{
  "id": 19833449,
  "title": "Seven-year-old boy with cerebral palsy fulfils football dream at Sharjah match",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/seven-year-old-boy-with-cerebral-palsy-fulfils-football-dream-at",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T16:11:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/11/13/seven-year-old-boy-with-cerebral-palsy-fulfils-football-dream-at-sharjah-match/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Zayed Mustafa Al Fahadi, a seven-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, finally fulfilled his childhood dream of playing football in front of a packed stadium in the United Arab Emirates. The occasion was a ceremonial kick-off during a match between Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli, arranged by the UAE Pro League in collaboration with the Nahr Al Hayat Fund, an organization affiliated with the Emirates Red Crescent.\n\nZayed's journey to the football pitch was marked by numerous surgeries and intensive physiotherapy. His father, Mustafa Al Fahadi, explained that Zayed's condition resulted from a lack of oxygen at birth, affecting the part of his brain responsible for movement. Born on UAE National Day, December 2, 2018, Zayed's name was chosen to honor the UAE's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.\n\nTreated through the generous support of the Nahr Al Hayat Fund, Zayed's father emphasized the family's gratitude for the financial aid provided by the organization. Soher Abid, the fund's director, stated that Zayed's case came to their attention through a volunteer media professional. The fund stepped in to provide support, covering not only Zayed's surgeries but also his regular physiotherapy sessions and speech therapy.\n\nZayed's mother, Soher Abid, explained that the young boy's love for football and his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, played a significant role in his determination. Despite his physical challenges, Zayed attends a mainstream school in Sharjah, where he is active and sociable. The ceremonial football match served as a crucial boost to Zayed's confidence and provided a much-needed emotional and moral support for his family during his ongoing treatment and rehabilitation journey.",
  "summary": "After years of treatment for cerebral palsy , Zayed Mustafa Al Fahadi, seven, got the chance to step on to a football pitch in the UAE and experience a moment he had long dreamt of. In front of a packed stadium, a beaming Zayed walked on to the pitch alongside the referees and kicked off the match between Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli on Saturday. A video of the moment was widely shared on social…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}