Major boost to Al Jazira Club Football Academy

The Brokerage House Securities have signed a one-year deal worth half-a-million dirhams as the sponsor of the Al Jazira Club Football Academy.

This was disclosed yesterday at a press conference at the club's premises attended by Murshid Thani Al Rumaithy, Chairman of the club's Marketing Committee, Nasir Butti Bin Omair, CEO of the Brokerage House Securities, Dr Abdullah Al Hossani, Director of the Academy, Saif Al Za'abi, Vice-Chairman of the Academy board of directors, and Donald Murray, Director of the club.

Al Rumaithy conveyed the greetings of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and President of the club's Honorary Council, and his brother Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and President of the club, and thanked the sponsors for their support to the youngsters.

Bin Omair said that their sponsorship was aimed at supporting the sport at the grassroots level as they were the future of the game not only in Al Jazira but also for the UAE.

"We ask all private sector companies to take similar steps and support the sports and youth of our country," Bin Omair told the conference.

"We are not looking for any publicity gains from this deal. Our aim is to help in providing all facilities to the youngsters. We have signed a one-year contract and are looking forward to a longer partnership with the club."

Dr Al Hossani said that the Academy started in September this year and had enrolled 102 players from ages 11 to 18. "We provide them with schooling and sports facilities. The early signs indicate great success," he clarified.

"We are presently working at the temporary academy building adjacent to the club. The permanent building will be in Al Shawamikh city, for which the construction will commence within a month."

Elaborating on the club's Health and Sports Foundation, Murray said: "Shaikh Mansour and Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Education, signed a memorandum earlier this year to start the Al Jazira Health and Sports programme.

"We intend that the Al Jazira Health and Sports Foundation will be the No 1 organisation responsible for promoting, spreading, improving and implementing health and sports education.

"Total has become our partner in this programme which will start from the schools. We are also thankful to Joma Sports for providing all kits for our teams and academies.

"We are planning to transform the club to be an elite sports institute," Murray concluded.