Choueifat crowned dufc U-16 Champions
DUBAI: du Football Champions, the only international scouting platform in partnership with Laliga and home of the official UAE Schools & Streets Cups, witnessed its largest Finals to date at the Dubai Mall Ice Rink drawing over 10,000 fans and spectators over the course of the day.
The last match of the day proved to be the highlight of the tournament. Al Maarifa International Private School Sharjah (AMIPSS) faced off against returning champions from Season1, The International School of Choueifat Dubai (ISCD), in a heated match. Al Maarifa took the early lead in the first 8 minutes of the match with a goal that seemed to shake Choueifat. Choueifat responded with counterattacks and a beefed-up defense but Al Maarifa found the back of the net again a few mins before the end of the first half.
Coming into the second-half 2-0 up it seemed that Al Maarifa had taken the gold, but Choueifat kept the pressure on and put away a screaming shot into the back of the net 10 minutes into the secondhalf to a resounding uproar from the brimming Choueifat crowd. With just two and a half seconds left on the clock Choueifat scored the equalizer taking the game to a dreaded penalty shootout lasting 18 rounds until the Choueifat goalkeeper saved a blast from Al Maarifa’s lead striker handing his team the title of 2018 UAE Schools Cup Champions. Final score after penalty shootout was 19 - 18 to the International School of Choueifat Dubai.
The Finals were attended by Fahd Hassawi, deputy CEO du, Fernando Sanz, Mena Director General Laliga and dufc Director, Laliga legends Carles Puyol and Roberto Carlos and high levels officials from Dubai and Abu Dhabi Sports Councils and Ministry of Education.
du Football Champions drew thousands of fans to the Dubai Mall Ice Rink as the top youth football teams across the nation met for the final time for the chance to be crowned the best team of the nation. Laliga coaches were on the lookout for exceptional talents who will be selected to join the du Laliga High Performance Centre.