ADEZ make semifinal of women's tournament

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Educational Zone (ADEZ) team reached the semifinal round of the first soccer competition in the UAE for girls' schools which came only days after the country's women's team won the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women Football Championship.

ADEZ were in a class of their own having defeated Western Region Educational Zone 6-0 and Al Ain 4-1 to reach the semifinal in style, awaiting the winner of the second group which features Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman competing from Sunday, when Ajman host Sharjah before Dubai face Sharjah in the second match the next day.

The group concludes the first round when Ajman host Dubai on March 9 to decide the winners who will feature in the semifinals on March 11, while the winners of the third group, featuring only Fujairah EZ and Sharjah E Office, will play against the best second-placed team in the semifinals.

The new competition kicked off as increasing emphasis has been given to women's soccer after the UAE's victory in the WAFF championship.

A number of students, physical education teachers, mothers and the officials including Connie Selby, the Australian coach of the UAE women's team, and Jalila Al Nuaimi, the UAE's captain, attended the matches held at the grounds of the Armed Forces Officers Club, which will also host the semis and finals of the competition.

Hafsa Al Ulama, chairwoman of the Women Football Committee at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in a speech made before kick-off emphasised the importance of the tournament and how it is the best way to discover talented players in order to add them to the country's team, and find suitable training to polish their individual capabilities.

Discovering talent

"It is important for us to adhere to the beliefs, traditions and customs while we practice our game. This tournament is specially organised to unveil the undiscovered talent and help to provide chances for the young girls to improve and polish their raw talent."

Al Ulama, accompanied by Alya Al Hussani, the tournament's director, made the starting pass of the match to announce the beginning of a new era in women's soccer in the UAE.