Jebel Ali boys making big splash at Umbro

Some of Dubai's football-crazy youngsters are getting a glimpse at the glamour of the beautiful game.

Using the same accommodation that housed the world's top athletes for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and playing on some of the best surfaces in the United Kingdom, the experience still has not proved too intimidating for the Jebel Ali International Centre of Excellence club competing at this week's Umbro International Cup in Manchester.

The competition is the largest international football tournament held in Britain and pits 400 teams from all over the world against each other. Countries represented include France, Chile, Ghana and the USA, but it is the sole entrant from the UAE that are making waves.

The Jebel Ali International Centre of Excellence has taken two sides to compete – at U-11 and U-12 level – and have outplayed some of the tournament's top clubs in the opening rounds.

Chris Brown, Academy Manager, has been delighted with how his charges have equipped themselves.

"They've adapted to it really well," says the proud coach. "You go to something like this and there are so many people here that a lot of kids are in awe of it all, but they seem to be just taking it in their stride and are doing really well."

The majority of the Dubai-based club have been together for the past four years, with additional players coming into the set-up to help reach the standard they are at now. They have been working hard on the training pitch in preparation for last Wednesday's big kick-off.

And Brown insists that taking part in this year's Umbro Cup is something his players needed.

"It's really important for their footballing experience," he explains.

"Playing in competitions like this gave me my best memories from youth football and, when you've got the bigger crowds coming to watch the semi-finals and the finals at the weekend, it's vital for their development as young players."

The expected increase in spectators for tomorrow's final could include those keen to run their eye over players from the Centre of Excellence. Scouts from the England's top clubs will descend upon the Manchester University Sports Grounds this weekend, eager to find the next generation of stars.

"I've been speaking to a few Blackburn [Rovers] scouts who've taken my email address," adds Brown. "They've watched some of our games and said they'll come back for a few more.

"We've a few lads who could do really well and already have some that, through us, have gone back to clubs during the past couple of summers.

"They've done well at the likes of Crewe, Nottingham Forest and Notts County so there's quite a few who could hold their own at top clubs."

The Jebel Ali Academy Manager wants to use competitions like this as a stepping-stone to compete in the bigger youth tournaments, such as the coveted Milk Cup in Northern Ireland that attracts professional teams from all over the world.

"It would be nice to take a select side from Dubai to a competition that's made up of a lot of professional clubs. That's when you've got the elite players from the different clubs playing and can really test yourself.

"I've tried to organise it in the past but it's difficult because you need to co-operate with all the other academies in Dubai. People obviously think from a financial point of view and that they need to survive, which is poor considering our players need to compete in these types of events to really develop."

The Centre of Excellence is working towards preparing teams for major competition. From September, they will start training an advanced U-12 and U-14 group that will invite the best players in the emirate or decide through a trial. Each player will then be assessed individually during the 12-week programme, where they will be given a detailed training regime to develop different technical attributes and strengths in a bid to maximise potential.

"They'll also train twice a week and will play against a local football club every other week," says Brown. "So hopefully we'll take things on that bit further.

"If we're training the U-12s and U-14s now, hopefully in two years we will be strong enough to take a side to the Milk Cup for their U-14s and U-16s. But we'll need to be very strong to compete at that standard."

Judging by this week's performance at the Umbro Cup, the Dubai-based club could upset a few European heavyweights in 2010.

Budding footballers who wish to take part in the programme can contact Chris at chris.brown@jaihotels.com.