Abu Dhabi, UAE, 5 January 2012: Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand have told aspiring young footballers in Abu Dhabi they must eat and drink healthy to produce their best displays on the pitch.
That advice from two of the English Premier League’s most accomplished players will be driven home to youngsters taking part in the latest Manchester United Soccer Schools (MUSS) programme at the Dome@Rawdhat.
The new ten-week course, starting on Saturday (7 January), will teach the footballing techniques of United legend Giggs, and wingers Nani and Antonio Valencia, but it won’t stop there.
By popular demand from parents, the new programme is placing an even bigger emphasis on the importance of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet – a consistent theme of MUSS instruction in Abu Dhabi – through a series of off-the-field classroom sessions.
“Drinking water keeps your body healthy and mind focused”, said Giggs, now 38 but still adding to his record number of Manchester United appearances.
Ferdinand added: “Playing football at the highest level demands a lot from your body. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and having a balanced diet every day helps my body recover from a tough game or training session.”
Andy Dixon, head coach at MUSS in Abu Dhabi, said: “Children respond really well when they learn the specific moves of their heroes. But Ryan Giggs’ outstanding achievements aren’t down to his on-field skills alone.
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“At Manchester United, the players’ attitudes to healthy eating and healthy living are just as important as their on-field skills. We’ll show the MUSS youngsters in Abu Dhabi how the right food and hydration can help them become better players.”
MUSS has received enthusiastic feedback after delivering nutrition programmes to a number of Abu Dhabi schools as part of its community outreach efforts.
“The sessions were very informative and interactive,” said Marc Evans, a Grade Five teacher at Al Rabeeh School where MUSS coaches delivered a series of end-of-term nutrition sessions. “The kids had a lot of fun and learned during the process. It made them think about making the right decisions where food is concerned, and the benefits of the sessions are already starting to show as the kids bring more healthy snacks to school”.
A limited number of places are still available for the latest MUSS programme which features 12.5 hours of on-field coaching by certified MUSS coaches and also includes the first girls-only sessions in the UAE. These are under the supervision of Stela Samuela, a PE teacher with GEMS American Academy in Khalifa City and newly qualified MUSS certified coach.
The cost of AED1,650 includes an exclusive Nike Manchester United training kit of shirt, shorts and socks, MUSS drawstring bag, water bottle and skills ball. Youngsters benefit from catch-up sessions and individual player evaluation, and the bonus for footballing parents is that they get a coaching session all of their own at the Dome@Rawdhat.
All players enrolling enter the MUSS series of skills challenges, with the top two point scorers receiving an all expenses paid trip to represent Abu Dhabi in the World Skills Final at United’s Carrington training ground, as well as the world famous Old Trafford stadium, in 2012.
Abu Dhabi based developer Reem Investments, which signed a partnership agreement with MUSS, built the Dome@Rawdhat to create a vibrant sporting community in the area. More than 12,000 people use the facilities every month.
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To sign up for the MUSS module visit www.manutdsoccerschools.ae or call 02 449 8480.