UAE coach offers affordable football classes for kids at Dh16.5
Abdullah Ali, the founder of Hattrick Football Academy, has been a coach, a talent seeker, and an administrator for local clubs for more than 11 years.
With football being his passion at the age of 48, coach Abdul Ali who gives football lessons to Emirati children charges only Dh 16.5 per class. Abdullah Ali, the founder of Hattrick Football Academy, explains why he focused on making the classes cheap to reach out to the many parents.
The Emirati has studied for more than eleven years in many local clubs as a coach, scout or administrator. He was also proactive when it came to the request to teach children, first offering classes at public and private centers and spaces before getting into setting up his own academy.
Hattrick Academy has grown to 5 branches in Nad Al Shiba, Oud Muteena, Al Warqa’a 3, Al Barsha 3 and Al Barsha South which are in the age group of 6-14 years. The objective of the academy is to provide artificial turf training to all, especially families who do not have the means to drive their kids to far off training centers.
The offer of Hattrick Academy to the UAE nationals is made at a highly subsidized price of Dh265. The package covers 16 sessions in a month and also comes with trained uniforms.
Hattrick has been increasing its age groups every year. “We started with age groups 7-10, then we increased it to 5-14, and we are also looking into offering basketball training for girls,” suggests Abdullah.
A family atmosphere
The academy encourages parents to make friends during the training and during competitions. “A lot of parents have formed deep friendships during the training and the tournaments,” explains Abdullah. “The spectators are now interacting with each other over the stands and engaging in conversations instead of watching the matches silently.”
How coaches are perceived and what is their role in the development of players is one of the cornerstones of Hattrick Academy’s systems. Coaches are chosen not only on basis of technical competence but also their ability to relate to the children. “They support young children when playing by encouraging them and disciplining them,” Abdullah elaborates this approach should be the norm for the motive of building better athletes.
He also focuses on the health and fitness of his trainees. “Obesity in children has surged in an internet games era where they sit all day long which is a health hazard.” He assists them in adopting a healthy routine and at the same time getting them off from the television. “They must foster values for instance prayer time in which the kids have to have their stated goal even in the time of play or being in sports with little negativity."
Nonetheless, some challenges are encountered by the coach from the Emirates. Trusting parents is, on the other hand, another issue that is most difficult, “they want more coordination from us than just training the kids.”
Even though he has training equipment, finding the right places for training is still a huge challenge for him.
"To train children whilst also projecting an able loving role model is not an easy task and take[s] some getting used to the routine." He appreciates that some changes in the area of play, fitness and self-confidence have been much to the improvement of players. Nevertheless, he adds, he has seen good results in their fitness, form and self-confidence. In case there is such a thing as achieving [one's] dream – it also includes turning a hobby into a project.
The first step in achieving success is not simple because it is difficult and takes time.” Abdulla notes that the Chapter 13 Bush Al-Furjan Fund of the UAE has been decisive in reducing venue issues related to his passion project.
Parents' testimony
In his free time, Abdullah spends weekends with his five children while managing to work and train during the weekdays. After completing his working hours at a government entity in which he is employed, he goes for training, which mostly ends at around 9 pm. His balanced but devoted disposition commands respect from the children and parents.
Now, speaking of the Academy, Um Essa, a parent, states “My son is with Coach Abdullah for the last two years. My son cannot attend the clubs as they are too far from him.”
She stated that her priorities changed as well; she started showing consideration towards other people as well as learned to respect the prayer time. Online classes have also proved to be useful as parents made friends and felt supported in the community.
Um Majid, another parent remembers: “I took my son to a well-known gym, but he disliked the strict coach. I liked Coach Abdullah’s style during one of the sessions, and now, I am totally comfortable. At Hattrick Academy, we are a family; the coach is nice to the kids and the kids adore and respect him back.” “We parents treat him like a brother,” Um Majid continues, his voice filled with emotion. “He has made a difference in our lives, and I will always be thankful to him for this.”
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