Al Ahli venture into jiu-jitsu with launch of new club

Kenny Laurie 12:30 17/02/2014
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  • New venture: Ahli CEO Ahmad Khalifa (r) announces the launch alongside Joseph Al Batran.

    Al Ahli Club has announced the launch of their new jiu-jitsu programme with the aim of creating a talent pool for the UAE national team.

    The club opens today for children and adults of all ages who will be taught by a professional coach who has moved from Brazil to Dubai to help train the next generation.

    While jiu-jitsu is popular across the country and in various high profile sports clubs, the majority of these clubs are based in Abu Dhabi, with Al Wasl the only club in Dubai that offers jiu-jitsu lessons.

    Al Ahli now join other high profile football clubs such as Al Ain, Al Wahda, Bani Yas, Al Dhafra, Emirates Club and Al Jazira in offering jiu-jitsu coaching.

    Announced at the Rashid Stadium on Sunday by club CEO Ahmad Khalifa in the presence of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation representative Joseph Al Batran, Al Ahli are hoping to immediately compete for championship honours at the regional and local levels.

    “The game is of great interest among young people in the UAE,” said Khalifa. “Thanks to the unlimited support of the country’s leadership, jiu-jitsu is a popular game with the youth here and the activities at the club will be in collaboration with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.

    “We look forward in the future to seeing Al Ahli teams competing in tournaments both inside the country and outside, winning medals and seeing players climb the podium and represent the UAE on the international stage.

    “We will be developing a plan and strategy to get the most out of the men and women that come to the club, and like other sports within Al Ahli, we will be well supported.”

    The UAE currently has a substantial 32,000 registered people practicing jiu-jitsu across the country, according to Al Batran, and with the sport likely soon to become part of the Olympic agenda, the federation has an eye on making a difference on the biggest stage of all.

    “We want to have players ready for when it becomes an Olympic sport,” Al Batran told Sport360°. “There is an international competition in April where we will be able to have a good look at the talent.

    “They will be able to come to Al Ahli and hopefully the idea will spread across Dubai.

    “We want to have players who are talented then nurture that talent so we have players serving the national team.

    “The federation will give players to the clubs who will take care of them and help them.

    “We have the talent, we just need the club to look after them so we can have a strong nat-ional team,” added Al Batran.

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