DUBAI With World Cup fever gripping the world, Dubai Sports City Football Academy will involve young UAE footballers in the run-up to the biggest sporting event on the planet being held in Brazil.
The Mini World Cup for kids in the age group of under-six to under-14 is set to begin from June 6 to 21 and will be played on a similar format to the World Cup in Brazil from June 12 to July 13. All matches will be played indoors at the Football Academy over three weekends.
“Obviously with the entire world focusing on the biggest event next month, we wanted to give something to the kids here in the UAE and we thought the mini World Cup made a great idea,” Football Academy head coach Inaki Beni told XPRESS.
“We wanted to involve the kids in a unique way and nothing better than making them represent a nation and make them realise how a footballer feels playing for his country,” he added.
Ever team registering will be allowed to choose the country they want to represent, which will be on a first-come-first-served basis in all age categories. The teams will be provided with the chosen country’s kits. “We have the under-6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and we already have 40 teams registered so far and we should be getting more soon. Other than Dubai, we have received requests from teams from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah. The teams will be allowed to choose the country they want to represent but no two teams can pick the same country. We also have kept the option for any team to represent the UAE,” said Adam Griffiths, coach at the Football Academy.
Beni said such initiatives will increase interest among young footballers. “The main objective is to bring in more kids and the World Cup is a bonanza. The UAE is an ideal location since it brings together people from all over the world,” he said.
