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Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and one of Italy's top Serie A clubs, Inter Milan will come together to establish a football academy to be housed at the Hydra City in the capital.
Mohammad Al Mahmoud, Secretary General of ADSC and Inter's Managing Director and CEO Dr. Ernesto Paolillo inked a three-year deal which makes the academy, fully funded by Hydra Properties, the first one of its kind in the region and the second after the one supported by Inter in Japan.
"Inter will help with professional coaching of youngsters in the emirate of Abu Dhabi between 9 and 14 year-olds. It will involve and exchange or expertise and experience by Inter who will put up special three-month programmes," Mahmoud said.
Skills
"Youngsters from the youth academies of the Abu Dhabi clubs and other training schools will form the bulk of the academy while some of the best coaches from these clubs will also be sent to Inter to better their coaching skills," the ADSC official said.
"Two players from the Abu Dhabi clubs will also be selected to spend time at the Inter Milan club to hone their skills," Mahmoud said.
The Inter chief said the partnership will augur well for the future of football in the UAE. "At Inter we give a lot of importance to youth and we have about 10 different age level teams. I feel the UAE has the talent and I am confident that there will be players from here playing in Europe," Paolillo said.
Superstars
"This is not a short term partnership but a long-term one and it is possible to find talent in the UAE. With this co-operation we can improve that talent," he said. Dr. Sulaiman Al Fahim, Hydra's CEO said, "I am confident that this academy will be a landmark to the UAE's many prestigious projects and will add great value to the nation's sports portfolio."
The academy will be part of the Hydra City near the Abu Dhabi Airport and Dr. Al Fahim said the finer details of the project were being worked out. "Hydra will build the academy and it will be part of the many other sports facilities we are having at the Hydra city. I am confident that the academy will flourish to produce many football superstars from the UAE," the Hydra CEO said.
Lara Sawaya, Managing Director of Tasweeq, announced a quiz competition on Inter which will give two persons the opportunity to witness a match involving the defending champions. "Football fans have to answer three questions - when Inter won their first Serie A title, which Inter player has appeared for the most number of times in Serie A and who is the legendary Inter player in European Cup history - and drop the forms at the Hydra kiosk at the Marina Mall before May 9 and the winner will get an all-paid trip for two to Inter vs Siena match on May 11," said Sawaya.
Two players from the Abu Dhabi clubs will also be selected to spend time at the Inter Milan club to hone their skills..."
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