Manchester City star Phil Foden has highlighted the importance of City Football Schools’ Talented Player Programme, which is currently in operation across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and urged youngsters to enjoy the game.
As part of City Football Schools’ 10-year anniversary celebrations, Foden conducted a call with Lewis Childs, who coached the midfielder when he was just starting out on his football journey. Childs now oversees the Talented Player Programme in the UAE.
The two men go back a long way, with Childs helping to guide a young Foden at the Manchester City Academy in the UK in his early years.
“I first worked with Phil at Under-7 and Under-8 level in Manchester, and he was an obvious talent,” explained Childs, a UEFA A License coach who has been with City Football Schools in the UAE for eight years.
“What stood out, even back then, was his fantastic attitude. He’s a great character and he has a natural talent which he has made the most of."
The Talented Player Programme focuses on helping young players aged 11-14 to develop and fulfil their potential through a combination of advanced coaching techniques and competitive matches both locally and internationally. Standout performers earn a chance to train with various City Football Group clubs around the world, including Manchester City and New York City.
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Manchester City season ratings
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Foden offered some important words of advice for aspiring players in the UAE.
“I think the main point is to enjoy it at the young ages and have a smile on your face, that’s what I did growing up,” says the 20-year-old.
“It’s important that you have your own personality on the pitch and try to express yourself as much as possible.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Talented Player Programme and watching how the players progress.”
Having known Foden since he was a young boy, Childs isn’t surprised with the midfielder’s rise in the Manchester City first team.
“Phil’s very humble, he comes from a great family,” he says.
“He’s been given great support by the club and the coaching staff down the years, and he’s taken his opportunity.
“I still speak to some of the coaches in Manchester now and they say he hasn’t changed at all – he just loves football.”
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
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The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
Aston martin DBX specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Top speed: 291kph
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: Q2, 2020
