Al Ahli, Al Jazira, Al Wahda, Al Ain, E-Sports.
One of those names may seem out of place among the institutions of Emirati football, but so impressive has been the rise of the E-Sports academy, established in 2004, that several of their age-group teams have become the first non-Emirati clubs to be invited to play in the UAE Youth Pro League, the country’s top youth division.
Under the guidance of former Aberdeen player Terry Kidd, the various E-Sports teams are not there making up the numbers, either. His Under 12 and U10 teams both finished in the top four of their respective leagues to make last week’s play-off semi-finals.
“We unfortunately lost to Al Jazira in the U12s, who basically cruised the league for as long as I can remember,” Kidd said. “We lost 5-4, and the U10s lost 2-1 to a last-minute penalty against Al Jazira also.”
Saturday, in a play-off for third place, the U12s lost 3-1 to Al Shaab. The U10s went down by the same scoreline to Al Wasl.
“Showing the ability and confidence to compete at this level is a very positive experience for our players,” Kidd said.
“I am a very proud coach and director of football tonight as both EFA squads can compete at the same age level again next season. This year has been a huge success which will act as a building block for next season’s leagues.”
Participating against the country’s best young talent provides vindication of the training programmes that Kidd and his team have implemented.
“We have up to 2,000 footballers across the E-Sports programme,” he said. “We have a huge school community programme, which obviously is generating that interest and getting the kids engaged and participating in the game as early as possible.”
As a former professional, Kidd knows what it takes to make it in football, and he is on the lookout for gifted youngsters with a potential career in the game.
“We have an academy programme for the more serious, aspiring footballer that wants to take their game to the highest level possible,” he said. “And then we channel that off into the Development Elite programme which is on an invitation basis where we identify talent of the more advanced players.”
Those with a higher technical level are placed into development squads where they are exposed to international tours, as well as the local competitions.
Kidd called the invitation by the Youth Pro League for his U12s “a privilege”.
“That level of football is above and beyond what we could provide the players locally at academy level,” he said. “Just to integrate with professional clubs and lean on their expertise and experience, their depth and strength at club level, is a benefit for us.”
This season, E-Sports is being represented at three age groups; U12, U10 and U8s. But even for players as young as six and seven, who play in the E-Sports Junior Football League, there is an opportunity to progress through the ranks.
“There’s a pathway for every player regardless of ability,” Kidd said “Certainly for your more talented players, the pathway is there to absolutely exhaust every avenue available
“We’ve recently seen one of our players from last season sign a contract with (English Premier League club) West Ham United, which is a huge testament to the programme.”
Archie Woods, now back in the UK with his family, signed for West Ham at U11 level, and last summer another former E-Sports find, 12-year-old Eno Nto from Nigeria, was snapped up by Chelsea.
“I managed to gain a great deal of experience throughout my time with E-Sports,” Woods said. “I had the opportunity to play in the UAE Pro League, this helped me gain greater experience with my strength and helped with speed, confidence and stamina. Having now got the experience of playing for a Premier League academy at West Ham, that gave me a good starting block and confidence to help me move forward in my football career.”
Kidd says the likes of Woods and Nto provide a motivation for the other youngsters.
“It gives them that additional belief and desire to continue working at their game, “ he said. “These two kids didn’t just wake up one morning and put their boots on and it all just happened. There’s a lot of hard work, commitment and loyalty to the programme.”
Big things are expected from several other youngsters, including, according to Kidd, two of the “most loyal, committed and talented players” at E-Sports; Nick Hupe, captain of the U12s, and Jay Baisley, captain of the next-youngest group. Parents are already seeing the benefits.
”It’s a great honour and challenge for our boys to play in the Youth Pro League against not only exceptional UAE but regional football talent,” said Scott Hupe, Nick’s father.
“It’s a great sporting, as well as cultural, experience. It’s a real credit to the league organisers and the superb team at E-Sports, who have created an amazing platform for our boys. The programme that E-Sports operates is second to none.”
It doesn’t stop with these two, either. These players are also being scouted internationally.
“This summer, I’m going to the US myself with six of our best U16s to attend a college camps at Stanford and Northwestern, two of the biggest universities,” Kidd said. “These boys may be selected to gain a fully-paid or partially-paid soccer scholarships. It’s not a dead end in Dubai as many people think.”
Kidd acknowledges that there is huge commercial interest in many soccer schools, many of which are “understandably” run like businesses.
E-Sports provides a different experience.
“My team do more than is required in the job description. There is a real family unity within the coaching team and that follows through to the parents and the players,” Kidd said. “The work ethic, the whole ethos is very much consistent across the board.”
Next season is already shaping up to be the busiest yet with the academy receiving a verbal invitation to participate across two other age groups, U9 and U11.
To some, it is the only avenue for youngsters to pursue their football education.
“The opportunity for my son to play in the UAE Emirati Pro League is one that should be cherished. These moments do not come around too often,” said Matt Baisley, father of Jay. “Having been in Dubai for six years now, you can clearly see that in terms of development for any aspiring young player. This is the only professional, competitive test that they can or will get.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
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