Beginning on June 25, the U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C. will host the U.A.E. women’s soccer team on its first-ever visit to the United States.  While in the U.S., the U.A.E. women’s team will train with the Philadelphia Independence Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league team and participate in clinics with women’s soccer clubs from the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. areas.  During the team’s visit to Philadelphia, the U.A.E. women’s soccer team will face-off against the Philadelphia Independence in a July 9th match. For ticket and venue information, please click here.

The U.A.E. women’s team will also conduct community outreach activities in both cities, participating in clinics with local youth organizations. Background information on the U.A.E. Women’s soccer team can be found below.

Overview

Driven by the increasing popularity of soccer in the United Arab Emirates, the UAE Women’s Soccer team was formed in June 2005 so that Emirati women could enhance their skills at the game and train to compete at the regional and
international levels.

The UAE Women’s Soccer team is currently an initiative of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and since 2008 team members have played on club teams and for the UAE national team, winning matches throughout the Middle East region and playing friendly matches in Europe.

In addition to competing, the UAE Women’s Team has also participated in training camps and academies in Egypt, Jordan, German and Switzerland. The team has played more than 78 international and domestic matches, placing at
the top of international club tournaments in the region.

Coaching Staff

Connie Selby is the head coach of the UAE Women’s Soccer Team, and Head of Women’s Football for the Oceania Football Confederation. Over the past 30 years, Coach Selby has participated as a play, coach and administrator in professional soccer. She carries a high level coaching accreditation licenses (FFA & ASC) and has a great deal of personal playing experience. Coach Selby has held numerous coaching positions with both national and international degrees of competition. Her work as an accreditation supervisor at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and as coaching coordinator for the Football Federation of Australia are a testament to
her abilities.

Ahmed Attia Mohamed Zaher is the goalkeeper coach for the UAE Women’s Soccer Team. Coach Zaher has worked as a professional coach for 10 years and has received extensive training and certification pertaining to goalkeeping and coaching. As assistant coach and goalkeeper coach he has worked with the UAE Women’s National team since 2009 and has worked as goalkeeper coach for the Abu Dhabi Women’s Football team since 2004. Mr Zaher’s coaching experience is accompanied by his professional playing experience for the Al Mansoura club in 1986 and Abu Dhabi Health Club in 2000.