The award-winning du Football Champions, the only international scouting platform in partnership with La Liga, announced today the expansion of its scouting platform to Boys U14 with the kick off of its second season, following the successful creation of the du La Liga High Performance Centre at its home at the Sevens, which is already producing international football stars.
The announcement was made at a press conference held in Dubai kicking off the second season of duFC, home of the nation’s official Schools Cup and Streets Cup, attended by Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Commercial Officer at du Fernando Sanz, La Liga General Director in MENA & Head of International Sports Projects, Michel Salgado, Director of du Football Champions and La Liga Global Ambassador, the UAE Cups’ Main Sponsor and Hussein Murad, CEO, Inspiratus as well as Mohammed bin Hazzam, Secretary General, UAE Football Association, Dr. Khalid Al Hashimi, Managing Director, UAE FA Academy, Sports Councils and Educational Authorities, top scouted talents enrolled at the du La Liga HPC team and other invited guests.
Speaking on the day, Al Hassawi said: ”In its first season, duFC platform delivered on its promise for a scouting platform and we are proud to announce the success of our du La Liga High Performance Centre, which is already producing football stars of international calibre. With the start of the second season of duFC, we are very pleased to announce that our scouting platform at du La Liga HPC will now be expanded to Boys U14 and we will be extending opportunities for them to be scouted by global as well as region and local clubs.”
5,000 youth from across the UAE have already registered in duFC’s new season with Abu Dhabi registration still open and Dubai to kick off next week, for their own chance for an international football career after seeing players from last season, such as Ahmed Al Yamani, selected for a trial with Malaga CF. Al Yamani is currently enrolled at the du La Liga High Performance Centre (HPC), where he, along with a select group of duFC top talents are undergoing a year-long gruelling training schedule by a hand- picked team of UEFA-certified La Liga coaches who have been brought to the UAE to ensure the delivery of the highest standard of training at European standards.
Commenting on the partnership and unique international scouting platform, Fernando Sanz, La Liga General Director in MENA & Head of International Projects, said, “We were extremely impressed with the caliber of talents in season one of the duFC platform. We established the du La Liga High Performance Centre with our partners to ensure that these talents receive the best training in the UAE in preparation for scouting and football careers with top clubs in La Liga.”
“I am confident that we will see a La Liga stars emerging from the UAE in the not too distant future, based on the level of play and skill I have been witnessing throughout the Championship in the last season,” said Michel Salgado, duFC Championship Director. “I am looking forward to a great season and will be on the lookout for the best new talents in season 2 and encourage everyone to participate.”
In what promises to be the nation’s most exciting youth football championship, duFC’s second season kicks off with the Northern Emirates round in November, which will be played over 4 weeks through to December 10th, 2016 with Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Western Province kicking off on January 14th and Dubai kicking off on February 11th 2017.
For the full schedule and more information, visit www.dufc.ae
