Dubai: Social networks are now an accepted part of everyday life, and the number of people using them is constantly increasing.
It is therefore not surprising that the young performers involved in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup have been turning to these modern tools in order to send photos back from the UAE to their loved ones between matches.
The distance between Abu Dhabi and Sao Paolo did not prevent Brazilian right-sided defender Auro and his teammates from staying in touch with their nearest and dearest.
“Modern technology makes life a lot simpler for us,” he told Fifa.com.
The enthusiastic user of FaceTime and other video chat services added: “Before leaving Brazil, we were given information about the Emirates so that we weren’t travelling into the unknown. I’ve taken lots of photos, but I’m going to wait until I get home to show them to my friends and family.”
Auro and his colleagues had hoped to remain in the UAE for as long as possible but they were eliminated by Mexico in the quarter-finals on penalties. El Tri’s victorious players received online support from their families and Mexican Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez, who met them in person and encouraged them via Twitter in the run-up to their semi-final duel with Argentina on Tuesday.
Slovakia, meanwhile, exited the competition in the Round of 16, but team captain Jakub Hromada and his teammates are not likely to forget their time in Abu Dhabi, having apparently enjoyed the experience both on and off the pitch.
The Juventus midfielder also benefited from easy access to internet-based tools. “I sent loads of photos from the UAE to my family and friends,” he said. “I generally communicate with them by video chat or by Facebook. These days, social networks are an essential part of life.”
While the family of New Zealand’s Zac Speedy were already by his side in Abu Dhabi, the young goalkeeper still frequently made use of social networks during the tournament. “Like others, I’m lucky to have my family here supporting me at each match,” he said. “I’ve been using Facebook to stay in touch with my friends, who’ve been following my progress on TV. I also check the U-17 World Cup Facebook page every day to stay up-to-date with what’s happening.”
Elsewhere, Canadian custodian Marco Carducci has also been very active online, especially on Twitter, where he has been describing the experience he and his team have been having in the UAE over the past few weeks.
All of these promising footballers are hopeful that the championship will represent an early boost to their professional careers; they will certainly not be slow in keeping the watching world informed of their progress.