Dubai: An additional four teams have been included for the seven-a-side Seventh Maktoum Bin Rashid Football Championship that will get under way at the Dubai Police Officers Club from the third day of Ramadan.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the annual tournament had 16 teams last year, but due to popular demand the organisers decided to increase the participation by four. The final of the tournament is scheduled for the 19th day of Ramadan.
Held regularly since its first time in 2011, participating teams enrol some of the top players from the UAE, the Arab and foreign countries. The competition is an ideal platform for government departments and institutions to meet and compete in an off-field atmosphere of fraternity.
Last year, the Joker team was crowned champion following a hard-fought 3-2 win over the RAK Hawks, while hosts Dubai Police finished in third place.
Major General Mohammad Saeed Al Marri, Director of the General Department of Community Happiness, said that the Organising Committee had decided to increase the number of teams as there had been a growing demand for the same. “We achieve a lot of social benefits through an event of this stature. Our youths stand to benefit by taking part in competitive sport during the holy month,” Al Marri said.
Sponsored by Emirates NBD, Leader Sport, Pocari Sweat, Al Rawabi and Joma, there will be fur matches every day with the first one starting at 10pm. Each match will be played over two halves of 20 minutes each with an interval of ten minutes in-between. Only the top two teams from each group will qualify to the knockout quarter-finals.
“This tournament has been hugely popular since we held it for the first time in 2011. This year too we’ve got teams from other neighbouring emirates and this is a great opportunity for our youths to interact and build bridges,” Al Marri said.
Salah Al Muhairi will be heading the Finance Committee, while Tariq Abdullah Al Rumaithi will be the Chairman of the Media Committee.
GROUPINGS
(Group A) Al Marhoun Khamis; Barcelona; Blu Grana; Sport For All; The Gunners
(Group B) Al Marouf; Al Fursan; Bin Darwish; Al Joker; Tornado
(Group C) Challenge; Al Nojoom Stars; MK Team; Al Theyaba; Al Difa Al Madani
(Group D) Mohammad Ali; Leader Sport; Al Joma; Technical College; Al Eyala
-Ends
