Sharjah Club may step in as replacement

Dubai: Former Arab Clubs’ champions Sharjah Club could become the latest side to be confirmed for the 2nd American University of the UAE Youth Basketball Championships to be held at Al Shabab Club later this month.

Tournament Director Sami Awad said that talks were on with Sharjah Club to lure them to the competition to be held here from May 17-24.

Last week, organisers confirmed the participation of Barako Bull Energy Cola (Philippines); Al Sahel (Kuwait); Al Ahli (Libya) and Zamalek (Egypt) along with hosts Al Shabab.

Talks have also been held with Amchit from Lebanon, Samara from Russia and Al Gharafa of Qatar about them taking part. “But with these three clubs unable to confirm their participation, we had to try and get suitable replacements so that we could maintain the status and quality of this competition,” Awad told Gulf News.

Of the participating teams, Zamalek have already confirmed their line-up of players while also getting Egypt Air as one of its sponsors, while Hoops Club have agreed to replace Amchit Club, Lebanon, in the tournament.

Hoops Club were formed a few years back after professional players such as Ghazi Boustani, Elie Nasser, Rabih Saliba and Hussain Khatib were recruited when the team entered Division Four of the Lebanon Basketball League. And by the end of the 2009-’10 season Hoops Club had managed to claw their way to third place in the championship.

“Hoops Club have shown us what they are capable of in the past following their much-talked-about entry in Division One basketball in Lebanon over a span of few years. I am sure the Lebanese community in Dubai will turn out in huge numbers to support some of the stars in Lebanese basketball,” Awad said.

The eight-team competition is being organised by Al Mashreq Al Arabi Promotions, with Al Sadaf Group one of the co-sponsors.

Meanwhile, the organising committee for the competition has been finalised with Faris Al Mutawa as chairman and Mattar Surour as deputy chairman.