DUBAI - Iranian stars
Ali Karimi and Farhad Majidi will join the masters of the
game from Latin America and Africa as Shaikh Rashid team
line-up in the colours of Cellucom to take on Lebanon
national team in the opener of the prestigious Ramadan
International Football Championship at Dubai Police
Officers Club today. Kick off 9.30pm.
The first clash will kick off after a brief opening
ceremony set to start half an hour earlier.
The 16-day event will be graced by General Shaikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and
UAE Minister of Defence.
Shaikh Rashid and his brothers Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum will also display their skills with the
team in their first test of the competition.
“We knew that our team will face a very strong
opposition from the top African sides featuring in the
championship, but we are still hot favourites to defend
our title,” Shaikh Rashid told newsmen at the
Officers Club on Saturday night following a light
work-out for the squad.
“Zambian senior team are hopeful to qualify for
Germany 2006 which means that they are not going to be
easy opponents. Former African Cup winners Al Mareekh
from Sudan will also receive very strong support from the
Sudanese community living in the UAE. We know they are
all football crazy fans and will cheer their players
enthusiastically,” he said.
Arun Nagar, managing director of Cellucom said: “Football
remains the most popular sport in the UAE and is one of
the main attractions among local youth.
“Cellucom has decided to utilise the event as a
platform for increasing its brand value among the society
and we are proud to be part of this sporting event that
provides an exciting opportunity for the youth to compete
with professional players,” he said.
Meanwhile, Al Mareekh have arrived early morning
yesterday at Dubai International Airport and received a
warm welcome from the officials and their fans as well.
According to the Egyptian coach Mahmoud Saad, the players
are in their best form and will not be affected by the
fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
League leaders
“I think this will add spiritual push to our
efforts,” he said with a smile.
“Al Mareekh have won their last league outing and we
are now leading the pack with comfortable margin,”
he added. Both Lebanese and Yemen national teams along
with the Iraq’s Shortta have already arrived in
Dubai on Friday and started their preparations for the
tough test.
“We are also pleased to welcome our brothers from
Iraq after their splendid performance during the recent
Athens Olympic Games,” Shaikh Rashid commented.
“The Iraqis have finished fourth in the football
competition and this is a very good achievement for the
Arab football at the international level,” he said.
“As a gesture of support for the Iraqi people,
Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum will sponsor Shortta
during the tournament,” he confirmed.
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