Two Al Jazira fans are celebrating after winning Dh25,000 each during the last match at the Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium.
They were both successful with half-time attempts to score into an empty net from the halfway line during the club’s 4-0 win over Baniyas on Friday night.
The Barclays ‘Kick for Cash’ prize, which had been rolled over from Dh25,000 to Dh50,000 after none of the five attempts during the Al Wahda game were on target, has been causing a stir amongst Al Jazira fans eager to put their skills to the test on the big stage.
School teacher Ian Pugh, who teaches Year Five at Abu Dhabi’s Al Muna Primary School was determined to show the 9,700-strong home crowd at the Baniyas game how it could be done.
Al Jazira launched their new school campaign at Al Muna and will donate the money to Ian’s school.
“I’d been practising for a couple weeks back at the school so I was as confident as you could be in front of nearly 10,000 people with that much money at stake,” he said.
“I was caught in two minds as to whether I was going to side-foot it, or just run up and punt it. In the end I went for the side foot.
“I’d been telling all the children at school how easy it would be for me to score the goal and win the money. The pressure was on as the entire school was at the stadium enjoying the game. It’s fair to say I’m a relieved man now.”
Ian said the competition, along with the club’s free season ticket giveaway, has been a great way to get the local public interested in the club.
“I would regularly go and watch football back in the UK before I moved to Abu Dhabi, and I’ve wanted to watch it here too but didn’t know when games were or other details,” he added.
“Now the club is involved with the school and it’s been really good fun this season. The atmosphere at the stadium is great and I’ll go and watch at every opportunity.”
The Dh25,000 prize will be donated to the school’s council who will allow the children at the school to decide what the money is spent on.
Meanwhile, it was a perfect early birthday present for 18-year-old Kussai Bashar, a Syrian student who works part time in Abu Dhabi and turns 19 on October 10.
“I don’t know what I will do with the money yet,” he said.
“I haven’t thought about it much and I’m just looking forward to seeing it in my bank account.”
Five contestants will continue to get the chance to kick for Dh25,000 at Al Jazira home games this season.