Sport | Football
etisalat launches fantasy football for UAE fans
etisalat has launched Fantasy Football for the etisalat First Division Football League, styled on the lines of the Fantasy Football that British and Spanish leagues offer their fans.
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:41 March 11, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- Mohammad Bin Dhokan, chairman of UAE FA's Technical Committee, Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi and Nasser Bin Obood at press conference to announce the etisalat Fantasy Football League.
Abu Dhabi: etisalat has launched Fantasy Football for the etisalat First Division Football League, styled on the lines of the Fantasy Football that British and Spanish leagues offer their fans.
Nasser Bin Obood, etisalat chief corporate affairs officer, unveiled the league at a press conference yesterday at the Emirates Palace Hotel.
"Fans can now manage their own teams, create their own leagues and the 'Best Manager' will get a fully-paid trip to Euro 2000 while other winners will earn talk time credit totalling Dh27,000," Bin Obood said.
Armed with a budget of Dh100 million, fans can pick 11 players from a list of players in the Etisalat Football League. Like their real-life counterparts, managers choose their teams based on players' current and projected performance.
Al Wahda striker Esmail Mattar along with a few others have been 'priced' at Dh19 million and managers can also change players at the end of the month.
The Best Manager award goes to the person whose players perform at the highest level in the actual Etisalat Football League, during the current 2007-2008 season.
The competition will continue until the last week of the current Etisalat Football League season. The Best Manager will attend the Euro 2008 semifinals and final, courtesy of etisalat, complete with five nights in Vienna.
There will also be monthly winner in March, April and May, with first-prize winners receiving talk time credit for Dh5,000.
Long-term commitment
Bin Obood pointed out that etisalat has launched a number of other initiatives for football fans in the UAE and beyond, including a recently-launched interactive website.
"The Fantasy Football League reflects the long-term commitment we continue to show to promoting the game in the UAE," said Bin Obood.
Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, chairman of UAE FA welcomed the league and hoped it would boost the game in the UAE. "etisalat have always supported football in the UAE and I hope this new initiative by them will bring in positive results," he said.
Subscribe to the league at www.etisalat.ae/football free of charge.
Sport Editor's choice
-
Winning Desert Classic close to McIlroy's heart
Joint-leader draws inspiration from girlfriend's personal pursuit of perfection
-
Top teams hold on to their positions
Of the strugglers, Emirates continue their climb up the table after some superb performances while Sharjah drop
-
Staking a claim
Mendip bounces back to his best form to win middle leg of Al Maktoum Challenge
