DSC honours Puyol and Anelka
dubai — Dubai Sports Council has honoured 2010 World Cup winner and Spanish football legend Carles Puyol, and former France ace Nicolas Anelka with the ‘Medal of First Line of Defence’ in appreciation of their support for the Council’s ‘Be Fit, Be Safe’ campaign.
Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, presented the commemorative medals to Puyol and Anelka at the Council headquarters, in the presence of Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council.
The medals pay homage to the selfless service of Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Health Authority, and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services in the fight to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in Dubai. Together, they were at the forefront of Dubai’s fight to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, alongside volunteers from different segments of the community.
Puyol, who won 18 major club titles in a decorated career with Barcelona, including six La Liga trophies and three Champions League, was delighted to receive the honour and said: “I had sent a video message earlier for these (Covid-19 frontline) heroes and I am really happy that the situation here is good and under control, and I hope this pandemic will finish in a few months.”
Thanking Dubai Sports Council for the Medal, Anelka, who won the 2000 European Championship with France and played for top clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid, said: “This medal means a lot. It means I am part of the family. I love Dubai and my family lives here, and all my friends as well, and I am happy to receive this.”
Speaking about his life in Dubai, Anelka added: “A lot of top sportsmen, who are big names, want to come to Dubai because of the lifestyle, because in this country everything is beautiful and nice, and you have sunshine all the time.