Spanish soccer launched

Spanish Soccer Schools (SSS) was launched at Dubai Sports City (DSC) on Tuesday. It is another state-of-the-art facility at DSC and will go a long way in nurturing the young football talent in the region. At the heart of the SSS concept are three core values — unity, passion and skill.

The kids and coaches of Spanish Soccer School during the opening ceremony at Dubai Sports City on Tuesday. — KT photo by Leslie Pableo

Real Madrid and Spain legend Michel Salgado is the director at the project and Inaki Beni will the head coach. A number of qualified coaches from Spain have been hired to impart knowledge to the kids in the UAE.

Those attending the impressive launch of the SSS included Jose Eugenio Salarich, the ambassador of Spain in the UAE, and Nuño Bordallo Sainz, the business manager for the Spanish embassy.

The title sponsor for Spanish Soccer Schools is BKL — Beyond Known Limits — an apparel company that is also the official apparel sponsor for the Dubai Sports City Football Academy and the Rugby Park. While addressing the ceremony Dubai Sports City Partner Abdulrahman Falaknaz said: This is a proud day for Dubai Sports City.

Inaki Beni, Michel Salgado, Abdulrahman falaknaz and Maqbul Dudhia

“The announcement of the launch of the Spanish Soccer Schools led by Michel Salgado is the latest part of our vision in creating the world’s first integrated sports city. “Securing the services of Michel to lead this project has been a fantastic achievement for us as he is one of the greatest players of his generation and also part of one of the greatest teams of any generation — the Galacticos of Real Madrid.

“We can now offer the young footballers of this region the very best facilities and also the very best coaching.

Salgado said: “I am proud to launch our own brand — the Spanish Soccer School — and I am delighted to have assembled a world-class group of coaches to teach the style of football that has seen Spain’s national team win the Fifa World Cup and successive Uefa European championships”

“Our motto is ‘play well for football, play well for life’ and with registration for the new term now open, we look forward to living that motto with our first group of young players when we get underway next month.”

Fact file Dubai Sports City (DSC) is a 50-million square feet mixed use development World’s first integrated purpose-built sports city Five major sports venues Series of major sports academy facilities Already fully operational 25,000-seat capacity Dubai International Stadium 18-hole championship golf course — The Els Club International Cricket Council (ICC) head office ICC Global Cricket Academy Full-sized indoor Football Dome

The first term of the SSS starts on September 15 and registrations are now available. Details of how to register for the first term are available by calling +971 4 448 1555, emailing football@dxbsport.com or visiting the website — www.spanishsoccerschool.com. Sessions will be short, sharp and skills-based and in addition to teaching the children skills through training, there will also be plenty of opportunity for match action — internally, in leagues and in tournaments.

And there will also be the chance for children to travel overseas to broaden their football and life experience, in keeping with the DSC SSS all-encompassing approach summed up in the phrase: ‘Play well for football, play well for life.’

DSC General Manager — Sports Business Maqbul Dudhia added: “It is an exciting time to be at Dubai Sports City.

“We have got the best indoor facility in the region and one of the best in the world.

“We have already hosted international boxing, touch rugby and football here during our summer of sport and now we have the Spanish Soccer Schools.

“There is a busy winter at Dubai Sports City ahead.”

liaqat@khaleejtimes.com