Abu Dhabi: Ten teams will battle it out for a slice of the Dh555,000 prize on offer in the First Arabian Women's Football Tournament which kicks off on February 21.
The tournament, the first-ever to be held at this level in the region, is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Club in association with the Armed Forces Officers' Club and UAE FA.
The tournament was earlier scheduled for a January 8 start, but was postponed owing to the demise of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Addressing a press conference at the AFOC premises, Major General Mohammad Hilal Al Ka'abi, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee for the tournament, said the 10 teams will play in a league-cum-knockout format.
"There is a total prize money of Dh555,000 and two teams from each group will play in the semifinals," Al Ka'abi said. "This is the first time such an event is being played here and we are keen to make it an annual event," he said.
Five national teams representing Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine along with Oman Club and Orthodox Club from Jordan, Aramco Club from Saudi Arabia, Oman team and Abu Dhabi Sports Club, representing the UAE, will be in the fray.
Commenting on the formation of a UAE team, Al Ka'abi said there were quite a lot of UAE national women and girls playing the sport. "If we have to field a UAE team we can do it," he said.
Mohsin Mahfooz, member of the organising committee, said the seven-a-side event will be played at the AFOC and Abu Dhabi Sports Club. The final is on February 27.
Tournament director Monira Safar said each member of the winning team will get Dh18,000 while runners-up will get Dh15,000 each. "Third-placed team members will get Dh12,000 each while fourth-placed team members will get Dh5,000 each," she said.
Mohsin Mahfooz, member of the organising committee, said the seven-a-side event will be played in two venues the AFOC and the Abu Dhabi Sports Club and the final is scheduled for February 27.
