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ARSENAL Soccer School Bahrain’s Under 8s and Under 10s brought back the silverware to the kingdom after competing in cup competitions in Dubai.
The Under 8s, which also featured a six-year-old in the line-up, reached the final of the Dubai Super Cup seven-a-side competition and lost 3-1 to Al Nassr Dubai with Adam Gordon, eight, netting for the Bahrain-based team.
The Under-10 Yellows took the Dubai Challenge Cup trophy beating Arsenal Soccer School Kuwait 3-0 in the final with two fine strikes by Hashim Khalaifat, eight, and Maggie Stephens, nine, and a ferocious penalty taken by Faris Al Khalo, 10.
The Yellows narrowly beat an Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain Reds team in the semi-final stage by a single goal again by Khalaifat.
The triumphant Yellows lost only one game on tour in seven matches against international sides including one from South Africa, with 10-year-old Stan Szecowka, notching two, and Kareem Bagaeen, four goals, amongst the Yellow’s other scorers.
The sides were coached by Deena Rahman and Liam Trigg and the soccer school’s director Paul Shipwright also attended. He said: “This was the youngest squad of players that we have ever taken on tour abroad and they all behaved impeccably and played with spirit and skill. They did Bahrain proud!”
A large group of fans, nicknamed Bahrain’s Barmy Army, also travelled to watch the games at played at Dubai Sports City and were noted for their deafening vocal support.
