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Football-fever has hit Abu Dhabi with the start of the first-ever Middle East edition of the Chelsea Football Club Soccer Schools.
Hosted by Etihad Airways, the official airline of English premier league side Chelsea, the Soccer Schools are taking place during the next
four days at the capital city's Zayed Sports City stadium.
Four hundred boys and girls, aged between seven and 14, will learn top football skills and moves in specialist clinics led by members of
Chelsea's youth academy coaching staff and former players, Graeme Le Saux and Roberto Di
Matteo.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways' executive vice president marketing and product,
said, "To bring Chelsea to Abu Dhabi is a great
achievement for Etihad Airways because it's one of the biggest names in world football with a first class coaching team."
Graeme Le Saux, who played 230 games in the English premiership, the most popular football league in the world,
said, "It is fantastic to be
in Abu Dhabi for the launch of the Etihad Airways Chelsea Soccer Schools.
"There is a huge appetite for football in the UAE and across the Middle East and during the next four days I am sure we will see some of the
region's top young talent on show, some of whom could even play for Chelsea one day."
Another highlight of the Soccer Schools will be the appearance of one of the world's leading female footballers, Lorrie Fair, will attend the
event on Friday (22 February) and Saturday (23 February).
Lorrie, the former United States international and youngest member of the 1999 US World Cup winning team, recently joined Chelsea's
ladies team and this will be her first overseas engagement for the club.
Etihad is being supported by Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Hilton for the visit of the Chelsea Soccer Schools.
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