Sunderland AFC have embarked on a partnership with the Arab Academy of Science and Technology (AAST) and El-ltthad El-Iskandary FC to develop football in Egypt and further Sunderland's international links in the territory.

The Alexandria-based football club and the Egyptian University want to create a youth set-up based on the principles of Sunderland's highly successful Academy.

SAFC's Academy is recognised as one of the best in the country and Academy Director, Ged McNamee, Assistant Academy Manager Kevin Ball and other members of the coaching staff will be providing technical support and practical assistance to their counterparts in Egypt.

The Academy will be based at the AAST and with the support of El-ltthad El-Iskandary and Sunderland AFC it aims to develop young football talent in the country. Sunderland's Academy staff will also create specialist coaching manuals for the project and monitor the progress of the young footballers on an on-going basis.

The Arab Academy of Science and Technology will also provide educational facilities for the Egyptian academy students. The University already has links to Sunderland, with an existing academic partnership with the city's university.

The best youngsters from the Egyptian Academy will also visit Sunderland to train with the club's own Academy youngsters, giving them a taste of top-flight English football.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said: "This is an exciting venture for our football club. Our Academy is fantastically well-run and we are seeing the results of that with the emergence of great young players such as Jordan Henderson.

"It is going to be great for us to be able to share our best-practice principles to help to develop football in the Alexandria region and throughout Egypt."

Mohamed Mouselhy, president of El Ittihad El Iskandary, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with a great English Premier League club such as Sunderland. Our club will benefit greatly from this, gaining useful experience of football at the highest level.

"We would also like to see Sunderland playing friendly matches in Egypt and increasing their supporter base and commercial opportunities with cooperation with Itthad Club and AAST.

"Alexandria, particularly Itthad Club, has over 5 million football fans, who I'm sure will be happy with such cooperation and partnership with Sunderland Football Club."

Dr Farghally, chief executive officer of the AAST, welcomed the opportunity, explaining: "We are looking for a sustained partnership that will also integrate with our associates at the Sunderland University.

"Working with Sunderland AFC will be a great benefit to us in gaining practical experience of world football and the development of talent, combined with a good education."