The people who make the EYFL run — from competition management to player development and education.
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JA
League Director
James Al-Rashidi
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James founded the EYFL with a vision to create the most structured youth football environment in the UAE. With 15 years in elite youth sport administration, he oversees all strategic and operational decisions across the league.
StrategyPartnershipsCompetition
"Every child deserves a structured pathway, not just a game on a Saturday morning."
SR
Head of Operations
Sarah Reynolds
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Sarah ensures every matchday runs to schedule across all EYFL venues. She manages venue logistics, referee coordination, and club communications — keeping the league moving week in, week out.
FixturesVenuesClub Relations
"The best leagues are invisible — the clubs just show up and everything works."
MK
Technical Director
Marco Kowalski
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A UEFA B-licensed coach and former professional player, Marco leads EYFL's technical standards. He oversees coaching frameworks, age-group formats, and the technical education offered through EYFL Education.
CoachingFormatsPlayer Pathway
"At U8, the only metric that matters is whether they want to come back next week."
LN
Head of Development
Layla Nasser
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Layla leads the EYFL Development League, working directly with beginner clubs and first-time coaches to create welcoming environments for young players entering organised football for the first time.
Dev LeagueBeginner ClubsCoaching
"Our job at Development level is to fall in love with the game — results come much later."
DP
EYFL Education Lead
David Park
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David built the EYFL Education platform from the ground up. A sports science graduate and former academy coach, he designs and maintains the curriculum covering everything from laws of the game to safeguarding.
CurriculumCoaching EdCertificates
"We give every parent, coach and referee the knowledge they need — completely free."
AH
Safeguarding Officer
Amira Hassan
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Amira is responsible for all safeguarding policies and procedures across the EYFL. She works with clubs to ensure every child competes in a safe, inclusive environment and that all officials are appropriately trained.
SafeguardingPolicyInclusion
"Child welfare is not a checkbox. It's the foundation everything else is built on."