UNDER THE THEME OF “YEAR OF ZAYED” HBZ U-16 INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT KICKS OFF TOMORROW
AL AIN AND AL JAZIRA INAUGURATE THE TOURNAMENT BY FACING ARGENTINA’S DEPORTIVO AND UK’S EVERTON
VALUABLE PRIZES FOR SPECTATORS AND GREAT EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Hazza Bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament 2018 is scheduled to be officially launched at Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Stadium in Qattara. The accompanying events of inaugurating the 10th edition of the tournament supervised by the organizing committee will be varied. The tournament will be concluded by 15th April with high expectations of teams showing their high technical and quality level while striving to achieve their desired gains through their participation in such competition, as well as collecting the highest points and clinch the dearest title.
The new edition includes six teams: UK’s Everton, Real Betis of Spain, Žilina of Slovakia, Deportivo of Argentina, Al Jazeera and Al Ain of UAE.
Al Ain U-16 Football Team kicks off their journey in this tournament by playing against Deportivo Atalaya in the opening match at 6 p.m., while the opening round also faces a second encounter at 8 p.m. between Al Jazira and Everton.
In this context, the Organizing Committee held a press conference on Saturday 7th April 2018 at the Chairman Lounge at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in the presence of Sultan Rashid, Board Member of Al Ain Club Football Company, Sports Director and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Abdullah Ali, Tournament Director, Ali Khamis, Chairman of technical Committee, and chairmen of other committees of the tournament, as well as s a group of journalists and media representatives.
Sultan Rashid opened the press conference and addressed a welcoming speech where he announced the completion of all the arrangements for the 10th edition of the Hazza Bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament 2018 under the theme of “The Year of Zayed”.
He stated: “We, at Al Ain Club, are proud for organizing one of the most important and successful international tournaments for footballers, which started in 2008. From the beginning, excellence was a title because the idea and name were linked to the founder of the success strategy, H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Council, First Vice President of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, First Vice President of the Honorary Council & Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club.” He added: “Indeed, this gives the Organizing Committee the important motivation to adopt the principle of self-competition and not others. Everyone tasked to carry out certain jobs is well aware of what he or she is meant to do.”
“When we talk about Hazza Bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament, which was the real starting point for many football stars playing right now for UAE national team and Al Ain’s first football team in comparison to the goals we achieved, we remember the characters who went along with their success through hard work and that was the major theme of the tournament in the first edition,” commented Sultan Rashed. He went on to say: “the 1st edition was supervised by H.E. Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President of the General Authority for Sport who has the distinctive touch in the success wherever he serves, simply because he is a great figure and because this tournament is a real representation of the vision of H.H Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan.” He confirmed: “For these reasons, we have to push ourselves to the limit to make it happen and turn this edition to another success story.”
He added: “The success of the first edition of this tournament with the presence of Al Rumaithi was one of the important indicators of the success of the following editions of HZB U-16 Tournament with the same distinction that established a successful march with men whose main concern is to serve the homeland, sport and Al Ain.” Sultan then highlighted the role of Mohammed Bin Thaloub Al Derei by saying: “Then came H.E. Mohammed Bin Thaloub Al Derei, Chairman of Al Ain Club Investment Company, who drew a new road map of success in the journey of the tournament. He was deriving the features of this new map based on the strategy of success set up by its founder, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The results were flawless excellence that made this tournament excel and turned to be one of the Club’s landmarks in the course of development of sports. The same scene took place when H.E. Mohammed bin Badwa and H.E. Mohammed Obaid Hamadoun, when they represented the logo of success again based on their honorable march which reflected the great desire to achieve the set goals.”
Sultan Rashed also highlighted the role of Abu Dhabi Sports Council by saying: “We are also pleased to commend the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their significant and active interest in sports and athletes and their impressive contribution to the success of the most important sports events hosted by the capital Abu Dhabi.” He addressed a message to the whole media: “I would also like to pay tribute to the sincere efforts of the media to cover all sporting events professionally. undoubtedly, that such efforts contributed to the success of the most important international events and activities that have been hosted by our beloved country. I wish a good stay for all teams and I hope that everyone will get the desired benefits of their participation.”
Sultan Rashid praised the efforts of all the committees of the tournament, stressing that the Marketing Committee, chaired by Abdullah Khoury, has made significant efforts to conclude more than 20 marketing deals with the sponsors of the tournament who deserve the heartful thanks and appreciation as supporting parties and key partners in the success of such an international event, namely: Lausanne Group, Cavallo, Brunei Airlines, Al Ain Pharmacy, History Restaurant, Bawadi Mall, Al Foua’a Mall, Barari Outlet Mall , Heili Mall, Al Ain Municipality, Al Ain Farms for Livestock Production, Al Foua’a Dates, Hafeet Grand Station, Sweets Palace, Golden Lamb Restaurant and Grills.”
TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE
The Organizing Committee has prepared a 100-page magazine in Arabic and English. It includes an overview of Al Ain Club and the football Academy as well as detailed articles on the history of the tournament as well as the most important landmarks of Al Ain City, in addition to the participating teams and the names of the technical and administrative staffs and the players.
LIVE BROADCASTING
Abu Dhabi Sports Channel will broadcast the tournament matches as the official partner of the event, and exactly like the 1st edition of the tournament held in 2008.
DRAWINGS AND PRIZES FOR SPECTATORS
Abdullah Khoury, Chairman of the Marketing Committee of HBZ U-16 International Football Tournament, announced that the Organizing Committee has prepared valuable prizes for the fans as part of the draw program that will be held daily on the entry tickets to the matches. He also said that winners will be announced after the end of each confrontation directly.
MANCHESTER CITY … THE TOP WINNER OF THE TITLE
Manchester City is the top winner of the title of Hazza Bin Zayed U-16 International Football Tournament since its inception. The team was successful in wining the titles of the 3rd and 5th editions. As for the title of the 1st edition, it was won by Senegal Football Academy. the 2nd edition title was won by Spain’s Valencia, while Al Ain won the 4th title and Dinamo Zagreb won the 6th title. UAE National Team won the 7th title, Al Jazira won the 8th title and last year Atletico Bilbao clinched the 9th edition title.
