Emirates airline will sponsor UAE league champions Al Ahli for the Asian Clubs Nescafe basketball championship to be held from June 1-8. The event, hosted by Al Ahli for the first time in the tournament's 12-year history and organised by the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC), features 12 Asian clubs at Al Ahli indoor sports hall.

The teams are divided into two groups: Group A: defending champions Segassi (Lebanon), Al Rayan (Qatar), Aspac Texmaco (Indonesia), Al Qadisya (Kuwait), Al Wahda (Syria), National Qartz (Kyrgyzstan). Group B: hosts Al Ahli (UAE), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Zob Ahan (Iran), Petronas (Malaysia), Al Manama (Bahrain) and Wnling (Hong Kong). Each group plays a round-robin league with the winners and runners-up qualifying for the semifinals, to be held on June 7.

The deal was announced at a press conference held at Al Ahli Club yesterday, which was attended by Ghaith Al Ghaith, Commercial Operations Director, Emirates, Mohammed Mattar, Al Ahli Club assistant general secretary, Abdul Rahim Mardas, member Al Ahli developing resources committee, Ali Ateq, Al Ahli basketball manager, Abdullattif Abdul Ellah, Al Ahli basketball team skipper, also two professional players from Ukraine and Lithuania.

However the amount of the deal was not revealed. "It's suitable for both parties. We will not decline the deal, but I can say it's a good amount for our club," said Mohammed Mattar. He said they received better offers from other companies which was double the Emirates' offer, but they decided to accept Emirates as a UAE national company.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates, said in a press release, "Emirates is committed to supporting local sports and local talent, especially when competing in the international arena. It's natural to sponsor the UAE in such a prestigious international tournament. We will use our knowledge and experience in promoting this type of event worldwide, especially when our own UAE champion is competing on its home court."

Al Ahli players will don the colours bearing the familiar "Fly Emirates" logo of the award-winning airline. The sponsorship will also assist Al Ahli to secure the playing rights of two import professionals as per the rules of the tournament. The two professionals are: Ukranian national team giant Grygorij Hiznjak, who stands 2 metres 16 centimetres tall, and Lithuanian national team player Donatas Slanina 1 metre 91 centimetre.

Ghaith Al Ghaith said, "We can use this opportunity to capitalise on our exposure to international markets due to extensive television coverage of the tournament. There are many teams competing in the championship from Emirates destinations throughout Asia, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, as well as from the Middle East region such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran and Lebanon."

If history is any indication of what to expect from the Asian teams, then Al Ahli will have to be in top form in order to have success in one of the most competitive tournaments. Teams representing various Asian countries have won nine out of the previous eleven tournaments, including three titles by Chinese teams, and four by Filippino teams.

"We are pleased to associate ourselves with an event that reaches such diverse and wide audience while at the same time helping the UAE champions' quest for the title. We wish them all the best during the tournament," added Al Ghaith.

Emirates diverse international sport portfolio includes the sponsorship of the Chelsea Football Club in London, the 1999 Cricket World Cup Championship team from Australia, the Emirates World Series Racing Championship, Rugby 7s events in London, Wales and South Africa as Australian Rules Football and the PGA European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic. The Airline is also proud to sponsor the Ramadan basketball championship held annually in Dubai.

Mohammed Mattar expressed delight over sponsorship. "We are delighted with Emirates' decision to sponsor our team during the Asian clubs championship. We would like to thank Emirates for their support and generosity as we prepare to take on some of the best teams of the region and across Asia," he said.

Ali Ateq, the Al Ahli basketball manager, said that his team was well prepared for the event. "Our team has been preparing during the last domestic and GCC season. We also played in local tournaments, the FA Cup and the league championship which we won. We held a training camp in Greece before taking part in the GCC clubs championship held in Bahrain, and then the Super Cup, which we also won.

“I think Al Ahli will be the top contender to win the title, particularly we are playing among our home crowd,” Ali Ateq said.