Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City inspired by Special Olympics UAE visit

David Cooper - Writer 15:11 21/03/2018
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  • Kevin De Bruyne called the Special Olympics UAE football team ‘inspirational’ after they received the surprise of a lifetime last week when Manchester City’s star players joined them for an impromptu training session at Emirates Palace organised by Etihad Airways.
    The Manchester City squad was in Abu Dhabi for some warm weather training and took the opportunity to show their support for the UAE team ahead of Special Olympics IX MENA Games 2018, which started on Sunday.
    Special Olympics is a global sports competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities, with wider goals of promoting inclusion and understanding. IX MENA Games is the regional precursor to the World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, which will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world.
    Carefully orchestrated by Etihad Airways, the Special Olympics UAE football team arrived at Emirates Palace on Thursday afternoon to watch the Manchester City players train ahead of their own practice session.
    Meet and greet: Phil Foden with members of the Special Olympics team.

    Meet and greet: Phil Foden with members of the Special Olympics team.

    After seeing their heroes up close, the UAE athletes then took to the field and began to warm up. However, several of the professional stars reemerged onto the pitch to the surprise and delight of the athletes. After holding a motivational team talk and posing for a group picture, the two sets of players then trained together and played a friendly match.

    Ali Amr Al Marooqui, a member of the Special Olympics UAE team, said: “I want to thank everyone who prepared this amazing surprise for us. No one was expecting that this would happen and we would get to play alongside the Manchester City team. It was an unforgettable moment for every one of us and it will give us a big push as we prepare to compete at the MENA Games this week.”

    De Bruyne said: “Surprising the Special Olympic UAE team on the pitch and giving them some coaching was something the team loved doing. They are inspirational and we all wish them and the rest of the athletes taking part in the regional games in Abu Dhabi the very best of luck this week.”

    Mohammed al Goaas, a member of the Special Olympics UAE team, said the possibility of seeing the Manchester City team had been discussed.

    “When we arrived at Emirates Palace a teammate said that it would happen but no-one believed him. It was a really big surprise, and now we have to give our best at the MENA Games this week for everyone who has supported us and made things like this possible.”

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