DUBAI // The best school football teams in the emirate have been whittled down to the last 16 in their age categories after a frenzy of goals and exciting play.
The final is in sight for the remaining teams in the Dubai Schools Cup after three-weeks of intense competition at Dubai Sports City.
“We are very happy with the progress of the Dubai Schools Cup and pleased to see many more UAE national students participating this year,” said Abdullah Shahdad, manager of school sports at the Dubai Sports Council. “I believe the tournament will generate talent that will champion sports in the UAE for many generations to come.”
In the under-12s, Dubai National School Barsha and Hatta Primary School topped their groups. In the under-14 category, Gems Winchester Oud Metha and Rashid Bin Saeed School from Hatta went through. In the under-16 section competition was tough, but Salman Farsi Boys School and St Mary’s Catholic School finished top of the group.
Hussein Murad, chief executive of competition organisers Inspiratus, said the tournament gave pupils the chance to develop healthy lifestyles and habits they could use throughout their lives.
“The pace of the games and skills displayed on the pitches today was amazing,” he said speaking at the end of the third day of competition. “It’s like watching the youth teams from the top clubs of Europe.
“I think we will have an exceptional finals day this year and I look forward to it.”
In the girls under-17 category, current champions St Mary’s Catholic High School went through along with Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou, Gems Wellington International School and the German International School.
“We played well today and it’s great to win,” said Georgia Gibson, a midfielder at Gems Wellington. “The others teams are strong and we have to prepare ourselves ahead of next week’s matches and we hope to make it to the champions’ circle.”
The competition concludes on March 7.
For more information visit http://www.dubaischoolsfc.com or https://www.facebook.com/DubaiSchoolsFC
nhanif@thenational.ae
