Four teams seal UAE Schools & Streets Cup glory

We now know the identity of the UAE Schools & Streets Cup winners after the final stages of the tournament were held on Saturday. Over 1,000 spectators descended upon the converted ice rink at Dubai Mall to watch the four finals. Both tournaments are part of the LaLiga and Du Football Champions project, an initiative - headed up by the Liga BBVA ambassador, Michel Salgado - which aims to promote the professional careers of budding footballers from the United Arab Emirates. This jointly run event is the first youth tournament in the region to offer the local footballing talent the opportunity to develop their potential and take their first steps as footballers both nationally and internationally.

The tournament started out with 1,000 teams back on 7 November and has seen 12,000 boys and girls take part in what has been a well received competition.

The four finals were attended by Fernando Sanz, LaLiga’s Middle East office manager and director of international projects and LaLiga’s first global ambassador, as well as LaLiga ambassadors, Roberto Carlos and Michel Salgado. The Philadelphia Private School were crowned the winners of the Under-14s UAE Schools Cup, whilst the Under-16s title was claimed by The International School of Choueifat, who overcame the Lycée Français Internationale George Pompidou in the final. In the girls' competition, Al Yasmina School lifted the Under-17s trophy, whilst the Streets Cup tournament went to El Classico, after they saw off Top Gunners.

For these four teams, winning the competition is a dream come true and in recognition of their achievements they'll receive a host of prizes, one of which is an all-expenses-paid training and development trip to Spain, where they will be given the opportunity to train and play for the youth sides of clubs including Malaga CF, Sevilla FC, Cordoba CF and Cadiz CF.