| Kippreport.com

Manchester United CEO David Gill officially launches joint venture with Reem Investments

January 21, 2011 11:41 by Rasha Reslan

Manchester United Chief Executive David Gill is in Abu Dhabi to officially launch the joint venture partnership with Reem Investments and Manchester United Soccer Schools.

At a press conference in the new Clubhouse at the Dome@Rawdhat, Gill was joined by Bryan Robson, former Manchester United and England captain, Bambang Sugeng Bin Kajairi, CEO at Reem Investments and David Seales, General Manager, Manchester United Merchandising to announce expansion plans for MUSS into Abu Dhabi and the GCC.

Following the successful launch of MUSS in Abu Dhabi in October and the completion in December of an initial six-week course which attracted more than 200 youngsters representing 25 nationalities, the new ten-week module has now begun.

It focuses on the specific challenges and techniques required to master the midfield positions on the pitch, and places are still available for seven to 16-year-old boys and girls.

“We are very happy with the start we have made to our working partnership with Manchester United Soccer Schools, and we are delighted that David Gill, Bryan Robson and David Seales have joined us in Abu Dhabi to officially cement our working relationship and visit the new clubhouse,” said Bambang Sugeng Bin Kajairi, CEO of Reem Investments.

MUSS 2

“We look forward to providing hundreds more youngsters with the opportunity to develop their football and social skills with Manchester United Soccer Schools, and to continue to build a vibrant sporting community in the Rawdhat area on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi.”

As a result of the partnership with Reem Investments, MUSS programmes are being run exclusively in the UAE for two years. Under the terms of the agreement, Reem has the option to expand the partnership into other areas of the GCC, and the presence of a top level delegation from Manchester United in Abu Dhabi emphasises the strength of its relationship with the club.

David Gill, who has been Chief Executive at Old Trafford since September 2003, has presided over the Club’s expansion of Old Trafford to become the biggest club stadium in the UK.

“Running projects such as this one in Abu Dhabi demonstrates Manchester United’s global appeal,” said Gill.  “It shows the importance the Club attaches to take Manchester United as close to our 33 million supporters around the world as possible.

“We will continue to take a keen interest back in Manchester in how both the players and the programme progresses here so that we can support our coaching staff in delivering the best grassroots coaching programme possible.”

Bryan Robson OBE, captained Manchester United to three FA Cups and a European Cup Winners’ Cup, and also won two Premiership winners medals during a distinguished career at Old Trafford.  The longest serving captain in the club’s history, he played for England on 90 occasions, captaining his country 65 times, and is now an ambassador for Manchester United.

MUSS 3

“We want to develop good football players, but also confident individuals with good character and attitude,” said Robson.  “This belief is consistent across all of our youth development programmes and Soccer Schools courses around the world”.

As General Manager of Manchester United Merchandising, David Seales has a global remit for maximising both the Manchester United’s brand and business in retail, licensing and Soccer Schools.

The second MUSS programme getting under way at the Dome@Rawdhat is themed ‘Learn to Control and Create the United Way’ and 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’.

The programme features 12.5 hours of on-field coaching by certified MUSS coaches. The cost of AED 1,650 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.  To learn more about the MUSS programme call 02 449 8480 or visit www.manutdsoccerschools.ae.

Caption:

1.      Top table line up at today’s press conference (from left), Bryan Robson, former Manchester United and England captain, Bambang Sugeng Bin Kajairi, CEO of Reem Investments, David Gill, Manchester United Chief Executive and David Seales, General Manager, Manchester United Merchandising.

2.      Bryan Robson takes part in the coaching session at Manchester United Soccer Schools.

Tags: joint venture Reem Investments, Manchester United, Manchester United Reem Investments, Reem Investments