Paul Pogba's Unconventional Gambit: The Future of Camel Racing
A new player has entered the high-stakes world of camel racing, one that may raise eyebrows but could potentially elevate the sport to a global stage. Paul Pogba, the former Manchester United midfielder and world record signing, has become a shareholder in Saudi Arabian-based Al Haboob, the world's first professional camel racing team.
The 28-year-old Frenchman sees an opportunity to not only invest in the sport but also leave his mark on it. "I've always been someone who wants to try new things and do things differently," Pogba said. "That mindset has followed me into my business world, too."
With a reported value of millions of pounds, Al Haboob's camels are among the most prized in the sport. The team competes across the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf, with last year's prize pool for the AlUla Camel Cup reaching $6.4m.
But what draws Pogba to this unusual pursuit? "I've watched my fair share of races on YouTube and spent time doing research in my spare time trying to understand the techniques and strategies," he said. "And what stood out to me is how much dedication it takes from everyone involved."
Al Haboob's ambitions go beyond just winning competitions. The team sees itself as a symbol of Saudi Arabia's national pride, with its founders Omar Almaeena and Safwan Modir aiming to shape the future of camel racing.
However, not all praise has been forthcoming for the sport. Criticisms have centered on animal welfare and the use of child jockeys, which has led to the introduction of robot jockeys equipped with GPS tracking. Al Haboob's camels are trained and cared for to world-class standards, according to Modir.
The investment may come as a surprise to fans, but Pogba insists his involvement is genuine. "At the end of the day, sport is sport," he said. "It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork."
As Al Haboob looks to expand its reach and compete on a global stage, one thing is clear: camel racing has just become a whole lot more interesting with Paul Pogba at the helm.
A new player has entered the high-stakes world of camel racing, one that may raise eyebrows but could potentially elevate the sport to a global stage. Paul Pogba, the former Manchester United midfielder and world record signing, has become a shareholder in Saudi Arabian-based Al Haboob, the world's first professional camel racing team.
The 28-year-old Frenchman sees an opportunity to not only invest in the sport but also leave his mark on it. "I've always been someone who wants to try new things and do things differently," Pogba said. "That mindset has followed me into my business world, too."
With a reported value of millions of pounds, Al Haboob's camels are among the most prized in the sport. The team competes across the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf, with last year's prize pool for the AlUla Camel Cup reaching $6.4m.
But what draws Pogba to this unusual pursuit? "I've watched my fair share of races on YouTube and spent time doing research in my spare time trying to understand the techniques and strategies," he said. "And what stood out to me is how much dedication it takes from everyone involved."
Al Haboob's ambitions go beyond just winning competitions. The team sees itself as a symbol of Saudi Arabia's national pride, with its founders Omar Almaeena and Safwan Modir aiming to shape the future of camel racing.
However, not all praise has been forthcoming for the sport. Criticisms have centered on animal welfare and the use of child jockeys, which has led to the introduction of robot jockeys equipped with GPS tracking. Al Haboob's camels are trained and cared for to world-class standards, according to Modir.
The investment may come as a surprise to fans, but Pogba insists his involvement is genuine. "At the end of the day, sport is sport," he said. "It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork."
As Al Haboob looks to expand its reach and compete on a global stage, one thing is clear: camel racing has just become a whole lot more interesting with Paul Pogba at the helm.
. But seriously, it's kinda cool that he's trying to bring some excitement to this sport. I've never been a fan of camel racing myself, but if someone as famous as Pogba is getting involved, maybe it'll grow on me.
. Either way, I guess it's gonna be interesting to watch!
. I mean, it's not every day you see a footballer like Pogba getting involved in something so... different 
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! It's not just about the camels, but also about the community and culture surrounding the sport. And who knows, maybe we'll see more footballers getting involved in unusual pursuits 
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. That's something we can all get behind! 
. Its not like they're forcing kids to ride them or anything! I mean, its a sport, yeah its different but its still gotta have some skill involved right? And those robots for jockeys sound kinda cool btw 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see some high-stakes action on camels? But, at the same time, I do have some reservations about it all. Like, I know Al Haboob's taking steps to improve animal welfare and all that, but it's still a pretty niche sport, you know? And what's with the kid jockeys thing? That's gotta be super concerning.
I'm also curious to see how he'll bring his own skills to the table – after all, that midfielder mind is pretty sharp 
. Overall, I think this is gonna be an interesting ride, but we'll have to keep an eye on things to make sure everything stays on track. 
Only time will tell, but I'm happy to be along for the ride 
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. But I have to ask, how do they train those camels for racing? And what's with all the fuss about animal welfare? Can we talk about something else like... did you guys know that the new iPhone comes in a pink color this year? 
. The fact that he's doing his research and taking the sport seriously is a big plus. And I love how Al Haboob sees itself as a symbol of Saudi Arabia's national pride - it's cool to see sports being used to bring people together 
. It'll be interesting to see if Al Haboob can make camel racing more appealing to a wider audience and if Pogba can bring some of his football expertise to the table 
? I guess when you're worth millions, you can try your hand at anything. The sport itself is pretty niche, but hey, if it brings in some serious cash and gives Saudi Arabia a shot at being taken seriously on the global stage, I'm all for it 
. At least the camels are getting treated like royalty, which is more than I can say for most professional sports teams 
. The introduction of robot jockeys with GPS tracking is a good step forward, but I'd love to see more transparency and accountability from the team.
. I get that it's not perfect, but trying to make the sport more accessible and appealing can help bring people together, you know? 
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