Dubai: International School of Choueifat Dubai fought back from 2-0 down to beat Al Maarifa International Private School Sharjah 19-18 on penalties in the final of the du Football Champions (duFC) Under-16 UAE Schools Cup at Dubai Mall ice rink on Friday.
Other finals from the third season of this six-month nationwide programme saw Al Nujoom beat Professional 4-2 in the Under-16 Streets Cup, Go Pro Sports overturn the UAE national team 4-3 in the Girl’s Challenge, British School Al Khubairat edge Sultan Bin Zayed School 2-1 in the Under-14 Schools Cup, Abu Dhabi Thistle Red edge the Mavericks 1-0 in the Under-14 Streets Cup and French School beat Dubai National School Al Twar 2-0 in the Under-12 Schools Cup.
La Liga legends Carles Puyol and Roberto Carlos were in attendance and the best talents will be selected to join the du La Liga High Performance Centre (HPC), which will tour Spain over the summer, where players could get picked up by Spanish clubs.
“We have witnessed exceptional play in duFC’s third season,” said Fernando Sanz, who doubles up as tournament director and the head of La Liga in the region. “La Liga scouts have selected high level talents from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates, whose journey to professional football careers is about to begin thanks to the exceptional programme we have established with the du La Liga HPC.”
