Tuesday, Apr 02, 2013
Dubai: Argentinian outfit Boca Juniors and Spanish club Valencia CF are sending youth teams to Dubai to compete in the Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Under-19 International Football Tournament from April 6 to 15.
The foreign giants will join defending champions Lega Pro Italy and the five club teams in Dubai — Al Ahli, Al Wasl, Al Shabab, Al Nasr and Dubai Club — in the third edition of the competition.
Ali Omar Al Beloushi, Director of Sports Corporations at Dubai Sports Council (DSC), believes the organising of such tournaments will be of great benefit to the UAE’s young stars.
“One of the core responsibilities of the Dubai Sports Council is to develop youth players. In just two years we have had seven players graduating into their senior teams, while another three have made it to the UAE national squad. This success speaks for itself and we are confident this tournament will further help our youth to develop,” Al Beloushi said.
“We are always looking at new ways to promote sports and allied activities and the door is always open to all clubs in the UAE to participate.
“We will not be looking too much at the results. We realise that all three [visiting] teams are technically more gifted than our boys, but that is one of the main reasons why we have invited these teams here.”
Lega Pro Italy will be joined by Al Ahli, Al Wasl and Dubai Club in Group A at Al Ahli Club, while Group B consists of Valencia, Boca Juniors, Al Nasr and Al Shabab playing at Al Nasr Club.
The tournament will start with hosts Al Ahli taking on Dubai Club at 4.30pm on Saturday, followed by Lega Pro Italy against Al Wasl at 6.30pm.
Dubai resident and former Real Madrid and Spain star Michel Salgado and former Boca Juniors star Diego Maradona are expected to attend some matches during the tournament.
Kia Motors, Saif Belhasa Holdings and B360 Watches are the sponsors of the tournament, which is held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of DSC.
By Alaric Gomes Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
