Manchester United Soccer Schools (MUSS) in Abu Dhabi will launch a new ten-week course on January 8, focusing on the specific challenges and techniques required to master the midfield positions on the pitch.

‘Learn to Control and Create the United Way’ will highlight the signature moves of current Manchester United midfielders Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher with children learning specific techniques such as the Scholes’ ‘stop turn’.

MUSS scored a big success with its launch in Abu Dhabi, and many of the youngsters who took part in the initial programme are expected to return for more training as their skills and techniques develop.  And new recruits now have the opportunity to join the Manchester United family where they will develop on-field football expertise and off-field social skills, a statement said.

More than 200 children aged between seven and 16 were put through their paces in the first six-week programme at the Dome@Rawdhat in the UAE capital.

“Feedback from parents and the children has been fantastic,” said Andy Dixon, head coach for Manchester United Soccer Schools in Abu Dhabi.

“Many of the children from the initial six-week course are now signing up to the ten-week course and we expect this to be a growing trend as they are challenged in each module and fine-tune their skills in different areas of the pitch.

“At the same time, we’re looking forward to welcoming many new children from different backgrounds to develop their football and social skills with us. We have 25 nationalities making up the first programme, and clearly there’s a lot of support from across the local community.”

Registration is now open for the January programme which features 12.5 hours of on-field coaching by certified MUSS coaches.

The cost of Dh1,650 includes an exclusive Nike Manchester United training kit of shirt, shorts and socks, MUSS drawstring bag, water bottle and skills ball.

Youngsters benefit from catch-up sessions and individual player evaluation, and the bonus for footballing parents is that they get a coaching session all of their own.

A new feature of the upcoming course is the launch of the Development Squad programme, an invite-only initiative for players who deliver both a consistently high standard of play and closely follow the MUSS Code of Conduct.

The squad will offer a comprehensive football education with free extra training sessions focusing on the technical, tactical, mental and physical aspects of the game in a team-orientated environment. Grouped with other players of the same age and ability, each player will have the opportunity to test their newly acquired skills in a positive and supportive match play environment.

All players enrolled in the program in Abu Dhabi will also take part in the MUSS series of skills challenges with the top two point scorers receiving an all expenses paid trip to Manchester to represent Abu Dhabi in the World Skills Final at Manchester United’s Carrington training ground as well as the world famous Old Trafford stadium in 2011.-TradeArabia News Service