UAE face tough task in beach soccer

Dubai: The UAE will have to battle world champions Russia, Tahiti and Nigeria in Group A, while Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland and Oman will face each other in Group B of the inaugural Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup 2011, which will be held at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence, from November 22 to 26.

Joan Cusco, Vice-President of Beach Soccer Worldwide and a Fifa board member, Dr Ahmad Sa'ad Al Sharif, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Alex Soriano from the organisers were among the dignitaries present at the draw ceremony held at the Dusit Thani Hotel on Wednesday.

"The 2009 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup was a huge success here and we thought it would be best to have another high-profile event that would ensure the sport continues having a following while being a celebration of the World Cup," said Cusco.

"This event may be smaller than the World Cup but the potential is much bigger as the best teams from the continents will be involved," he said.

The first three days of competition will see all four teams play each other once and the top two from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

In Group A, UAE is there as hosts, Russia qualify as European and world champions, Tahiti as Oceania champions and African champions Nigeria.

In Group B, Switzerland is there as European runners-up, Mexico as North American champions, Oman as the Asian representative, and Brazil by virtue of being the top-ranked team in the world.

"We could not have asked for a better field of teams. Entry to the matches will be absolutely free and we are hoping to build on the success of the world cup here less than two years back," said Dr Al Sharif.

UAE team coach Marcelo Mendes said, "The semi-finals is what we will be looking at, but we first ought to take one match at a time in the group stages."