6 Teams Compete to Clinch the Title of the 10th Edition Tournament.. Hazza bin Zayd U-16 International Football Tournament Kicks off on 9th April
The Higher Organizing Committee of the Hazza bin Zayed U-161 International Football Tournament 2018 held its 8th meeting on Saturday at Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain Club, chaired by Sultan Rashid, Board Member of Al Ain Club Football Company and Sports Director. The committee members discussed all arrangements for launching the 10th edition of the tournament under the theme of “The Year of Zayed”, which is scheduled to kick off on 9th April and will be concluded by 15th April at Tahnoon bin Mohammed Stadium in Qattara, while the final match was decided to be held at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
This year, six U-16 teams from different football schools are competing to win the title of the tournament: the Spanish team “Real Betis”, the English team “Everton”, the Argentina “Deportivo Atalaya” and the Slovakian “Žilina”, along with UAE teams Al Jazira and Al Ain. The meeting was attended by the Tournament Director, Abdullah Ali, Al Ain Football Academy Supervisor, Ali Khamis, the Technical Director of the Al Ain club and the Technical Committee Chairman, Rashid Abdullah, the Head of the Public Facilities Management Committee, Badriyya Al Alawi, Chairman of Public Relations and Protocol Committee, Abdullah Khoury, Chairman of Marketing Committee, Ahmed Al Ka’abi, Chairman of the Fans Committee, Dr. Tawfiq Suleiman, Chairman of the Medical Committee, Adel Taha, Chairman of the Security Committee, Mohamed Amir, Chairman of Secretariat and General Coordination Committee, Mohamed Zaher, and Khaled Mustafa, Chairman of the Media Committee.
Sultan Rashid stressed that the biggest challenge for the Organizing Committee is to adopt a policy of the principle of self-competition, in comparison with the remarkable successes that have been associated with the name and reputation of Hazza Bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament every year, given that the 10th edition of the tournament will be launched under the theme of the “Year of Zayed”, may Allah rest his soul in peace, the founder of our beloved country. The leader who is the role model for all generations in expressing the humane side of the mankind and inspiring creativity from the past to keep pace with the present and shape the future.
He explained that the gains attained by the UAE football sector and Al Ain Club through the organization of the Hazza bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament are countless. He stated: “Such an achievement will be always creating more challenges that we have to deal with and push us to the limit and to excel at each edition of the tournament hosted by UAE. I have full confidence in all members of committees to do their best in order to make this edition of the tournament a success story and be an outstanding and prominent football championship for juniors at the level of the continent and the regions as well.”
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hazza Bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament expressed his deep appreciation for the continuous care and support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in supporting sports and athletes in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He stressed: “The Abu Dhabi Sports Council remains a key supporter and strategic partner in the success of the international tournament since launching the first edition in 2008.”
“We also appreciate the sincere efforts exerted by the Board of Directors of Al Ain Club Football Company under the chairmanship of H.E. Ghanem Mubarak Al Hajeri for the constant follow-up, remarkable support and furnishing all the grounds for the success of this international tournament in its 10th edition.”
Sultan Rashid praised the efforts of the Tournament Director, Abdullah Ali, for his keenness to follow up all details of work mechanism of since the formation of the tournament committees. He also hailed the performance of all committees to fulfill their commitments and tasks entrusted to them on time without any delay. Additionally, he reassured that the experience that Al Ain Club enjoys in organizing the biggest events at all levels locally and internationally has enabled it to keep abreast of the signs of development by adopting best practices to achieve the highest indicators of success.
He added: “We also express our deepest appreciation and thanks to all the media representatives for their distinctive coverage of the tournament in a professional manner that calls for pride and appreciation for all the UAE media, audio and video. We are all confident that the 10th edition of the tournament will receive the proper attention from the local and foreign media.”
He added: “We thank the sponsors of the tournament who have been the key supporters and partners in its success, namely: “Nirvana Travel & Tourism”, “Laderakh” Mohammed Rasul Khoury & Sons Group, Heili Rehana Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA/ Health), UAE University, Lausanne Group, Cavallo, Al Ain Pharmacy, Al Tarikh Restaurant, Al Fawa’a Mall, Barari Outlet Mall, Badawi Mall, Heili Mall, Al Ain Municipality, Al Fawa’a for Dates, Al Ain Animal Production Plant, Golden Lamb Restaurant and Grills, Sweets Palace and Hafeet Grand Station.
For his part, Talal Al Hashemi, Director of Technical Affairs Department at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stressed the keenness of the Council to support the Hazza Bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament 2018, which reached its 10th year, amid great interest from the participants to benefit from the outputs of the tournament, especially as it hosts various football schools.
Al Hashemi said: “The tournament has achieved a lot of technical and educational goals since its inception, which contributed to the refinement of many promising talents at the level of Abu Dhabi clubs and football academies and teams of the junior stages. The championship has also provided throughout the history of the useful technical contact and friction with their peers from different countries and European academies.”
Al Hashemi expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to the management of Al Ain Club for its keenness to adopt the policy of excellence in every new tournament, wishing success to Al Jazira and Al Ain in their race to clinch the title of the 10th edition of Hazza bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament.
