DUBAI // The UAE’s best young footballers have been crowned after a nationwide search involving more than 650 teams.
The top teams showed off their skills at Dubai Mall in the culmination of the duFC UAE Schools Cup.
Abu Dhabi’s Al Yasmina School came out on top in the girls U17s competition, the Philadelphia Private School in Dubai were boys U14s champions, while the northern emirates team El Classico took home the Street Cup and International School of Cheouifat in Dubai won the boys U16s category.
“Our purpose is to build the champions of tomorrow," said Osman Sultan, du’s chief executive. “Next year we plan to scout and train the best talent and create an infrastructure of international standards in football."
The International School of Cheouifat team will travel to Spain to train and play against youth sides from Spanish Primera teams Malaga, Sevilla, Cordoba and Cadiz.
Teams from Al Yasmina School and Philadelphia Private School will enjoy a three-day trip to England to watch a Premier League game at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, and train with the club’s coaches.
“There are definitely some great talents in the UAE and having worked with these boys and girls over the weekend at the duFC Clinic, I can say with confidence that there are some players here that we will see playing at international standards in the near future," said Roberto Carlos, capped 125 times for Brazil.
Spain’s Michel Salgado was impressed by the level of play during the finals.
“The teams who won are the ones who work together as an organised unit to create opportunities and score goals," he said. “Congratulations to the winners."
The competition featured 657 teams from across the country with 7,117 boys and girls aged 11 to 17 taking part.
The du Football Champions was a nationwide initiative featuring the UAE’s official schools Cup and Streets Cup and was in partnership with KHDA, Adec, Dubai Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Sharjah Sports Council.
For more details, visit dufc.ae
nhanif@thenational.ae
Page last updated 31 December 2019