Emirati youngsters soldier through 10th Fazza School Youlah Championship with flying colours

The curtain came down on the 10th edition of the Fazza School Youlah Championship to great acclaim and much applause at the New World Private School in the Al Twar area of Dubai here yesterday (Sunday) evening.

The finale, which is organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) in partnership with the Ministry of Education, was attended by Her Excellency Amal Al Koos, Assistant Undersecretary for the School Environment and Activities Sector at the Ministry of Education.

Salah Khamis Al Hosni, the Director of Student Activities and Scientific Competitions at the Ministry of Education, Rashid Al Khasouni the Director of Fazaa Championships Moussa Duarou, Principle  of New World Private School (NWPS), and Muwafaq Shafiq Al Quraan, the deputy head at NWPS, were all present too alongside Al Koos on the night.

Muslim Al Amiri and Khalifa bin Sabeen Al Mahrami were members of the judging panel and they oversaw the two qualifying rounds among the pupils, who numbered 105 in total.

The first phase was for 45 students up to sixth grade and the subsequent one was for 60 pupils up to ninth grade and those Al Yawel (‘Soldier’) numbers were eventually whittled down to just 41 finalists overall (a 19-22 split respectively).

There was a large turnout among the parents of the schoolchildren and the general public, which – in turn – brought out the best in the finalists as they demonstrated their dexterity and skill with their replica rifles in hand. The general standard was certainly of a very high level.

Souad Ibrahim Darwish, the Director of Championships at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC), commented: “Championships such as this one introduces the next generation to sportsmanship amid the challenge of competition and it also connects them to the truly authentic values inherent in our society here in the United Arab Emirates.

“The fact that this event is the 10th edition of the Fazza School Youlah Championship is clear evidence of the success of the competition and its ability to attract more and more participants from the schools.”

Darow said: “This tournament is one of the most prominent among all of the UAE heritage competitions as it clearly reflects the popular tradition of the UAE.

“The Fazza School Youlah Championship contributes to the strengthening of national identity and popular tradition on the one hand and transmits the spirit of competition among students from different emirates on the other.

“In that sense, our hosting of the Fazza School Youlah Championship for the 10th year in a row confirms our belief in the importance of this tournament at the national level and also ensures that we contribute to the upbringing of an educated generation of students here that cherishes their affiliation to this nation.”

Juma Rashid Saif (Saeed bin Rashid School, Umm Al Quwain), Abdulrahman Saif Ahmed Al Ameri and Mansour Mohammed Al Falasi (Dubai School) came first (Dh50,000, plus Dh30,000 to his school), second (Dh30,000) and third (Dh20,000) in the first competition and Mohammed Saud Al Haara (Al Qeaan School, Fujairah) Saif Suhail Asamahi (Fujairah Private School) and Abdul Rahman Omar Al Zaabi (Ras Al Khaimah Modern School) did likewise in the second tournament thereafter.

Following the announcement of the winners, Rashid Al Khasouni presented commemorative shields from the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) to both Al Koos and Duarou.