Dubai Sports City (DSC) has officially launched the kick off of Manchester United Soccer Schools (MUSS) within the DSC project by announcing a four month pilot programme in Dubai to be held at the Al Wasl Sports Club.
From December 14 2005 to April 10 2006, MUSS and DSC will provide the opportunity for young, aspiring soccer players within the UAE to attend courses with coaches from one of the largest and most famous football clubs in the world. Operating from facilities provided by the Al Wasl Sports Club, boys and girls aged 7 – 16 years old will be coached by MUSS coaches and local assistant coaches.
The MUSS coaching programme is specially adapted from the coaching programme at Manchester United’s Youth Academy and it is anticipated that over 500 youngsters in the Emirates will benefit from this coaching over the four month period.
Speaking at the launch at Al Wasl Sports Club, Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Partner in Dubai Sports City, said: “We are very excited about our partnership with Manchester United Soccer Schools. Within the Dubai Sports City project we are proud to be working with some of the world’s greatest sporting brands, and as far as the football world is concerned, there is none bigger than Manchester United.
“We are particularly honoured to welcome Sir Alex Ferguson, Manager of Manchester United Football Club, to Dubai. His presence here today not only reflects the true commitment of MUSS to the Dubai Sports City project but also demonstrates the full-time ongoing commitment of the Club to youth development and training, something which is integral within the ethos of Dubai Sports City.”
Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, said: “At Manchester United we place great emphasis on developing young players. It has been part of the tradition of this club since the days of Sir Matt Busby and is something we remain very much focused on today, whether bringing players through the Academy or coaching young players at our soccer schools. Some of today’s top football players like Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Kieran Richardson are products of the Youth system.
“We believe that through our soccer schools we can take our football philosophy around the world. We are tremendously excited about the opportunity to launch the MUSS concept in the Arab world where football and Manchester United enjoy a huge following. Dubai Sports City is one of the most exciting and ambitious sporting projects in the world today and we hope to have a long and successful association with it - I would like nothing more than Manchester United Soccer Schools to help develop the Arab football champions of tomorrow.”
The Al Wasl Sports Club will be equipped with a full set of MUSS coaching equipment. As well as receiving expert coaching, children will have their progress monitored regularly by specially adapted skills tests. All players will receive a full MUSS/Nike training kit, a MUSS goody bag and regular newsletters. At the end of the course, each participant will receive a certificate and a personalized coaching assessment. The programme is directed at improving fundamental football skills with much emphasis on enjoyment, personal achievement and personal development.
Application forms for the MUSS programme are available from the MUSS booking hotline, 04 329 3313, or on-line by visiting www.muss.ae
The Manchester United Soccer Schools facility will formally open full-time in the first phase of the Dubai Sports City project, end 2007.
Trip to Old Trafford
One lucky player from the MUSS programme in Dubai will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest players in the world and play on the famous Old Trafford pitch, home of Manchester United.
Players will take part in a number of unique skills tests. Designed using the clubs coaches and players, these tests are specifically tailored so all participants, regardless of age, can compete on level terms. There are five skills tests, each one designated to a first team player;
• Dribbling – Ryan Giggs
• Lofted Pass – Rio Ferdinand
• Shooting – Ruud van Nistelrooy
• Ball Control – Paul Scholes
• Short Passing – Roy Keane
Every player completing the 16 week programme in Dubai will compete to represent the UAE against players form USA, Asia and Europe in the 2006 World Skills Final to be held at Manchester United training facilities with the opportunity to grace the famous turf at Old Trafford. 2nd prize will be the chance to train at the MUSS residential camp in the North West of the UK with players from over 25 different countries.
The courses will be 16 weeks in duration (one session per week) with each participant playing in a group of 16 players of the same age.
Notes to Editors:
About Manchester United Soccer Schools
Manchester United Soccer Schools is run by Manchester United Merchandising, which is a subsidiary of Nike under the 13-year commercial alliance between the Club and Nike. MUSS offers coaching courses for footballers of all ages and ability, from eight years old through to adults. MUSS coaching and skills development programmes are consistent with the philosophy used by the famous Manchester United Youth Academy. More than 40 UEFA-qualified coaches run the courses in the UK and overseas.
About Dubai Sports City
Dubai Sports City (DSC) is a 50 million square ft mixed use metropolis housing the world’s first integrated purpose-built sports city. Along with residential and commercial properties including a unique luxury golf residential community called Victory Heights, Dubai Sports City will host a Manchester United Soccer School, an Ernie Els signature golf course The Dunes, a David Lloyd Tennis Academy, a Butch Harmon School of Golf, the first ever dedicated International Cricket Council (ICC) global cricket academy, international schools and world-class medical facilities.
DSC will also boast four magnificent stadia – a 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena for all hard court games, ice hockey, concert and events, a 25,000 capacity dedicated cricket stadium, a 60,000 capacity multi-purpose outdoor stadium for rugby/soccer and track and field and a field hockey for 10,000 spectators. Interconnecting the stadia will be a one million sq ft retail mall with a leasing capacity of approximately 600,000 sq ft, including a dedicated sports shopping area.
The first phase of the DSC project, which will include the stadia, the golf course, sports academies and other facilities, as well as the Victory Heights residential community, will be completed by the end of 2007.
