The UAE under-17 football team has a reason to cheer as the President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced grants of AED 4 million to UAE football team for winning the recently-held 6th Gulf Cup in Al Ain. The President said: ''Every sport achievement will raise the UAE flag a loft and further polish its image regionally and internationally.''

Terming the success a remarkable achievement for the nation, Khalifa congratulated the administration, players and supporting staff for their tireless preparations for winning various national and international sports titles. He urged the players to one day and night for winning the forthcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup 2009 in Nigeria.

Sheikh Khalifa directed the UAE Football Association (UFA) to extend every possible support to the winning team that has shown commendable performance at the sports event. He urged players to be physically fit for winning more competitions for the nation.

The UFA has also been asked to sharpen skills of young players, based on the lessons learnt from the international experience.

The government has also promised to go all-out in terms of extending help for organizing camps, training centers and players exchange programs.