Dubai: The second edition of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) Football Academies Championships has shown a 43 per cent increase in participation this year.
More than 66 teams in six different age categories accounting for more than 1,000 players will be in action every Saturday at the Dubai Sports City until the finale in March next year. The inaugural year had attracted a little over 700 players.
“The increase in numbers shows that this tournament has had an impact at the grassroots level, and the aim should be that we create an attractive environment for our youth and for their involvement in sport,” Omar Ali, Director of Sports Development, DSC told media at the announcement of the tournament.
“Our clubs have got involved in this competition and this, in turn, helps us achieve the bigger goals set down by our leaders,” he added.
More than 100 different nationalities are competing this year with organisers lining up 32 matches every weekend at the Dubai Sports City involving teams in six different age categories — Under-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18.
The tournament, which is being organised by Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in association with Royal Emirates Sports Academy (RESA), has attracted teams from UAE clubs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Ajman and Al Nasr, as well as expatriate academies like Arsenal, AS Roma, Dubai City FC, Choueifat, Go Pro, Royal FC, La Liga, Precor and Le Club France.
Former Spain and Real Madrid legend Michel Salgado, who has been the ambassador for the competition expounded the cause of players from the region featuring in the topmost leagues of Europe. “From my experience it all boils down to a lack of challenge. We need to have more competitions so that our youngsters can compete and get inspired. There is abundant talent here, but they all have a different set of tactics and skills. All we need to do here is combine and bring these two worlds together and we can have some of the top footballers in the world,” Salgado said.
Post-retirement Salgado shifted his base to Dubai while eagerly concentrating on finding the next breed of professional footballers from the country by running various developmental programmes. “In the past five years that I have been here, I have seen how football academies have become more professional and more organised in their approach. This means that the landscape for the sport is changing. Now it is time for us to provide these youngsters with fresh challenges,” the Spaniard observed.
“The focus now on should be to create players with a vision in mind. The road is long and winding, but we need to develop our youngsters and give them all the facilities to excel. Finally, we come to realise the bare truth that this is no longer about money, but rather about passion and commitment to a cause,” he added.
