Dubai: The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and the UAE Basketball Association (UAE BA) may consider participation of the UAE national teams in future editions of the annual Dubai International Junior Basketball Championships.
The second edition of the Dubai International Junior Basketball Championships was formally announced at the DSC premises on Thursday with eight teams, led by Germany’s Bayern Munich, Al Ahli, Egypt, Partizan Belgrade, Serbia and Al Riyadhi, Jordan participating alongside the four clubs from Dubai.
The tournament will once again be played at the American University in Dubai (AUD) from August 27 to September 2.
Ahmad Salem Al Muhairi, manager, Academies Section, DSC and head of the Organising Committee for the tournament, said: “We have spoken about the national teams’ participation and this is now being looked into by the technical committee of the competition for a future date.
“We realise that such a move can only be a win-win situation for everyone as the move will be so much in keeping with the Dubai Sports Council’s strategy of developing the youth sector through sport,” he added.
Also present was Salim Rashid Al Mutawa’a, general secretary, UAE Basketball Association (UAE BA) and Miso Pancetovic, athletics director, AUD.
The teams have been divided into two groups with Bayern Munich, Al Ahli, Egypt, Al Nasr, Dubai and Al Ahli, Dubai placed in Group A, while Group B consists of Partizan Belgrade, Serbia, Al Riyadhi, Jordan, Al Wasl, Dubai Al Shabab, Dubai.
All teams will play each other in the group stages before the quarter-finalists are decided. The semi-finals and final will be held on September 1 and 2. The tournament will open with Bayern Munich facing Al Ahli, Dubai at 4pm on Saturday.
“Competitions like the Dubai International Junior Basketball Championships are an essential part of our strategic growth for the junior sector. We cater to popular sports such as football, handball and basketball so that our youngsters have an opportunity to interact and play against some tough overseas opposition,” Al Muhairi related.
“Most of the young players from Dubai clubs will constitute the UAE national squad in the near future and this tournament will be a wonderful chance for them to grow in their sport,” he added.
The inaugural edition last year was won by FC Barcelona with a narrow 72-70 win over Sharjah Club. The Catalans had earlier defeated pre-tournament favourites Partizan Belgrade 85-82 in the semi-final.
Running alongside the tournament will be a technical workshop at the Novotel Hotel along with a hands-on coaching session dealing with best European practices in basketball.
The organising committee will also be arranging cultural programmes for visiting teams, including visits to eminent Dubai landmarks and heritage sites.
Held in cooperation with the UAE Basketball Association and AUD, the second edition of the championships has Emirates, Al Naboudah Audi, Events Organisation Committee, Medeor Hospital and Vertex Trading LLC, along with main partners Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Aquafina, Almarai, Khalifa Tower, Pocari Sweat, Ronaldo’s Spago and Bonton.
