DUBAI // A young UAE-based footballer has undertaken a two-week trial at Spanish Primera Liga club Malaga after impressing during a training camp in Spain last month.
Ahmed El Yamani, a 15-year-old Lebanese midfielder living in Dubai, excelled for the duFC Elite Team, a side comprising 18 aspiring footballers from the Emirates, at a recent camp in Marbella that ran from July 15 to August 1. The programme, which involved 34 UAE-based footballers in total, was supervised by Primera Liga coaches and attended by scouts from the Spanish top flight.
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Ahmed featured for the Elite team in friendlies against junior sides from Malaga and Granada and performed well enough to be awarded a trial with Malaga, the reigning Primera Liga youth champions. He completed the trial immediately following the camp.
“Being selected for a trial with a La Liga youth club is beyond my wildest dreams,” Ahmed said. “My dream since I was a child was to join one of the largest leagues in the world. In coming to Spain, I was determined to play my best football so that scouts would recognise my ability.”
The duFC Elite Team was selected by the duFC scouting platform, an initiative launched in October last year that offers tuition from Primera Liga coaches. Designed to create a pathway for emerging footballers in the Emirates through to the professional game, it attracted more than 7,000 entrants. Michel Salgado and Roberto Carlos, the former Real Madrid players, were involved in the selection process.
“DuFC has opened the doors for me and was my stepping stone to reach this stage,” Ahmed said. “The intense training camps in Dubai and Spain prepared me well for this moment and taught me the real meaning of professional football. I am very grateful for the support I have received from everyone which has gotten me to this point.”
Fahad Al Hassawi, du chief commercial officer said: “Ahmad El Yamani’s selection for a trial with La Liga’s best youth club is a great boon for both our initiative and the UAE, as it highlights the incredible potential of our youth.
“It reflects the power of the platform to uncover talent and give them an opportunity to pursue their dreams to be a part of the world’s strongest league. We believe it sends the clear message that any ambition can be realised through determination, hard work and perseverance.”
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