DUBAI // Young Emiratis are making a mark at a school football tournament with some impressive performances.
The ongoing Dubai Schools Cup has seen growing numbers of Emiratis taking up the sport and they are confident of success at this year’s finals.
Returning champions Dubai National School Al Barsha are leading the way, with all their teams in the under-14s, under-16s and under-12s making it through to the last 16.
“We train together two or three times a week and we always put in 100 per cent so that if we win or lose we know that we played our best,” said Abdulla Al Shamsi, a key player for the school’s under-14s team.
“I am very happy we have made it to the next stages of the tournament.
“If we continue to play this well, I am confident we will make it to the finals.”
The competition has captured the imagination of Obaid Eid Obaid Salem Albadwawi, from Rashid Bin Saeed School, in Hatta, in the under-14 category.
“The matches have been challenging and there are some strong players on the other teams,” said Obaid, who also plays for the UAE Youth National team.
Emirati girls playing for the Princess Haya bint Al Hussein Public School have also made it through to the last 16 of the girls’ competition.
“This year there are so many more girls’ teams and the matches are very challenging and every week we have to improve to stay in the game,” said a team spokeswoman.
The knockout stages begin this Saturday, with the competition concluding on March 7, and all the games take place at Dubai Sports City.
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nhanif@thenational.ae
