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Determined teenager Elias Shawqi Abdulaal will put his footballing prowess and goalkeeping skills to the test when he tries out for the real deal … a spot in Real Madrid’s Development Squad in Spain.
To some youngsters in Bahrain the idea of one day playing for an international club is simply a fanciful dream. However, to 16-year-old Elias, it is his goal.
From the moment he held a football, he envisioned big things, promising himself a bright future and that he would stop at nothing to achieve it. Elias, from Mahooz, said: “I grew up playing the game with my brother Ali, who is four years older than me, and I loved it. We used to play at home and on any football pitch that we came across.
“Ali would take a shot at me and I would block it. I decided to keep at it and, after years of hard work, I can honestly say it is paying off.
“I know a lot of people wonder why I would choose to be a goalkeeper as most kids want to be strikers. But that’s the fun for me; I love to stop players from scoring.
“My dream is to become a professional goalkeeper just like Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas, the Spanish football goalkeeper who plays for and is captain of both the La Liga club and the Spanish National Team.”
Elias kick-started his journey to football glory by playing for Manama in the Under-12 and Under-13 teams as well as Al Ahli Club’s Under-13 squad. He also played with Bahrain’s national team and against older teens in Under-16 and Under-18 fixtures.
He owes his confidence and professionalism to Serbian Bahrain National Team goalkee[ing coach Vladimir Ciric. Elias said: “I trained regularly with him for two years when I was at Manama Club. He showed me how to better myself and how to keep my cool.
“He is very professional and a really good coach. He used to train me at least two to three hours a day and if I didn’t train with the Under-13 squad then he would have me play with the Under-16 or the first team.
“He inspired me to go far, to never give up and to face every challenge head on.”
Ciric’s words of wisdom and training helped Elias come to a difficult decision, to leave Bahrain in pursuit of an education and a football career in the home of the game … England.
At the age of 16 he joined Berlitz Manchester, a language school designed to provide students with the most effective learning experience. It offers a range of programmes from General English, IELTS Preparation, Business English, University Foundation Programmes and Executive Programmes such as Total Immersion or Crash Courses. These can be combined with courses such as Work-Study or Internship to ensure students make the most of their stay in the UK.
While Elias had a promising future in football ahead of him, his mum Batool and father, Shawqi, a businessman that owns coffee shops in the region, wanted to ensure he united his love with a top-notch education.
Elias explained: “Education is very important to my mum and dad and I couldn’t agree more. I moved to Manchester to study and play football.
“My family is very supportive with my move. The only thing they insisted on is that my education is not to be taken lightly. My dad has helped me in every way possible. He pushed me and gave me whatever I needed to go to the UK. He is very proud of how well I am doing in school.”
Elias moved in with his sister Zahra, 24, who attends university in Manchester, leaving behind his other brothers Mahmood, 22, a university student in Bahrain, Ali, also a university student and his two-year-old brother, Abdulla.
His days were full of activity. In the morning he would attend courses and then in the afternoon he would take one bus after the other to different clubs in the area in the hope of securing a spot in a team.
Elias was his own agent, handing out resumes, certificates of appreciation from the clubs in Bahrain and videos of himself in action.
“The clubs were surprised and amazed at how young I was and how well I handled myself. I was on a mission to make it in the football industry and nothing was going to stop me.
“Although language was a barrier at first I did not let that get in my way and instead just worked even harder. Nothing great in life comes easy.”
Elias’s insatiable drive secured him a trial at Manchester City’s Youth Academy. He spent three-weeks training with other aspiring footballers.
He said: “It was such an amazing experience to enter City’s academy, which is one of the best in the world. I wasn’t nervous at all during my trial because mentally and physically I was prepared, thanks to coach Ciric.
“I knew it was now or never so I played hard and my performance kept me on for three-weeks. I used to catch a bus from school to the club, practice with the team, have lunch, and then head back onto the pitch before catching a bus home. Sometimes I had three sessions a day at the club. It was a great experience that helped me improve even more.”
After his time with the academy was up, Elias started playing friendlies and in tournaments with local sides. A scout from Manchester International Football Academy (MIFA) spotted him and called him in for a trial. He then joined the UK-based academy that develops players.
“My life was changing so fast and it was really a dream come true. I learned so much from the academy. At first I felt very foreign to the way they train and their rules on the pitch. I attended every meeting and never missed training.
“I trained four-hours-a-day. I worked on my school work and then went to football. I worked so hard that I started playing as first choice goalkeeper.”
After two months of training at MIFA, Elias was granted the opportunity of a life-time, a trial with Spanish giants Real Madrid, one of Europe’s most successful clubs featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká and Pepe.
This week he will have to impress club executives, including his idol Casillas who will handpick players for their development squad.
Back in Bahrain, in recent weeks Elias has been spending his summer break exercising in the gym to maintain his fitness.
“It’s now or never! This academy will groom me, train me and if I do well who knows what my future will hold. If I pass, I will sign a contract, committing myself to all the work at the academy. I think that’s great because it prepares you for when you are a professional player,” he said.
“I am really excited about meeting Casillas and am ready for this. Nothing is going to get in my way.”
His brother Ali and friends will all be cheering for him in Bahrain and sending positive vibes his way. Elias hopes that one day he will be able to wear his beloved Bahrain colours and play for the national team.
He said: “I would be honoured to play for Bahrain. It is my home and to wear a Bahrain jersey would be amazing.
“When I am in Spain I won’t just be representing myself, I will be representing Bahrain and I will carry our flag high. I am proud to be Bahraini.”
