Wellington International School usurped Al Shoruq Private School at the top of the Emirates Islamic National School League thanks to some Barcelona-inspired brilliance.
Wellington went joint top of the Under-16 Dubai Pool 2 standings with the help of a goal and an assist from man-of-the-match Ayman Hoque in a 2-0 triumph over the previous league leaders.
Hoque opened the scoring with a superb free-kick and the 15-year-old, who spent two years with Barcelona’s Dubai-based academy, hopes his experience there can help fire his team to NSL glory.
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“I used to play for Barcelona’s youth academy from age 11-14. I developed there,” said Hoque.
“I got spotted playing for the school team and it was amazing being there, incredible. Hopefully that experience can help the team win the tournament.
“We’re top of the league and our aim all along has been to qualify for the knockout stages and show how good we are. We think we can go on and win it.”
Head coach Rob Weaver may have been on holiday in Spain for his side’s most important game of the season, but will be delighted to learn of their progress when he returns.
“Our coach is in Spain right now, we had one of the dads taking charge today, so that will be a nice surprise for him to come back to hear that we’re top of the league,” added Hoque.
Muinde Makau, meanwhile, is eying progression to the quarter-finals after his man-of-the-match display in a 4-1 victory against GEMS Our Own Indian School gave St Mary’s Catholic High School Dubai a fighting chance of reaching the latter stages.
Makau’s two strikes plus an assist, coupled with league leaders LFI Georges Pompidou’s 5-1 rout of second-placed The Millennium School, leaves St Mary’s two points behind TMS with one game remaining.
The only problem is that St Mary’s final game is against the unbeaten LFI, although Makau is unfazed.
“It’s an important win that keeps alive our dreams of going to the knockout stages,” said the 15-year-old.
“We have LFI next week. They’re top and haven’t lost so it will be very tough, but we need to beat them. We’re not daunted by it.
“We’re going into it knowing we have a really good team and if everyone plays to their best, there’s no-one that can beat us, that’s at least how I feel.
“I don’t have any doubts about us doing it, we have to go into the game with supreme confidence.”
Adhil Afsal believes the NSL U-14 title is The Millennium School Dubai’s to lose after his man-of-the-match display put his side on the cusp of qualifying for the knockout rounds.
The 13-year-old scored one and laid on two assists as TMS brushed aside GEMS Our Own Indian School 4-0 to stay second, two points off top spot.
“It was a good game, a tough match but we managed to beat them. Our players did really well. We’re still unbeaten so it’s full steam ahead now to the knockout rounds,” said Afsal.
“The guys were awesome and our team spirit is great, confidence is high and we have to win this tournament. We’re confident in our own ability. It’s ours to lose.”
Al Shoruq Private School recorded two wins on the day, including a thrilling 5-3 triumph against GEMS Modern Academy, to go to within a point of TMS.
Wins for both in their final group games in two weeks’ time could see them topple current Dubai Pool 2 leaders New Academy School and qualify for the quarter-finals as New Academy have completed their fixtures.
Zahedi Fardin ensured the race to finish inside the top two in
Dubai Pool 1 of the U-14 section will go down to the wire, the little magician pulling two goals out of the hat in a 4-0 win for third-placed Salman Farsi School against GEMS New Millennium School Al Khail.
