Football: du UAE FA Academy League launched

Dubai - The du UAE FAAL will be played across 5 age categories

The UAE Football Association announced on Tuesday the launch of the du UAE FA Academy League (du UAE FAAL), a landmark youth football league that is set to change the face of youth football in UAE. It will enable UAE Football Club academies for the first time to play competitive matches against top private football academies across the nation.
The announcement was made at a press conference on Tuesday at the UAE FA, attended by Mohammed Hazzam Al Dhaheri, General Secretary UAE FA, Dr. Khalid M. Abdullah, Managing Director, Football Association Academy, Mr Ahmad Aburahima, Senior Vice President Government Relations du, and Hussein Murad, CEO, Inspiratus as well as officials from the UAE Football Association, Sports Councils and Educational Authorities and other invited guests.
du UAE FAAL will kick off in January 2017 and will be open to top private academies and all UAE Football Club academies to compete in a nationwide championship. This will help create a highly competitive platform through which top youth football players will be driven to raise their performance. Talented players will also have the opportunity to be discovered by scouts from national and international clubs who will be attending matches.
Speaking at the press conference, Al Dhaheri said, "Today at the UAE FA, we strive to support the development of youth football players who live in the UAE from all nationalities. du UAE FAAL brings our vision to life and enables us to establish divisions and create a clear pathway of development for private academies."
"We are confident du UAE FAAL will change the face of youth football and create a platform for scouting talents from among UAE nationals and, for the first time, resident youth football players from across the country."
The du UAE FAAL will be played across 5 age categories: U-18, U-16, U-14, U-12 and U-10 and will kick off its first season with the U16 category, in January 2017 with matches scheduled to be played across the UAE.
Commenting on du UAE FAAL, Dr. Khalid M. Abdullah said, "The launch of this groundbreaking initiative comes at a time of growing focus on youth sports development, particularly football. Enabling our youth to pursue their football aspirations through platforms such as du UAE FAAL will ensure that the top footballers both national and non-national are giving the opportunity to be discovered. We look forward to kick off in January."
Mr Ahmad Aburahima Senior Vice President Government Relations du, partners of du UAE FAAL said, "With the success of the du Football Champions and launch of the du LaLiga High Performance Centre, the natural progression in our commitment to youth football across the UAE was to seek out a platform through which top talents not only from our initiatives, but those from across the UAE would have the opportunity to play competitive matches at world class standards. FAAL completes the cycle in youth football development across the UAE creating a clear pathway of progress of top youth footballers in the nation."
"It is an honor to be here today at the launch the du UAE FA Academy League - which will offer the highest level of competition across the nation and provide the ideal ground for all talented youth, both nationals and residents, to step up their game and chase their dreams for football careers." commented Hussein Murad, CEO Inspiratus Sports Experience and organizers of du UAE FAAL.