The young Emirati footballers drawn from Abu Dhabi clubs have returned rich in experience from their tour to Japan.
The Abu Dhabi Club’s U16 concluded the tour program with three friendlies against the Urawa Reds academy U16, U18 and the high school sides while participating a series of training programs and workshops during their stay.
The event on its fourth successive year is a cooperation agreement between the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and the Japan International Cooperation (JIC) and J-League.
The program is part of the sports council’s endeavours to improve the age group players from Abu Dhabi clubs by providing them advanced professional experiences and enhancing the exchange of experiences with football schools and academies, including Urawa Reds Club Academy, in Japan. It also included a visit to the Japanese Football Museum.
Houria Al Taheri, head of the delegation, coach and the representative of the ADSC, applauded the exchange program as beneficial to the young players in many ways.
“The workshops, training, work ethics, friendly games as well as the cultural exchanges between the youth of the two countries were all to gain from,” Al Taheri said.
“It wasn’t only the technical aspects but the discipline and commitment of an athlete on and off the pitch. I wish the players share the benefits with their colleagues in Abu Dhabi.”
The touring delegation: Officials Houria Al Taheri, Faisal Al Hammadi and Afra Al Muhairi, and the players Salim Mohammed, Hazza Sbeit, Hamad Fahad (Al Jazira), Sultan Zayed, Saif Mohammed, Adel Abdullah (Baniyas), Saeed Ahmed, Ali Mohammed, Mubarak. Salem, Khalid Nasser - Abdullah Khalid (Al Wahda), Khalid Saleh, Mohammed Jassim, Khalid Al Hassani (Al Ain), Saud Khalid, Ali Al Hammadi (Al Dhafra).
