Abu Dhabi Grammar School Under- 11s football team were honoured for winning their first title during a Sports Banquet ceremony.

The 12-man squad ended their five-year wait for glory earlier this year after triumphing in the Abu Dhabi International School Sports Association (ADISSA) competition.

Mohamed Al Mohana was the star for the champions as his brace was enough to beat British School of Al Khubairat 2-1 in the final.

The team joined their peers, with the Under-12 and Under-14 rugby and football teams also honoured, while the girls’ Under-12 and Under- 14 football and touch rugby sides also received accolades. Under-11 football coach Sorin Petcu was delighted that his team’s feat was recognised.

“I am very happy and proud to have been coach of this team because these young boys have improved so much,” said Petcu. “In the last academic year, we were losing almost every game, so the boys take a lot of credit for this.”

There was more reason to celebrate for Petcu, who was named Coach of the Year.

“I could not be happier because this is the second year in a row that I’ve won,” he said. “The boys get full credit for the achievement as one of the main goals when I came to this job was to win trophies and this would not have been made possible without the boys, who’ve put in so much effort over the year.”