England striker Peter Crouch has come to Abu Dhabi to teach UAE kids some fancy footwork.
The star – who also plays for FA Cup winners Portsmouth FC – has teamed up with Footie Abu Dhabi to inspire the next generation of footballing stars.
The scheme kicks off in Abu Dhabi’s National Exhibition Centre this December (10-12) and Crouch says the UAE provides the perfect platform.
He said: ‘Young people today love playing football, even if you haven’t got a place to play it.
‘Most people in England are now hibernating and kids are at home on their Playstations. Playing football out here, you can be outside all day, so it’s a great place to play.
Organiser of the scheme Gerard Leubel is just as optimistic. He’s hoping by targeting young talent and nurturing them from grassroots to first team glory, he’ll help to change the face of football in the UAE,
Leubel also revealed that he has just flown in from Paris fresh from talks with living football legend, Eric Cantona in the hopeof bringing the enigmatic Frenchman to the Capital to get involved.
If all goes to plan Cantona could be joined by more ex-pros, including former FIFA World Player of the Year George Weah, World Cup winners Leonardo, Marcel Desailly, Lillian Thuram and Fabian Barthez; and not to mention an appearance by the Brazilian indoor futsal team.
The scheme is the latest football-related event to come to the region, following the World Club Cup and the Inter Milan football academy.
Footie Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, December 10-12, 2009.
*A GCC-wide children’s football tournament (from ages 8-16), kicks off this April, with the final being played in Abu Dhabi.
