A girls' team from Brighton College Abu Dhabi has won the World School Games Football Cup 2024 in the under-15s category. During the two-day tournament, which took place from October 11-13, the winning team played against schools from Spain, Tanzania, Portugal, Tunisia, Egypt and Uzbekistan, and were declared the overall winners.
In total, 33 schools representing 18 different countries participated in the tournament in Barcelona. Eva Hill, the team's 14-year-old captain, said they had to play nine games in two days and beat a team from Tanzania 5-3 in the final game.
"We were so excited for the cup, and we weren't fully expecting to win, but it was just a great opportunity and an unforgettable experience," Ms Hill, who is from the UK, told The National. "It was just a fantastic experience and I'm very proud of my team.
"We worked very hard together, and we had early-morning training and practised in matches against other UAE schools. I would wake up at 5.45am to be at school at 6.30am for football practice."
Competing on the global stage
Ms Hill said meeting and competing against teams from across the world was exciting.
“Before every game, the coach would give us an absolutely amazing pep talk, and then I would have the chance to speak as captain to give some final details to help the team and encourage them," she said. “We have very close bonds within the team and the support from the other teams from Brighton College Abu Dhabi also helped us."
Molly Forsythe, goalkeeper for the team and a pupil at the school, said: "It was a great experience playing against schools from different countries, and our hard work paid off. Lifting the trophy was unforgettable and it was an honour to represent Brighton College and the UAE."
A winning mentality
Teachers at the school put the success down to the group's dedication, skill and hard work. “I'm very proud, very elated and happy for the team," said Ruth Forsythe, vice-principal at Brighton College Abu Dhabi. "It truly reflects their dedication and skill, their determination, their sportsmanship.
"They worked really hard as a team. In their group there were eight teams and they got through to the final undefeated in the competition. They won every game and brought the cup home."
She said many of the pupils had been playing sport together for the last five to six years and had grown together. She also paid tribute to the team's coach, Emma Sims, and said pupils at the school typically arrived at 6.30am for training, and that there were around 50-60 pupils who attended sessions for multiple sports.
Richard Austin, director of sport at the school, said the opportunity to travel to Barcelona and compete at a global level offered the pupils "a different sort of level of competition, rather than just competing within the Middle East and against the schools in Abu Dhabi".
"They were superb throughout the weekend and they were undefeated in the tournament," he said.
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TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
