Al Sharawi clinch Dubai Schools football title

Dubai: Al Sharawi School secured a 6-5 sudden death win against Al Thuraya Private School in the inaugural 2011 Dubai Schools Football League that concluded at the Al Shabab Club yesterday.

Majid Hassan struck the opener in the first minute to give the lead to Al Thuraya, but Al Sharawi dug deep and got a well-deserved equaliser when Butti Najeeb headed in a cross late in the second session.

With the shootout locked at 5-5, Rashid Abdul Rahman saved the sixth kick to hand the title to Al Sharawi.

Best move

Held in front of an appreciative gathering of spectators from both schools with sponsorship from the Landmark Group, the match saw its best moment from the first move when skipper Khalifa Al Abdooli sent a defence-splitting pass throught to Majid Hassan who placed it past the onrushing Al Sharawi goalkeeper.

Al Sharawi had their chances as the match progressed — the best in the eighth and 32nd minutes — but were thwarted by the alert UAE national team goalkeeper Ahmad Shanbea on the Al Thuraya goal.

However, they did manage to make it 1-1 towards the end of the second half with Butti Najeeb's header sending the match to penalties.

Glittering trophy

Ahmad Abdul Rahman, project manager of the Princess Haya Initiative for the Development of Health, Physical Education and School Sports, presented the glittering trophy. "The league will be even bigger and better next year," he said.

"We will be meeting with representatives of different schools in Dubai and trying to see the viability of having a league involving 64 teams that may be divided into two divisions as per playing standard."

The inaugural edition of the Dubai Schools League had attracted 32 teams in the boys section and 16 teams in the girls competition that was won by Gems Wellington School, Dubai.