UAE Ministry of Sports Partners with Precision Football and PlayerMaker to Revolutionize Talent Identification
In a strategic move to enhance the nation’s talent identification framework, the UAE Ministry of Sports has partnered with Precision Football and PlayerMaker to uncover and develop the next generation of sporting talent across the country. These partnerships will be integrated into the UAE School Games and UAE University Games, organized by the UAE Sports Federation for the Institutions of School and University Education in collaboration with the Ministry and other partners.
The University Games are scheduled to conclude on April 19 and 20, while the School Games will finish in May 2025. These events will serve as pilot platforms for implementing the new talent scouting systems.
Precision Football will spearhead the scouting operations for football, bringing a wealth of expertise and development experience, while PlayerMaker will focus on seven other sports, deploying advanced technology and data analytics to evaluate athletes. The collaboration aims to establish a modern, data-led approach to scouting, utilizing professional wearables and video analysis tools to generate both qualitative and quantitative assessments of athletic performance.
In addition to in-game evaluations, the partners will also conduct specialized educational and practical workshops prior to the School Games finals to boost scouting standards across the UAE.
“This marks a critical step in our journey to professionalize talent development in the UAE,” said H.E. Sheikh Suhail Al Maktoum, Secretary General of the UAE Sports Federation and Chairperson of the UAE Committee for Talent & National Sports Support. “By partnering with global leaders in scouting, we are ensuring our athletes receive the attention and support necessary to thrive within our national sports system.”
Sonny Cobbs, Founder and CEO of Precision Football, expressed his excitement, stating, “To be recognized as one of the region’s leading development programs is an honour. We are deeply committed to nurturing young talent, both male and female, and contributing to long-term national success.”
Steve Barrett, VP of Sports Performance at PlayerMaker, added, “We are thrilled to support the Ministry’s vision. With our team of Olympic champions, national team coaches, and scouting experts, we aim to provide a comprehensive and expert-driven scouting experience.”
The initiative is part of a broader, long-term rollout, with plans to extend talent identification beyond school and university competitions to academies and competitive sports environments throughout the UAE.
