City launch School of Football in Abu Dhabi

Manchester City yesterday launched its first ever international School of Football, which will feature professional coaches from the English Premier League club. Boys and girls in the UAE can now sign up for the 10-week course, which starts the week of January 15, at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. The 10-week coaching programme is priced at Dh1,750 and each of the ten sessions will last 90 minutes. Participants will also have access to weekly ‘Football Saturdays' to practice their skills in games and competitions. On top of that, each participant will receive a full MCFC replica kit. Everyone who joins the School of Football before Saturday will have the chance to win a trip to watch Manchester City live in action at the Etihad Stadium. They will meet star players before the match and even get some tips at the club's training ground. Manchester City coaches will be flown into Abu Dhabi to teach young players how to improve their skills in a fun and challenging way. "We held some sessions with local young players in preparation for the School of Football and I have been very impressed with not only the standard but also with the huge enthusiasm and love for the game," said School of Football coach Gavin Makel. Genuine instruction "We welcome players of all abilities and everyone will be able to improve their skills and have plenty of fun as they do. "A lot of coaching we will be doing is the same as that which we do at the club every day and so boys and girls here in the UAE will be getting genuine Premier League instruction." Former Manchester City player Patrick Vieira, who is now the Football Development Executive at the Club, helped Makel coach the youngsters. "At a young age it is so important to have the correct coaching and that is why we are very proud to launch the School of Football in the UAE and help develop players who clearly love the game," Vieira said. Emirati players Abdullah Al Khater and Sultan Al Suwaidi, who currently attend the Manchester City FC Academy, helped out at the coaching sessions put on in the lead-up to the School of Football launch.