Budding young footballers can now learn to play the Manchester City way at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium as City Football Schools expand their coaching programme across the UAE.
The state-of-the-art Hazza, home of the Boss, one of the UAE’s most successful clubs, is the latest venue where children aged between three and 16, can develop their game.
Held every Monday and Wednesday, the sessions are built upon the philosophy and training programme of the Manchester City Academy back in England, offering both boys and girls the chance to improve their football skills, make new friends and have lots of fun, all under the guidance of fully qualified coaches.
Since launching, City Football School has gone from strength to strength in teaching the UAE’s stars of tomorrow and is now one of the top academies in the country.
Manchester City attacker Leroy Sane, who arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer, has been thoroughly impressed with the coaching methods from grassroots at the club.
“Developing young players in the right way on and off the pitch is very important – and that is what Manchester City coaching is about,” said the 21-year-old.
“The coaching is the same all the way through the club and at coaching sessions in places such as Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.”
Various sessions are held on both days with the first for kids aged three and four, taking place between 16:00 and 16:45. For those aged five and six, their class is from 17:00 to 18:00, while children aged seven-10 is from 17:00 to 18:15.
Boys in blue: Youngsters in Al Ain now have the chance to be trained by fully qualified City coaches.
The final session is held for 11-16 yearolds between 18:45 and 20:00. It will see them train on the very same pitch that is used by the professional players including UAE megastar and Boss star and reigning AFC Player of the Year Omar Abdulrahman.
Mohamed Al Qadi, operations director at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, is thrilled Al Ain’s budding footballers will have a chance to train at the venue.
“There is a strong passion for football in Al Ain especially amongst the youth and we are happy to host the Manchester City professional coaches at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium,” he said.
“It provides an opportunity for the boys and girls in Al Ain to have fun and learn new football skills in the right way.”
Sessions cost Dh50 and people can register on the day or by emailing cfs.abudhabi@cityfootball.com
WHAT: City Football Schools in Al Ain
WHERE: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
WHEN: Mondays and Wednesdays, various times from 16:00
CONTACT: email cfs.abudhabi@cityfootball.com