Lega Pro Italy win Hamdan Under-19 title

Lega Pro Italy struck once in each half to win the 2nd Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Under-19 Football Championships at the Humaid Al Tayer ground at Al Nasr Club on Monday.

The final against Dubai's Al Shabab was a repeat of the opening Group A match between the two teams, which the Italian side had won comfortably 3-1 last week.

Lega Pro Italy took the lead five minutes from half-time and consolidated their grip on the trophy midway through the second half with their second goal. Al Shabab tried their best to claw back into the match, but the Italian defence stood strong and tall.

Former England coach Fabio Capello was joined by Italy’s World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, Ghanaian skipper Abedi Pele and Dr. Ahmad Al Sharif, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council at the trophy presentation after the final.

In the play-off held earlier, RC Lens defeated Birmingham 3-2 to take third place. Paris Saint Germain had won the inaugural version of this championship when it was held in 2009.

This championship was held under the directives of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in an attempt to give junior players from Dubai clubs the exposure of playing against different schools of football.

All six clubs from Dubai participated in this championship. Lega Pro Italy grouped alongside Al Shabab, Al Nasr, Dubai Club and Kuwait’s Al Jahraa FC in Group A, while Group B comprised of RC Lens of France, Birmingham FC from the UK and local clubs Al Wasl, Al Ahli and Hatta Club.