DUBAI // Few goals in life are more worthwhile than a healthy lifestyle, improving skills and teamwork.
Those are the aims of a football tournament that is also encouraging more girls to take up the sport, organisers say.
Over the past seven weeks, more than 100 teams of boys and girls from 50 schools across the emirate have been competing in the Dubai Schools Football Cup (DSFC).
The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to the UK to attend a Premier League game featuring the champions, Manchester United, at Old Trafford.
The winners will also get the chance to brush up on their skills with the team’s expert football coaches.
Ahead of the finals this weekend, Hussein Murad, DSFC president, said it was important to educate pupils about the benefits of physical activity.
Exercise can reduce the long-term risks of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in a country crippled with such issues because of unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles.
“DSFC accomplished all it set out to and more,” Mr Murad said.
“We have seen a shift in how the children play. Skills and teamwork are improving week on week, but also in how they are excited to spend their weekend outdoors every week, and above all in how they view competitive sport, as is evident in their Facebook posts.
“Now the children have experienced the value of a healthy active lifestyle, where sport and wholesome food make for well-being, sound bodies and minds, especially during their turbulent teenage years.”
Participants say the competition has also fostered a growing interest in football among young girls in the UAE.
“We’re seeing improvement across the board,” said Mervat El Shewy, the Dubai Arab American School girls’ coach.
“Even our PE classes have changed as a result of the tournament. It has encouraged the girls and raised their sporting spirit.
“Their skills are improving and they are determined to return every week to the DSFC. In fact, I have been inspired to start an after-school sports club with basketball, horseback riding and, of course, the one all the girls want now – football,” Ms El Shewy said.
“We would love to see tournaments like these for other sports, like basketball and handball. My girls have changed for the better and I’m seeing a difference every week.”
Mr Murad said many coaches had reported positive feedback.
“Coaches have told us that they arrive at PE lessons ready for full participation where before they may have sauntered to class and felt lacklustre. As a result, PE teachers are designing a more rigorous programme, inspired by their students and that stretch the students further.”
Lorelei Tetaut, of the Lycee Francais International George Pompidou school under-16 girls team, which has made it through to the semi-finals, said she has enjoyed being part of the tournament.
“I am so proud to have been able to score 15 goals already in the tournament, but I couldn’t have done any of it without the whole team,” she said.
“It is very exciting to be a part of the Dubai Schools Football Cup.”
Michel Salgado, director of DSFC, said the competition had encouraged young footballing talent across the emirate.
“Within the first weeks of the tournament we have already seen high-quality matches and young players with real talent,” he said.
“In fact, we have reached out to a number of students to discuss how we can help develop their skills and pave the way to take their games forward to the next level and beyond and, who knows, maybe even to professional football.”
The semi-final, final and awards ceremony will take place on Saturday at Dubai Sports City.
The prize trip to Old Trafford will be handed to the top team in each of the four categories: boys under-12; boys under-15; girls under-13; and girls under-16.
DSFC 2014 is a joint initiative between Dubai Education Zone and the Princess Haya Initiative for the Development of Health, Physical Education and School Sports, in partnership with Dubai Sports Council.
jbell@thenational.ae
