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Salgado attends DSC’s tourney

More than 400 children took part in Dubai Sports City’s (DSC) first youth football tournament at the Academies Campus last weekend.

There were 40 teams of youngsters, ranging from under-eights all the way up to under-16s, and they battled it out from breakfast time through to early evening when the final matches were played under floodlights.

Former Real Madrid star Michel Salgado (right) with the Dubai Sports City’s Under 12 squad. — Supplied photo

The matches took place under the watchful eyes of former Real Madrid and Spain legend Michel Salgado and he, along with Spanish coaches Pablo Coira and Inaki Beni, were able to offer encouragement to the children and also present the prizes to the successful teams and individuals.

The event, the first of its kind at the Academies Campus, was such a success that it will now become a regular part of the DSC calendar and Salgado said he was impressed by what he saw.

“The fact the children were able to take advantage of playing at such a great facility as the Dubai Sports City Academies Campus gave them a huge buzz – I saw that first-hand,” he said.

“In the past month the same pitches have been used by Russian top flight side Anzhi Makhachkala and Swansea City, the English Premier League side that won the League Cup at Wembley.

“The level of enthusiasm among all the children was infectious and if that enthusiasm is channeled in the right way then I think the future of young footballing talent in the UAE is looking very promising.”

The event showcased the DSC Academies Campus facilities that include full-sized grass and artificial outdoor pitches as well as five-a-side pitches.