COACHING TEAM
Zayed Sports Academy's reputation as having the best sports coaches is because we've earned it - Zayed Sports Academy coaches have high standards to meet. Whether coaching aspiring superstars or family-oriented mums and dads, all of our coaches have proven technical and practical experience. Each tennis coach and ice skating coach on our roster holds internationally recognized certification to ensure our players develop solid foundations and proper techniques.
TRAIN UNDER THE BEST TENNIS & ICE SKATING COACHES IN THE UAE
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
Aleksa Dordevic
Tennis Coach
Nationality: Serbian
Languages: English, Serbian
Location: Zayed Sports City
Elena Shurakova
Figure Skating Coach
Nationality: Russian
Languages: English, Russian
Location: Zayed Sports City
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.
LOUANN CORTEZ
Ice Skating Coach
Louann started ice skating as a teenager and quickly took to the sport, finding a hidden talent in many disciplines on the ice. Having fallen in love with ice hockey, she’s proven her abilities representing the Philippines on the ice for eight years and as a current coach for the UAE Women’s National Team. She also holds coaching certification from the Ice Skating Institute of Asia which allows her to coach Learn to Skate through Delta level. Balance and control are the critical elements of skating that she appreciates most.
Off of the ice, Louann can be found relaxing by the beach, cycling or camping.
Nationality: Filipina
Languages: English, Tagalog
Ask About: Why she hates shoes
MARILOU DELA CRUZ
Ice Skating Coach
Marilou has a unique perspective on ice skating, having started her formal training as an adult in 2013. This allows her to be empathetic to the challenges of adult learners and patient with young ones alike. She has coached since 2016 and proudly holds certification from the Ice Skating Institute of Asia.
A convert to Islam, Marilou spends free time learning to read the Quran and write in Arabic.
Nationality: Filipina
Languages: English, Tagalog
Ask About: The sport she loves but cannot do well
Mohamed Helmi
Tennis Coach
Mohamed was 10 years old when he took his first tennis lesson and he has been playing ever since. As a junior, he made significant strides, earning several semi-final and final round bids at Egypt’s national tournament. Strong play continued as he worked towards his degree in sport science when Mohamed won singles in the Egyptian University Sports Federation.
Following university, Mohamed became a professional first tennis and proved himself as a strong leader by earning Trainer of the Year accolades for his performance. Throughout his coaching career, Mohamed has earned a number of certifications with international institutes including ITF, GPTCA, USPTA and RPT. He’s also completed a technical workshop with the International Olympic Committee and supported clinics led by superstars including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Because tennis is fun and challenging, Mohamed continues to grow and commit as both a coach and player.
Scuba diving and working out are among the ways that Mohamed enjoys time off the courts.
Nationality: Egyptian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: What is always in his tennis bag
Omar Mohamed
Tennis Coach
Omar has been involved with tennis for nearly two decades. A coach since 2006, he spent a year working with the South African national team, a stint on the staff of Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy, and developed his U12 team into the Top 10.
In addition to certification from the International Tennis Federation, Omar has a degree in physical education and coaching. He is heavily involved in Special Olympics, coaching the team in 2019 and 2023, and attending numerous trainings to work with special needs athletes.
The variety in tactics is his favorite part of tennis.
Omar enjoys sports in his free time, such as running and watching football matches.
Nationality: Egyptian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Snow City
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 16th 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