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The sky’s the limit for four aspiring female footballers from the UAE as an invitation from Manchester City Women’s Football turned into the trip of a lifetime thanks to Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE.
For Madiyah, 12, Meriel and Sura, 11, and Zarah, nine, who all attend City Football Academy in the UAE, midweek coaching in Abu Dhabi usually ends with tactical briefings.
In a heartwarming video released to celebrate International Women’s Day, the girls were delighted to receive personal messages from England’s Lionesses, Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hamp, and Australia’s Hayley Russo, They were invited to be Manchester City’s matchday mascots. The Women’s Super League match against Arsenal at the Academy Stadium on the Etihad campus in Manchester.
Unbeknownst to the girls, Etihad Airways had arranged an eight-hour flight from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Manchester that night for the players, their parents and coaches.
As part of the experience, the young girls enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at City Women’s final training session ahead of the game, and had the privilege of posing for photos and signing autographs with some of the club’s role models.
City Soccer Academy coach Georgia Bainbridge said: “When we were told the surprise and asked to nominate four girls, Mattia, Merrill, Sura and Zara immediately came to mind. Skill and potential, but their attitude towards training is very good, which makes all the coaches of the UAE City Football School very admired.
“We want to keep motivating our female players and promote women’s football in the UAE as much as possible, which has helped tremendously after the Women’s Euros and Chloe Kelly’s winning goal. She is something the girls admire and hope to one day Players to emulate, so to have the opportunity to watch her and the rest of the team train before meeting her and the rest of the team was unbelievable.”
The girls also toured the Etihad Stadium and the home dressing room before leading the team as matchday mascots before a sold-out crowd, with screams heard all around Manchester as their personalized matchday The jersey plays an important role.
Amina Taher, Vice President, Brand, Marketing and Sponsorship, Etihad Airways, said: “The UAE takes the advancement of women very seriously in society and as the national airline, we are fully committed to this mission. We are proud to partner with our long-standing partner City Football Group has teamed up to advocate for the inclusion and empowerment of young women ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day.
“It was an honor to fly Madiyah, Meriel, Sura and Zarah to Manchester to visit the Etihad Stadium and meet their Manchester City heroes.”
Watch the interview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Oz9Ch2vL0
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