Sporting glory for city school

Abdi Ahmed and Scott Hillman destined for football's big time

Three rising sporting stars who all come from the same school are being tipped for great things.

Best friends Abdi Ahmed and Scott Hillman, both aged 15, from Cardiff's Fitzalan High School are each on the verge of signing contracts with football giants Manchester United and Celtic.

And fellow pupil Lynette Lisle, 14, is a junior British gymnastics champion who has been invited to train with the British Olympic team.

On Wednesday Abdi and Scott were training with the Wales Under-16s team ahead of their game with the Republic of Ireland at Aberdare on Friday.

Striker Abdi, who last year scored a hat-trick for Wales Under-15s in a 4-1 victory over the Irish, said: "We've been very close friends since we both started to play for Grange Albion when we were seven or eight so we've been through a lot together."

Gymnastics champion Lynette Lisle has been invited to train with Britain's Olympic squad

The two have also played for Grangetown Boys' Club, their school and Cardiff schools.

Although they are not officially allowed to sign professional terms with the clubs until they have completed their GCSEs next Summer, they have been assured they will be given contracts.

Arsenal fan Abdi was overwhelmed when he was approached by the Red Devils: "I was so excited and happy with myself, it was a feeling I can't describe and my aim is to one day play in the Premiership."

And although defender Scott comes from a family of avid Rangers fans he is delighted to be bound for Celtic Park.

"It was amazing at first because most of my family are Rangers fans - all my mum's side are Scottish - but they've been right behind me."

Olympic dream

Lynette, who began her interest in gymnastics at the age of four, started her training at the Cardiff Central Youth Club.

"The person I really look up to is world champion Svetlana Khorkina from Russia."

She has a strict training regime which involves four hours of practice, six days a week.

Lynette said: "I'm hoping to make the next Commonwealth Games and the Olympics one day."

Wally Carter, Fitzalan High School's director of Physical Education, said he was proud of the trio's achievements.

He said: "Lynette is a very exciting prospect and both Abdi and Scott have got a really good chance of making it."