Players practice with a ball at an indoor arena.

The ‘Stay Home, Stay Active with du Football Champions’ reflects du’s commitment to serve the community, and specifically students, encouraging them to stay healthy and active while at home. It is also aligned with the Ministry of Education’s distance learning objectives.

Designed to keep tens of thousands of students engaged and active during their time at home, until the end of the academic year, the du Football Champions’ new online program has been designed as school sports sessions, which are delivered digitally. Sessions are developed and run by expert LaLiga coaches, who provide the students with fitness and football technical and skills tutorials as well as challenges they can do at home.

The training sessions will be posted on both the social media channels of du Football Champions as well as those of the Ministry of Education. The program, which targets both public and private schools from across all ages and cycles and limit the spread of COVID-19 through sports, which keeps the students fit and active, while enriching their social learning experience.

‘Stay Home, Stay Active with du Football Champions’ will also prepare students for the du Football Champions semi-finals and finals, which are planned to take place once the students are back at school.

Speaking about the program Aisha Al Siri, Director of Health and Physical Fitness at the Ministry of Education said: “The Ministry of Education is keen to keep students active and engaged and maximize their time at home through innovative and exciting educational and sports initiatives led by our partners that positively channel students’ physical and mental energy. These initiatives are highly important and help in keeping the students healthy and active in alignment with the directives to limit the spread of COVID-19 while enriching their social learning experience.”

Siri added: “Our partnership with du Football Champions is an exemplary one, through which the Ministry of Education seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of school students across the UAE, and their passion for sports activities.

Utilizing our partners’ knowledge, expertise and modern technology will enable students to participate in the championship and take part in competitive sports challenges digitally.

This will provide our students with a new type of sports experience that will have a positive impact on their health and lives.”

Commenting on the new initiative, Mr Hussein Murad, CEO of Inspiratus Consulting Limited, the company that operates the du Football Champions tournament, said: “We are so proud to partner with the Ministry of Education on this important initiative that supports the community and encourage our young players to stay active and healthy, while building their immunity.

“It is through these strong and effective partnerships between the public and private sector that we can positively impact our young players’ lives and make a difference during these challenging times that our community is facing.”

du Football Champions, in partnership with LaLiga, is a nationwide initiative featuring the UAE’s official Schools Cup and Streets Cups targeting all school children aged 10-18 across public and private schools. Conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Dubai Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Sharjah Sports Council, du Football Champions aims to achieve sustainable human development through the discovery of talents, who will raise the bar on sports excellence at local and national levels as they aim to become the next generation of professional male and female footballers.