ABU DHABI // With the fever pitch thrill of training alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar, thousands of youngsters kicked off a nationwide football competition on Saturday.
More than 2,000 young hopefuls competed in Abu Dhabi on the first day of the six-month du Football Champions tournament, which is offering winning teams and stand-out players an all-expenses-paid trip to Spain to train with professionals from La Liga.
Championship director and former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado attended the opening day at Zayed Sport City and said he was thrilled.
“The girls and boys demonstrated superb skills and we look forward to discovering many more talented players this season,” he said.
Through two simultaneous competitions – the UAE Schools and the Streets Cup – boys and girls aged 11-17 will participate in four categories separated by age and gender.
Competing in the UAE Streets Cup, where teams can be made up from schools, clubs, academies or just groups of friends, were Mahdi and Elias Zitouni.
The 14-year-old Tunisian twins decided to make a team of their own as their school was not represented.
Mahdi, who is Black Knight’s captain, said that what he liked most about the tournament was it provided children a great opportunity at no cost.
“There are a lot of people who can’t afford to pay for tournaments and here we get to play for free,” the team’s goalkeeper said.
His brother Elias said the chemistry he shared with his twin gave them an edge in their 2-0 victory on Saturday.
“The way this tournament is organised, the activities, the food – it’s definitely the best I have ever played in,” Elias said.
With scouts from the Spanish league attending games players said it raised the level of their playing.
“Being looked at by scouts gets you excited as you know your dreams of becoming a professional player could come true,” said Rami Omar, 15.
The Canadian will be representing the Canadian International School in the UAE Schools Cup which will feature close to 200 schools.
Training at least twice a week with his team, Rami said they had hopes of making it to at least the quarter-finals, and perhaps on to the semi-finals.
“This is a great event that brings out a lot of enthusiasm and gets the local communities together,” he said. “There should be more tournaments like it in the UAE.”
Games will be held every Saturday with next week’s matches being held at Al Ain Football Club and Al Dhafra Training Ground.
The tournament’s Dubai and Sharjah games will commence at the beginning of next year with the final taking place at Dubai Mall on March 19.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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