ladies in KSA’s growing atmosphere of women’s sport.
“It was a privilege and I learned so much from the experience of playing football with the women on my team in Jeddah. Some of my favorite memories were funny language exchanges in my broken Arabic and our intrasquad scrimmages where we pushed each other to become better footballers.” – Lianna Gates
Lianna is looking forward to rejoining the GSP team in Jeddah later this year and and contributing to the development of young athletes and coaches over the coming years.
