Ali Khaseif

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Al Jazira Club is inspiring over 10,000 youngsters throughout Abu Dhabi to maintain an active life during online schooling, launching an interactive series of fitness and educational programmes that encourage kids to maintain an active lifestyle and take up sports, while also promoting sustainable practices and conducting experiments that reveal the science behind fitness.

Approved by the Ministry of Education and the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the 22-episode series from the club’s Jazrawi Juniors programme is being rolled out into 16 participating schools throughout the capital city.

The club aims through this first phase of the project to encourage youngsters aged between 6-13 years old to take part in a number of fitness and academic challenges.

Schools and individuals will compete against each other to win a whole host of prizes, as they record points upon successfully completing the online challenges, registering their participation online via the club website.

Pupils have already started the challenges with Al Jazira FC goalkeeper and club captain Ali Khaseif, hosting an online session to teach youngsters on dealing with high pressure moments and how to do ‘goalie squats.’ Commenting on the launch of the schools programme, Khaseif said: “As professional athletes in Abu Dhabi, we have a duty to be role models to our communities.

"It is difficult to get into schools and communities during the current pandemic so to be able to launch the online programme is great news.

"Children taking part will love this because its great fun at the same time as keeping fit and learning. I hope everybody taking part really enjoys it and good luck to everybody competing for those prizes!”

Each week the seven-minute episodes will feature stars from across Al Jazira’s different sporting teams such as football, basketball, handball, judo and jiu-jitsu, giving youngsters a taste of the variety of sports on offer at the Pride of Abu Dhabi.

Speaking of the initiative, Al Jazira’s Group CEO, Mr Ali Youssif Al Hammadi said: “Al Jazira are part of the fabric of Abu Dhabi and it is important that we remain close to our communities and fans during difficult times.

"Historically we have been able to inspire young people in Abu Dhabi through a number of events and workshops, so we wanted to keep that momentum going. Now we are the first club in the UAE to launch an online learning initiative, which will inspire and educate our young people in Abu Dhabi and its great to work with so many schools in our city.”