Sheikh Khalifa hails Al Ain victory in President's Cup

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said that the UAE will always be one of the leading countries in developing the sector of youth and sports.

Sheikh Khalifa believed it to be a quest to improve various sporting disciplines to help youngsters grow up in a healthy atmosphere in keeping with the teachings of Islam and the directions of the President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Khalifa made this announcement while receiving the footballers and officials of the Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club following their victory in both the President's Cup and the GCC
Clubs Championship earlier this year.

Sheikh Khalifa, the Honourary President of the club, praised the performance of the players and asked them to do their best in the next season while helping in improving the standards of the game in the UAE.

Sheikh Khalifa said that sporting achievements, whether local or international, should serve to motivate the youth towards more victories in future.

Sheikh Khalifa expressed confidence in the new FA board of directors wishing them and the national team the best in the second round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers. He also asked the FA to give more priority to youngsters in the hope that they will represent the hope of the UAE sports.

Sheikh Khalifa praised the sportsmanship that prevailed in the final of the President's Cup and said that both teams deserved to be congratulated for their exciting peformance while participating in the festival which was held under the theme 'For the Love of Zayed'.

The reception was attended by Lt. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces and President of the club, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the club, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Civil Aviation Department, and other senior officials and members of the Al Ain's Honourary Council, technical staff of the team and members of the Executive Board of the club.

Mohammed Obaid Hamdoon captain of Al Ain, dedicated the President's Cup to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa as a gesture of appreciation to his continuous support to all the clubs in the country and the Al Ain Club in particular.

He promised His Highness, on behalf of the players, that they would give their best in the new 2001-02 season.

Sheikh Mohammed said that they were honoured by the reception and that Sheikh Khalifa's advice would be the framework for their plans in the near future.