Top talents from Abu Dhabi Schools Champions scouted by Abu Dhabi clubs

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi Schools Champions competitions, which saw teams from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra schools faced off against other, witnessed strong competition over the first two weeks of phase 2. 

Abu Dhabi Schools Champions is being organized by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, based on its vision to support school sports based on its fundamental role in elevating the level of sports in the nation.

Talents demonstrated a high level of skill and performance, leading several of them to be selected by Abu Dhabi club scouts to join their development teams. The talents are Meshal Abdullah, Osama Hassan, Theyab Talib, Ahmed Sanad, Omar Muhammad Khaled, Muhammad Abdul Latif Al-Faris, Ibrahim Samer Al-Smadi, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, Anshad Rayan and Thomas T.

Commenting on the selection of talents, Talal Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: "Fulfilling the goal we set out two seasons ago when we launched Abu Dhabi Schools Champions, the tournament has become a destination of choice for club scouts, providing them with a pipeline of talented players at the right age to join their clubs’ development teams.”

Hashemi added: “The wide participation of students from various schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, since the start of the current academic year, reflects the importance of Abu Dhabi Schools Champions and its role in raising awareness among male and female students participating in the tournament about the importance of sports.”

Over the last two weeks, there was strong competition among Abu Dhabi Football Cycle 3 schools teams at the top of their groups, with Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed leading Group A, Al Nahda School leading Group B, Al Ekhlas School leading Group C, while Al Manara School leads Group D.

As for the basketball Cycle 3 competitions, Abu Dhabi International School leads its group, while Al Horizon Private School leads its group in the female competitions.

Over in Al Ain football Cycle 3 boys competitions, Dar Al Uloom School leads Group A, Emirates Private School leads Group B, Al Khalil School leads Group C, Pakistani Islamic Private School leads Group D, while Shakhbout Bin Sultan School leads Group E.

As for Al Ain basketball Cycle 3 boys competitions, Our Own English high School is in the lead, while in the female competitions, Baraem Al Ain Private School is in the lead.

Last week, Al Dhafra schools joined the second phase of the Abu Dhabi Schools Champions, with 503 students participating in football, basketball, handball and athletics competitions at Baynounah Educational Complex. Joining the Abu Dhabi and Al Ain schools, Al Dhafra schools’ participation contributed significantly to the second phase of the tournament known as ‘The Meeting of Champions.’

Third week competitions will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Baniyas Sports and Cultural Club and Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and At Al Ain Football School Pitches and Al Ain Club for People of Determination.

The first phase of Abu Dhabi Schools Champions witnessed an outpour of  student participation with 14,337 students from 105 schools. In the second phase, to date, the number of participating schools stands at 159, following with the addition of private schools to participating government schools.