COACHING TEAM

Abdulla Aljonydi

Roller Skating Coach

Abdullah started roller skating with friends around age 10. Inspired by Abu Dhabi Kings of Concrete, they’d gathering in groups at local skate parks to try new moves together. He learned how to turn, jump, flip and grind on his inline aggressive skates, a style equipped with an edge designed for sliding on rails. Abdullah honed his artistic style throughout the years and he eventually earned a spot to compete in junior freestyle event at a local Red Bull event.

He officially became a certified sports coach in 2022, first on the ice with the Ice Skating Institute of Asia, and then on wheels with the Inline Certification Program. He loves to see his students understand new skills and be able to make moves of their own. Certainly he will be demonstrating his favourite move, the rotating jump, during each term.

Computer graphics amination, calisthenics and break dancing are other ways that Abdullah stays busy.

Nationality: Syrian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Skating for 55km in a day

Abdelrahman Salah

Arabic Tennis Coach

Having always thought football was his favorite sports, Abdel changed his mind at age 8. His interest in tennis was sparked by his older cousin who played with him in the garden and eventually convinced him to become a coach after graduating from university. Since 2012, Abdel has coached in Cairo, including at the prestigious Palm Aroussy Tennis Academy, as well as in Abu Dhabi.

His motivating and technical approach is more concerned with self-improvement than trophies. While he is competent to coach all levels, his favorite thing about being a coach is helping beginners gain confidence, learn proper technique, and eventually succeed in tournaments. As a fan, he enjoys watching his favorite players hit his favorite shot – the straight forehand.

Abdel’s free time is spent going to the gym, playing e-sports, and sharing stories with his loved ones all over the globe.

Nationality: Egypt
Languages: English and Arabic
Location: ACTIVE Al Maryah Island
Ask About: Being too short to ace

Ahmed Kanan Afridi

Roller Skating Coach

Growing up, the kids in Kanan’s neighbourhood were always on bikes and scooters. When it came time for him to get his own wheels, he chose to be different and selected a pair of inline skates. At 6 years old, he was already a trend-setter, and he became a leader quickly. He’d would spend hours experimenting with tricks and moves, then teaching his brothers and friends the skills. His biggest artistic achievement is mastering the notoriously difficult grapevine, and he completed an endurance skate half marathon.

Kanan is certified as a coach by the Inline Certification Program for roller skating as well as by the Ice Skating Institute of Asia for ice skating. He has a great appreciation for the ability of skating to be done almost anytime and almost, and that the skates become part of you when they’re on.

Aside from skating, Kanan is athletic and participates in football and running.

Nationality: Pakistani
Languages: English, Arabic, Urdu
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Expo 2020 on Wheels

George Kikaleishvili

Tennis Coach

Strong enough to make the Georgian National Team at the age of 8, George is a fierce yet compassionate tennis professional who has played throughout the world. As a coach for more than two decades, he has also earned a number of qualifications from RPT, ITF USPTA and PTCA, as well as an MBA in Sport Management. The strategic side of the sport – game planning, developing and evolution – are what keep him hooked and drove him to turn his childhood favourite sport into a career.

George is active off the tennis court too, often walking or hiking outdoors.

Nationality: Georgian
Languages: English, Russian
Location: ACTIVE, Al Maryah Island
Ask About: His favourite match

GORANA Stevanović Šarčević

Head of Tennis

Gorana’s first tennis lesson was at age 6, and since that time she has proven herself to be incredibly talented in the sport. As a player, she reached No. 7 in Europe, was ranked by WTA, also earning three national championships before becoming a tennis instructor in 2011. Having worked in Germany, Serbia and the UAE, Gorana’s favourite thing about tennis is the feeling of proudly lifting a trophy. This talented female tennis coach is licensed by the Tennis Federation of Serbia.

​When she has free time, Gorana can be often found studying to finish her sports degree or spending time with friends.

Nationality: Serbian
Languages: English, Serbo-Croatian
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Her dog, Kan

Jenia Kovalov

Figure Skating Coach

The son of a figure skating coach, Jenia was already hooked on the sport by the time he was 4. He attended classes in his hometown before transferring to a sport development centre. Under the guidance of high performance coaches, competed in international competitions including top scores in the Ukraine National Championships (top 5) and the Winter Sports International (top 3). Though he liked competing, it was the coaching element that he really connected with, leading him to pursue a Master of Physical Education and Sports and coaching certification from the Ice Skating Institute (ISI).

In his decade of coaching, Jenia counts three national champions among his former students. His favourite part of coaching is watching a development plan become successful (especially jumps), and the underrated element of off-ice training. He is a sport researcher, having published articles in scientific journals.

A self-described “IT Guy”, Jenia likes to code in his free time, as well as swimming, playing football, and travelling.

Nationality: Ukrainian
Languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian
Ask About: His celebrity doppelganger.

Renata Rebecca Alfoldi

Tennis Coach

Targeted as a performance tennis player since age 5, Renata’s tennis achievements span decades and continents. As a junior player she won her county’s championship when she was 10 years old and remained a top 10 player until she was 18. Following on this success, she shifted into coaching and became certified by the PTR.

Renata’s work in the UAE has nurtured tennis players at all levels and abilities and never shies away from a challenge. Putting in hard work makes the payoff even more worthwhile, and this is what drives her love of tennis.

Swimming, roller skating, ice skating and family time are Renata’s favourite ways to enjoy her free time.

Nationality: Romanian
Languages: English, Spanish, Romanian
Location: Zayed Sports City, ACTIVE Al Maryah
Ask About: Rod Stewart’s concert

Salma Abdelrahim

Arabic Tennis Coach

As a four-year-old, Salma fell in love with tennis because she thought it was magic. While walking through a local sports club, she watched a tennis ball stay suspended in the air during service and wanted to learn how this trick was done. Her parents happily enrolled her in the sport and while she learned quickly it was not magic, she was hooked on the sport. Before her 16^th birthday, she was already a U-18 top-3 player in Egypt and had ITF points.

Her talent earned her a place in the Division I NCAA competition in the USA where she earned more than a dozen accolades in her conference, a Louisiana All-State Honorable Mention, and some WTA points. After earning a business management degree, she was still not ready to hang her racket and started to pursue a career in coaching by getting PTR certified. She’s since coached in the USA, Egypt, and UAE.

Salma is pretty tennis obsessed and even in her free time you’re likely to find her on the court or watching matches.

Nationality: Egyptian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Her super strict professor

Sherif Nazir

Arabic Tennis Coach

Once he started playing tennis at 6 years old, Sherif could not be slowed down. A celebrity on his home country’s tennis circuit, Sherif ranked as a top 15 player in his country for his entire time playing, eventually reaching the Number 2 spot in Egypt. He has collected wins on both the ITF and ETF circuits.

Tennis is where Sherif focuses most of his energy, both as an active competitive player and as a coach. His on-court experience combined with coaching qualifications from the ITF and GPTCA have helped him get maximum performance from his players, including several junior players ranked in the Egyptian top three. Watching his players move closer to their goals is a big motivation for Sherif to continue in this career.

In addition to being a great tennis coach, Sherif is a DJ who mixes music in his spare time.

Nationality: Egyptian & Mauritian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: A big recruiting mistake