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The second edition of the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ football league kicks off this week, once gain drawing in more than 300 students from across the UAE for a chance to play in the highly coveted tournament.
The pan-Emirates school league, which was initiated by axiom and launched by the Ahdaaf Sports Club earlier this year, is the first of its kind in the UAE, giving lovers of the sport and avid players an opportunity to be spotted by some of the most revered football clubs in the country.
“‘Stars of Tomorrow’ has proven to be a popular tournament among passionate football fans, enabling students to not only participate in a structured competition, but also adopt a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Faisal Al Bannai, CEO, axiom.
“With the annual running of this initiative, we hope to play a valuable role in promoting and identifying home-grown talent, and possibly the UAE’s next generation of professional football players.”
Student players across the UAE all shared the same sentiment – ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ effectively addressed the need for an official cross-country student tournament.
“For me, football is not just about competition – it’s about having a good time. ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ gave me a channel to do what I enjoy most while improving my skills on the field. I believe this league will help many young and aspiring Emiratis to achieve their dreams of being a pro one day,” said Abdulraheem Khoory, who played for Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahda National School in the last ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ tournament.
Similar to the last edition, the competition will be held in three phases, with 36 schools across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah (12 from each emirate) competing for the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Cup.
Sharjah school matches will take place every Monday at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Abu Dhabi school matches will take place every Tuesday at the Armed Forces Officers Club, and Dubai matches will take place every Wednesday at the Ahdaaf Sports Club.
From the 36 competing teams, 16 will qualify – five from each emirate and one runner-up – for the knockout ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ tournament in January 2016.
Once again, 30 UAE national and expatriate players will then be selected to form two elite intercultural teams that will compete for the ‘All Stars Cup’ in a landmark match in Dubai in March 2016.
"The success of the first ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ tournament demonstrates students’ thirst for a professional league that helps them develop their talent and gives them a platform to showcase their abilities,” said Anas Bukhash, Managing Partner at the Ahdaaf Sports Club.
“Year two of the tournament will build on that success, allowing each and every player’s passion for the sport to reverberate through the UAE football community.”
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