Amid Terrific Jubilation Atmosphere.. Al Mazrouei Crowned Al Ain U-16 Football Team with the Trophy of the Junior League
Today 19th April 2019, H.E. Ahmed Humaid Al Mazrouei, Vice Chairman of Al Ain Football Company, officially crowned Al Ain U-16 Football Team with the trophy of the Junior League following the end of their clash match against Al Nasr U-16 Football Team. The matchweek 18 of the league organized by UAEFA for U-16 Teams was held at Saif Bin Mohammed Football Field located in the premises of Al Ain Club. Al Ain junior squad were able to defeat the guests by 3-1.
The coronation ceremony was attended by Khalifa Al Ghefeli, Board Member of the UAE Football Association and Sultan Rashid, Board Member of Al Ain Football Company and the General Supervisor of the Football Academy and the Sports Director.
Noteworthy, Al Ain Team played 18 games where they won 14 matches, lost four times and did not draw in any match since the kick-off of the season all the way through up to the finish line. The front line of the Boss scored “50” goals while conceded “19” goals.
Sultan Rashid congratulated the coaching team, administrative staff and stars of the U-16 Team for clinching the title of the league this season. “The actual championship and major challenges facing the academies of sports clubs are the preparation and creating professional football players and make them ready and eligible to join the first football team to move then forward to join the football national teams.”
He added: “Winning titles at the stage of junior teams is not the end but a means. As I stated earlier that the criteria for success Al Ain Football Academy are embodied by the future outputs, including gaining professional skills besides the investment in training players. Indeed, those who could not add any value to the team must be ready to play in another club. With this way of thinking, we must adopt an investment policy.”
He went on to say that Al Ain Club has one of the most significant and reputable football academies not only in the region, but also at the level of the continent. “The work in the academy is not limited to a specific period of time, but there is a clear mechanism adopted and fulfilled by all who took over or is assigned to manage the junior teams. Everyone here is committed to implement the strategic plans of the club and its institutional vision and values. Each council complements and build upon the previous achievements and add more through adopting the best international practices in the management of football academies at the global level.”
He underlined that such a constant commitment to the strategies and visions Al Ain Academy and above all its unique style of management attracted the attention of international specialists and observers. “Throughout its history, Al Ain Football Academy has been praised and commended by the experts, specialists and key figures of the sport movement in Europe and Asia.”
He also stated: “Finally, the AFC Officials praised the sincerest efforts paid by the officers of the academy and this definitely will make us boost our efforts and raise the bar to achieve more and keep pace with the highest indicators of development and success.”
He concluded his statement by saying that the outputs of Al Ain Football Academy since its establishment and following the decision taken by His Highness the President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi to approve the participation of the children of Emirati females, holders of UAE passports, UAE born persons and residents in various official competitions. “It is certain that the technical gains and investment revenues will be larger in the sports field.”
The Golden List
The golden list of Al Ain U-16 Football Team included: Abdullah Ali, Administrative Supervisor of the Al Ain Football Academy, Ali Khamis, Technical Director of the Academy, Dr. Tawfiq Suleiman, General Supervisor of the Club Clinic, Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez, Assistant Technical Supervisor, Khalid Bashir, Technical Support Officer and Mohamed Zaher, Executive Secretary of Al Ain Football Academy.
The coaching team included: Wilco Van Buren, Head Coach of Al Ain U-16 Football Team, Feisal Ali, Assistant Head Coach, Tarek Al Ka’abi, Team Manager, Colombia’s Walter, Fitness Coach, Miloud Bin Ibrahim, Goalkeepers Coach, Issa Khan, the physiotherapist, and Riyad Talishi, admin officer in charge of team’s equipment.
The Boss squad included 27 players, namely: Sultan Al Kiyoumi, Saif Al Mazem, Mohammed Al Hassani, Mohammed Al Kathiri, Hamed Najaf, Khalid Al Saadi, Khalifa Al Ka’abi, Zayed Al Shammari, Suhail Al Shamsi, Saif Al Kalbani, Shihab Al Oalaki, Abdul Aziz Al Farsi, Ali Al Jabri, Issa Khalfan Zayed, Issa Al Ka’abi, Ghanim Al Maamari, Fares Abu Namous, Mohammed Al Saad, Mohammed Al Esaei, Mohammed Waleed Salem, Nasser Al Riyami, Hadi Al Ahbabi, Yousuf Yaqoob, Khalid Al Hassani and Ahmad Al Badi.
