The inaugural Etihad Airways Manchester City Football Club (FC) Soccer Schools will be held next month in the UAE capital and Al Ain.

Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, will host the first three days of action from April 5 to 7, with the finals taking place at Al Ain Football Club on April 8.

Etihad is the lead club and shirt sponsor of Manchester City FC and will fly out star players -Sylvinho and Michael Johnson - as well as club legend Mike Summerbee for the event.

Five of the club’s coaching staff will also take part and pass on their knowledge and expertise to more than 400 local children aged between seven and 14 years old, said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer.

'We are delighted to host the inaugural Etihad Airways Manchester City FC Soccer Schools in Abu Dhabi and also to bring the event to Al Ain. It is wonderful to assist the development of sport within the emirate and hugely exciting for the local children to have access to these English Premier League stars,' he remarked.

“The club will be able to see some fantastic Emirati talent on show and it is a great chance for Etihad to once again support grass roots sport in the UAE,” he added.

Gary Cook, chief executive of Manchester City Football Club, said, 'I am delighted that Manchester City is able to work with our friends at Etihad Airways to develop football further within the UAE.'

“The Etihad Manchester City FC Soccer Schools will be a wonderful occasion for these youngsters and a great way to enhance the number of children playing football in the emirate,” he noted.

Mohammad Al Mahmoud, general secretary, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, described it as a great sporting initiative for Abu Dhabi. 'At Abu Dhabi Sports Council, we are committed to grass roots sport and are proud to be associated with the Etihad Airways Manchester City FC Soccer Schools,' he added.

The event is being supported by several companies in the emirate including Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Park Rotana Hotel and Al Ain Water.-TradeArabia News Service