First La Liga Academy launched in UAE

Fernando Sanz, La Liga general director Mena; Hussein Murad, CEO of Inspiratus; at a Press conference. (Photo by Neeraj Murali)

The next generation of UAE footballers will be heading the Spanish way with La Liga, one of the most popular leagues in the world, announcing the launch of the world's first ever La Liga Academy in the country.
The La Liga Academy will roll in September this year for boys and girls in different age groups and across three venues in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi, with the hope of expanding it over the coming years.
"We are very happy to launch the world's first La Liga Academy right here in the UAE," Fernando Sanz, General Director of La Liga in the MENA Region and Head of International Sports Projects, said at the launch of the Academy, here in Dubai on Tuesday morning.
"It will help shape today's talent into tomorrow's football stars. We will instill in them all the values that has made the La Liga, the strongest League in the world. We are very proud to take this opportunity to support the nation in developing a new generation of footballers in the UAE and also groom them to play with La Liga teams in the future," added Sanz, formerly a centre back with Real Madrid and Malaga.
The La Liga Academy will have a team of Uefa pro-certified La Liga coaches and will undergo highest standards of training. Players enrolled in La Liga Academy will also have the unique opportunity to be scouted to play professional football nationally and internationally or land full football scholarships at leading universities in the US and Europe, where they can continue their higher education while carrying on their football development.
LaLiga Academy will be open to all boys and girls across the UAE from the ages of 5-16 with training to be conducted throughout the year.
"Obviously, the La Liga Academy reflects the Liga's commitment to bring the high standards of training to develop youth across this region," said Hussein Murad, CEO of Inspiratus, the local support agency for La Liga's projects in the UAE.
"Every coach at the La Liga Academy will be coming from Spain and they will have the highest certification from the Uefa. Also, every single coach will be a professional scout to be able to recognise the talent and skills in each of the Liga Academy players so that they can take them to Liga camps throughout the summer in Spain and also give the opportunity to be scouted by La Liga clubs," he added.
Murad also said that there are plans to bring football stars from the La Liga, to inspire the trainees. "Obviously, we will like to bring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to promote the Academy but it is not going to be easy to bring them. But we have plans to bring somebody of the same calibre and we have been discussing with our partners with the La Liga to bring stars like we did with Carles Puyol and Roberto Carlos to inspire the kids," said Murad.
To register for the Academy and for more information visit: www.ae.laligacademy.com

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