Al Ain set to take part in GCC event

The Al Ain under-18 junior soccer squad, Champions of the League and President's Cup for the last season, are scheduled to leave for Qatar this afternoon via Dubai International Airport to compete in the GCC League Winners Championship.

The event is organised by the Qatari club Al Sad from August 21 to September 1 and Al Ain Juniors will play their opening game against Qadiseya of Kuwait on Thursday.

Al Ain hosted the previous GCC championship at Qattara Stadium, won by Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia.

They are to compete in Doha against hosts Al Sad, Qadiseya of Kuwait, Al Ahli from Bahrain, defending champions Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia and Al Suwaiq from Oman.

The Al Ain squad includes 26 members and is headed by Hamad bin Nikhairat Al Amry, member of the club's Executive Committee and supervisor of the senior, reserve and junior teams.

The team's delegation includes manager Khalid Salim, Egyptian coach Hamdi Noh, assistant coach Hamad Harib, Salah Al Fasi goalkeepers' coach, Wael Hamdan therapist and Abdul Nasir Nazar (worker) along with 20 players.

The players are: Nasir Ahmed, Salim Ahmad, Saleh Mahdi, Rashid Abdullah, Shihab Ahmed, Omer Abdullah, Mahboob Jumaa, Ahmed Eid Rashid, Thamir Rabei Ibrahim, Mohammed Awad Al Darmaki, Mohammed Saleh Salim, Masood Yousuf Habeeb, Omer Humaid Salim, Salim Rashid Saeed, Saood Abdullah bin Bidowa, Saleh Abdullah Saleh, Abdullah Khamis, Abdullah Al Nasry and Hazaa Jawhar.

Al Ain juniors held a three-week camp in France last month where they played five friendlies. They continued their training for one week when they returned home before transferring their camp to Dubai on August 17.

They held their training at Al Nasr Club for two days to assure the players got acquainted to playing in a humid atmosphere similar to that of Doha.