Running for the third consecutive year, Pepsi Sport Fiesta is now an established part of the Dubai sports calendar, and increasingly a port of call for coaches scouting for the best local talent.
At last year’s fiesta, Al Ahli Sports Club and Darjeeling Cricket Club identified emerging stars like Ahmed Khalil, 16, Abdullah Essa, 16, Waleed Mahmoud, 17, and Sultan Essa, 12, who have gone on to play at the highest level in the UAE.
Mohamed Afifey, Junior Football Coach at the Al Ahli Sports Club, said: “Pepsi Sport Fiesta is a good place to find young talent in the UAE - and in the past we have been able to spot some exceptional players who now represent major UAE football teams.”
Among these stars of the future is Waleed Mahmoud who made it into the UAE National Football League last season. Inspired by his hero, Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Brazil, Waleed Mahmoud first attracted interest when he was just nine years old.
He played in all Al Ahli Club’s games last season and was even the best playmaker and midfielder, a feat that will have grabbed the attention of top football scouts outside the UAE.
Afifey said: “Waleed is a strong tackler and a tireless worker on the pitch, and he has the ability to break from midfield and score important goals. He has a bright future and taking part in Pepsi Sport Fiesta helped develop his skills and bring him to wider attention.”
He said: “Sports competitions are meant to be fun and a social activity for youngsters, but they can also be a stepping stone to greater things.”
Waleed Mahmoud has continued in the same rich vein of form this season in the UAE National Football League, and his club Al Ahli have high hopes of retaining the league title they won in 2005-2006.
Dubai Refreshment Company, pioneers of the Pepsi Sports Fiesta, aim to improve opportunities at the grassroots level for young sports fans and the investment in the tournament over the last three years has paid off, according to May El-Labban, Key Accounts Manager for Sales and Marketing, DRC.
“Pepsi Sport Fiesta is one of the biggest competitions organised by a private sector company in the UAE, and the fact that it has been running very successfully even in it’s forth season shows that we’re in it for the long term.”
El-Labban added: “It’s a competition that can help the youngsters with talent reach a higher level of performance, and it’s a great social activity for people of all ages who enjoy sport simply for the thrill of taking part.”
Football ace Waleed Mahmoud is already looking beyond the UAE to the major football clubs in Europe. He said: “I am grateful to Al Ahli Club for giving me this opportunity and making my dream come true. Like many other players, I hope that one day I’ll play for Real Madrid.”
With competitions for visitors on the basketball court, Dubai Refreshments Company (DRC) offers opportunities for all to win prizes that include MP3 players, mountain bikes, DVDs and gift vouchers from Wild Wadi throughout Pepsi Sport Fiesta. More information can be found at the official website www.pepsisportfiesta.com.
For close to half a century, Dubai Refreshment Company, the sole franchisee and distributor of PepsiCo products in Dubai and Northern Emirates, has supported the initiatives of the Government of Dubai, which have helped firmly establish the emirate as one of the most exciting destinations in the world. The Pepsi Sport Fiesta is sponsored by Wild Wadi and ETRI.
