Dubai: Summers are meant to be fun and active, especially for youngsters. All over the world, schools and universities typically have a break to take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days, and in almost all countries children are out of school during this time of year.
People take advantage of the warmer temperatures by spending more time outdoors. Activities such as travelling to the beach and picnics are regular occurrences. And sports such as basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, skateboarding, cricket and golf are also natural companions to the warmer months.
Summer has played such an important part in the existence of human society that the modern Olympic Games have been held in the peak season every four years since 1896.
There are other aspects that influence our lives. Summer is usually a low point in television viewing, and television schedules generally reflect this by not scheduling new episodes of their most popular shows between the end of May and the beginning of the television season in September. However, there is an exception to this, with the emphasis shifting to children’s shows that are normally released during the summer months.
In the UAE and surrounding region, we face an even bigger challenge due to the harsh weather conditions during summer. So how do we make our way around this and still continue pursuing a healthy lifestyle that contains exercise and physical activity?
There have been examples of exemplary UAE-based sportspersons who have achieved on the biggest stage in their sport. One of them was Dubai swimmer Sara Isakovic, who won a silver medal for Slovenia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the 200 metres freestyle.
Star swimmer
Another swimmer to look up to is Velimir Stjepanovic of Serbia, who trains with Dubai’s Hamilton Aquatics. The 21-year-old from Belgrade will be one to watch at next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics after finishing sixth in the men’s 200 metres butterfly final at London 2012. In the preliminary round three years ago, Stjepanovic broke the Serbian national record as he qualified for the semi-finals with the third best time overall.
With such role models to follow, youngsters can see how putting themselves through some harsh realities can ensure they fulfil their dreams of making it big in their chosen sport.
Many youngsters here dream of making it as footballers — and there is no reason why they should put their development on hold during the long. hot summers when there are opportunities like the Kafo Academy, which is run by former Tottenham, Sevilla and Mali striker Frederic Kanoute.
“Chasing a dream can be done anywhere in the world and the UAE is no exception,” says Russ Wilson, head coach at the Kafo Academy. “Kids are the same anywhere. All of them dream big. I think the UAE has the infrastructure to match the best in the world. This can only help them emulate their heroes, provided they remain dedicated in their approach. We have abundant talent here and it won’t be long before we find kids from this part of the world making appearances in the top European leagues.”
Gwen Sproule of Tennis 360, which operates the tennis training programme at Dubai Sports World — the summer-long sporting extravaganza at Dubai World Trade Centre — says anyone can benefit from learning and playing a sport at this time of year.
Much to achieve
“Everyone achieves something very different. For the beginners, it is a minimal commitment to experiment with their love for tennis, while for visiting families on vacation, it is a fabulous option for their young children to acquire tennis skills instead of trotting about with their parents in malls,” Sproule said.
“Parents welcome the chance to place their children in a sporting environment and they have seen the positive impact.
“Our three-hour-long camps have been successful for those who have participated and proven that much can be gained from intensive learning including improved concentration.”
Filipino Ricky Longares gave up his career as a teacher to establish Skywalker Basketball Clinic UAE, where he trains children aged from four to 16 years.
Even though his academy is not even a year old, Longares has helped nurture a brilliant student in the form of UAE-born and bred 15-year-old Zachary Salazar, who has earned an admission into one of Manila’s most prestigious universities solely due to his basketball skills.
“My main aim is to get these kids away from the computer screen,” Longares says. “Hardly any attention is being given to health these days.
“These kids are learning basketball skills, but what is even more important is that they learn values and discipline to be great athletes in the future.”
The summer months may be the greatest impediment to following sport in a country where much investment has been made in encouraging healthy lifestyles. But that should never be a deterrent. “Kids are the same anywhere in the world. It’s just a question of opportunities and the hard work each one is willing to invest in pursuing a career in sports,” KAFO’s Wilson insists.
“We’ve got some tremendous talent here and these children need to be taken care of. I have no doubt that we can have some of them playing in the top clubs in Europe in the next few years. Football is a universal sport and kids here want to dream big and emulate their heroes. All they need to do is stay dedicated to their sport.”
Sproule agrees, saying: “Parents welcome the chance to place their children in a sporting environment and they have seen the positive impact. Without exception, the daily campers, regardless of age, have gone home with muscle fatigue and hearty appetites. They get a sound night’s sleep and return the next day.
“Our camps have been successful for those who have participated and proven that much can be gained.”
