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A solid training ground

IT WAS ONCE a common occurrence in schools across the globe to have at least one hour of the day dedicated to the playing of sport. Gradually the time lent to exercise has diminished to such an extent that..

Tim Cahill,Evertonand Australia’s attacking midfielder, believes kids need to enjoy themselves and if they get healthy in the process, it’s a bonusthere is an increasing need for after school clubs or privately run sports teams young people can join to maintain fitness levels for a healthy lifestyle. These clubs, if you are lucky enough to find one, provide invaluable resources for youths to get out and be active for those few hours they may have whiled away at home in front of the TV. Clubs su ch as the Elite Sporting Academy have given children of Dubai a chance to play their favourite games and uniquely for the region, if one is gifted enough, may provide a way to progress into the world of professional sport.

The Elite Sporting Academy is the brainchild of former international rugby player John Mamea-Wilson, who has teamed up with Everton and Australia’s attacking midfielder, footballer Tim Cahill. Their combined network will provide the development tools and the pathway for football and rugby players to perform at the highest levels of professional sport, which is currently lacking in the Middle East. The academy plans to add cricket at a later date. The academy will train its players and give them the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of coaches and talent scouts associated with professional clubs from countries including England and Australia. “As an academy, our focus is to produce players who are ready to compete at the highest level, where the results do matter. It’s important we get those players technically developed in order to do this,” said John Mamea-Wilson, academy founder and director.

The ESA offers players from the ages of 10 to 16 an opportunity to experience the best development programme possible. Participants attend school during the day and are then coached three to four times a week after school at the Repton School in Dubai before taking part in a weekend fixture. At the end of their ESA career (18 years) they will be taken abroad for a series of trial matches at top professional clubs. “We don’t only take Repton students,” Mamea-Wilson added, “but that is the facility we use.”

On the announcement that the Elite Sporting Academy will now be sponsored by Dream Properties, City Times caught up with long time associate of the project and star of the English Premiership Tim Cahill to find out more about the ESA and his involvement. “I’ve been working on this project for the last two years plus and I think it’s really all about the development of the kids,” Cahill said. “The way I was brought up and the sacrifices my parents had to make for me to go overseas are things which I can never repay. So with this I’m trying to make it a bit simpler for parents and their children to get into professional sport and give the kids an opportunity to achieve their dreams through scholarships and coaching. For me it was very hard going to England and getting loans and all that. They are some of the aspects we want to cut out so it is all about the sport.”

Cahill was encouraged to take up football at a very young age by his father in Sydney. He progressed at speed to professional status and at the age of eighteen asked his parents’ permission to move to England where he transferred to Millwall, South London on a free from Sydney United. “We’ve got a good thing here with good investment from companies such as Desert Dream. I am extremely gifted to be in this position and always want to give something back. If after all this we can find someone in the academy who is able to go on and play in England of Australia or France in any sport it will all be worth it. This place won’t only find sports stars either but might go on to inspire someone to be a physio or a coach.”

On how important sport was for the development of young people Cahill added, “I think it’s important on loads of levels. Lifestyle, healthiness, mental stimulation and having fun are all important in life. Having fun is probably the thing I would say is most crucial. Kids need to enjoy themselves and if they get healthy in the process then that is a bonus.”

Away from his charitable exploits and being avid Premiership fans we had to ask Tim how the season was going and his predictions for Everton this year. “The season is going really well. We’re sitting pretty at the moment because a couple of victories means you can be up there and a couple of losses means things can change, but I suppose everyone is in the same boat. We’ll keep working hard and realistically I think we can finish top six, top eight. We’ve got some great signings and we’re starting to gel so top six would be brilliant, top eight acceptable.”

“Apollo was hugely successful at St Helens Rugby League Club, and we know he will be just as successful here,” concluded Air Miles’ CEO Dave Battiston.
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