2023-10-01 06:16:09
Abu Dhabi | Etihad FC, the country’s first Indian football club, is recognized by the UAE Association. Etihad FC has achieved the feat of being recognized by the UAE Football Association as one of the third division clubs in the UAE for the 2023-24 season.
Etihad FC CEO said, “It is a great honor to be the first Indian football club to enter the league and be accepted into Division 3. Arakkal Kamaruddin said in a press conference. Training for the professional first team squad has already begun. 20 players will be Indian expatriates and the remaining 10 players will be international players.
Salil Usman (FA Level 3 Coach) who has played for the Indian National Team at Under-19 level is currently the coach of the team. This season, the 16-team league will have home and away matches every week.
Abu Dhabi Zayed Sports City is currently the home ground of Etihad FC. UAE Division 3 is a tough league. The aim for the first season is to secure promotion to Division 2. The achievement is also a big dream come true for Arakkal Kamaruddin, an expatriate born and brought up in the UAE, who was driven by the excitement of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with an insatiable desire to represent India in the future. The main dream was to provide a platform for the Indian community in the UAE to play football and provide the local youth with an opportunity to receive good quality training.
There is a lot of talent in the UAE. Etihad FC can identify them and provide a conveyor belt of new players for the Indian national team. In this way, India can play an important role in qualifying to play the World Cup in 2026 or 2030, Kamaruddin said.
Kamaruddin is trying to fulfill his dream of having his own stadium in Abu Dhabi Musafa. Even though the land has been taken for this purpose, a huge amount of money will have to be spent on the construction of the stadium. Now we are looking for big sponsors who are football fans. Kamaruddin stated that the procedures are going ahead with the current sponsors and it is hoped that the construction will be completed next year.
1696154519
#football #club #country #Etihad #recognized #UAE #Association