Abu Dhabi: In a boost to development of grassroot level football, six players from the City Football Schools’ Talented Player Programme (TPP) have been selected to be part of the Abu Dhabi’s Al Jazira Football Club.
This week saw TPP Under-16 players — Elias, Feli, and Tafara swap the sky-blue of CFS for the black and white of Al Jazira, giving them the opportunity to develop in the environment of a leading UAE professional club, and play regular fixtures against other professional sides — with the ultimate goal of eventually reaching first-team football.
The three players join Itqan, Zein, Kais (Elias’s brother) at The Pride of Abu Dhabi.
The programme offers both boys and girls a platform to develop their talent through a combination of advanced City coaching techniques, an intense schedule of competitive matches both locally and internationally, and opportunities to train at City Football Group clubs around the world.
Incredible level
Feli from Abu Dhabi, who spent four years in the programme, said: “TPP helped me become the best version of myself, helped me adapt to challenges, and offered me an incredible level of coaching. It is a really proud moment for me to go from TPP into the Al Jazira Academy.”
Elias from Dubai said: “I feel like TPP has prepared me both mentally and physically. They have improved me in every way. It means a lot to sign for Al Jazira as it is a professional club and I hope to achieve great things here and continue my footballing career.”
Simon Hewitt, Head of Football Operations for City Football Schools, Middle East said: “To see our players sign with professional clubs really shows us that our City Football Schools pathway, including the Talented Player Programme is working. It is helping children develop on and off the pitch and helping them to progress into elite environments such as the one here at Al Jazira.
“Over the last decade, and especially in the last five years since the launch of TPP, we have seen players progressing into elite environments at City Football Group, and other clubs globally, as well as locally. It is amazing to see players coming through this pathway and we can’t wait to see the next generation follow in their footsteps and showcase the talent that exists in players across the UAE.
“We can’t emphasise enough how much these opportunities are driven by our partners e&. We thank them for their continued support and look forward to working together in the years to come to help more players fulfil their potential and ambition.”
