Why Good Football Coaching in Dubai Is More Than Just Training

Captain, my captain.

That iconic movie scene rushed back to me yesterday after an incident that got me thinking deeply about the current state of football coaching in Dubai.

This season, I made the hard decision to remove our Under-17 and Under-18 teams—for many reasons, which I will save for another article. It was not an easy call. I started TFA with the under-18s a decade ago, and we built our way down from there. For me to come 10 years later and cut the senior squads is not a choice I took lightly.

Amidst that heavy transition, a lovely Russian mother named Tanya and her very nice son insisted on coming down to the training session just to say thank you, shake hands, and move on.

Now, you might be wondering as a reader: Why on earth is that rare? Isn’t that just normal human decency?

Well, if I tell you that we released or lost 30 players and families this season, and that this was one of maybe two that even bothered to message or say anything… that is the rarity. And that is not right.

Allow me to explain.

Of course, from a coach’s point of view, we are often accused by parents of being detached or treating their children like just another number. But let’s flip that coin. Why do you think this disconnect is happening?

For us at TFA—without standing on some false moral high ground—one of our core foundational ethos has always been simple: treat every child like it’s your own. But the flip side of that is equally true: treat every teacher and good coach like it actually matters. When one parent out of thirty makes the effort to show up, shake hands, and say thank you and goodbye, you realize a symptom of the market is broken.

With over 500 football academies in Dubai and thousands of coaches operating across Dubai right now, treating children like billing numbers is becoming the norm. And it’s happening for a reason: because kids and programs are increasingly treated like commodities.

Families hop from academy to academy, chasing the newest brand, the flashiest kit, or the closest location. They treat youth sports like house-hunting—where is the best show in town this season?

Look, that is your prerogative. But surely, good coaches matter.

Ask any living adult to name their favorite teacher, and they will instantly give you a name. Ask any professional footballer to name their most influential coach, and they won’t hesitate. Yet, entire relationships are discarded, years of mentorship are wiped away, and people walk out the door without even a basic thank you.

Now, of course, anyone experienced in football coaching in Dubai understands the reality: I am only a chapter in a player’s journey. One year, two years, three years, four years. Anybody with common sense knows I don’t own the players, and the players certainly don’t owe us anything.

Players move on. Kids grow up. That’s sports.

But the moment you dehumanize this business—the moment you strip away the personal touch of actually knowing your player, whether boy or girl, knowing their background, their culture, their unique motivations, and their hesitations—the moment you reduce it all to a transaction, this business is finished.

Anyways, people do as they want. People act as they want to raise their children.

But for this—Tanya, the lovely Russian lady, I salute you.

Captain, my captain, will never be forgotten.

Good Football Coaching Is More Than Just Training

A good coach can become an important part of a young player’s football journey. It is not only about teaching them how to pass, dribble or shoot, but also about understanding the player, building their confidence and supporting their development over time.

At The Football Academy (TFA) Dubai, we believe football coaching should maintain that personal connection. Every child develops differently, which is why our programmes support players at different ages and stages of their football journey.

• Elite Boots — Football programme for ages 3–5, focused on early years development, confidence and basic football skills through age-appropriate activities.
• TechLab — Focused football skills training for ages 6–11, giving players more opportunities to work on their technical abilities, confidence and development.
• Boys Football Academy — Structured football coaching for boys ages 6–16, from developing fundamental skills to progressing towards competitive football and match opportunities.
• Girls Football Academy — Dedicated football coaching for girls ages 5–13, supporting skill development, confidence, teamwork and opportunities to participate in matches and competitions.

With programmes and football coaching in Dubai available across DIP, JBR, Jumeirah Park, Meydan, Dubai South and Town Square, families can find a TFA programme that supports their child at their current stage of development.