Dubai Sports City and global sports brand PUMA have teamed up in an agreement that will see Spanish Soccer Schools (SSS) students wearing bespoke PUMA football kits for the new term.
Juniors at the SSS will now be wearing the same brand as two of Europe’s leading club sides, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, as well as Premier League stars Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli, Cesc Fabregas, Mikel Arteta and Santiago Cazorla.
The agreement marks the second year of operation for SSS.
Overseen by former Real Madrid and Spain legend Michel Salgado, Dubai Sports City’s Director of Football, SSS coached more than 700 children to play the Spanish way in 2013/14 with one of its pupils signed up by French Ligue 1 club Nantes.
Such has been the success of SSS that in 2014/15 it has expanded to include coaching sessions at Repton School in Dubai and is also launching a nationwide junior league for teams from across the UAE.
Commenting on the partnership, Dubai Sports City Football Academy Manager Inaki Beni said: “To be on board with PUMA, a global brand of the very highest class, is exceptionally exciting for us and we believe it speaks volumes for what we are doing at Spanish Soccer Schools.
“We have what are surely the best facilities in the region with grass and artificial pitches indoors and outdoors and we have outstanding coaching to take advantage of those facilities.
“And now we have world-class clothing for the children to wear too. It is the perfect combination.”
Abdelhamid Oraibi, PUMA's Head of Marketing for Middle East and East Africa, said: “PUMA is one of the world’s leading Sports Brands – and for over 65 years, has established a history of making fast product designs for the fastest athletes on the planet.
“We are proud to have teamed up with Dubai Sports City and the Spanish Soccer Schools as the official kit provider, with a unique exclusively-designed shirt. Globally, PUMA works with international football stars, including Spanish players such as Cesc Fabregas, Mikel Arteta and Santiago Cazorla, so we are now looking forward to seeing the star players of the future beginning their football careers in PUMA with Spanish Soccer Schools.”
