Games

ABU DHABI, Since the launch of the UAE Pro League, better known as the Arabian Gulf League, in 2008, UAE fans have enjoyed a total of 300 rounds that were awash with powerful emotions of suspense, enjoyment, disappointment and happiness for various sports teams.

The League was founded in 1973 as the UAE Football League. The first 1973–74 season was a trial championship but was declared official by the UAE Football Association in 2001. Starting from the 2013–14 season the name was changed from UAE Pro League to Arabian Gulf League, which was named after the Arabian Gulf.

Prior to UAE League’s transition to the professional era in 2008, many clubs have competed in the country’s top tier division from 1973–74 to 2007–08.

According to the Forward Sport Management Centre, Al Ain Sports Club are by far the most successful club in the UAE. They have won a record of 602 points since the transition to the professional era since August 2008 through February 2021; playing 299 games; winning 180; tying in 62 and losing 57. They scored 653 goals, conceded 337, becoming the only team in the UAE that won more than 100 games from those they hosted, namely 101, losing 22, and tying 22 while scoring 356 goals and conceding 157.

The Abu Dhabi-based Al Jazeera come second with 300 games in 13 years; wining 174, tying in 61, losing 65; scoring 672 goals, conceding 400; and winning 583.

The Dubai-based Shabab Al Alhli come third with a total of 299 games, winning 167, tying 71, losing 61 and scoring 590 goals.

The Abu Dhabi-based Al Wahda come fourth with 300 games, of which they won 151, tying in 69, losing 80, and scoring 573 goals. Al Nasr come fifth with 150 games, of which they won 69, tying in 34 and losing 47.

Al Wasl come sixth with 300 games, winning 121, tying in 68 and losing in 111 and scoring 511 goals.

Sharjah – the champions of last year, and leaders of this year’s edition- come seventh with 274 games as they were relegated to first division once before. Of which, they won 99, tying 73 and losing 102 after scoring 403 goals.

The rest of the teams are Beni Yas, 8th, Al Shabab before merger, 9th; then come Al Dhafrah; Ajman; the Emirates; Ittihad Kalbaa; Dibba Al Fujairah; Al Fujairah; Dubai before merger; Al Shaab, before merger; Hitta and Korfakkan, from the 10th till the 19th positions.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, A team of Emirati referees will share the pitch with European Champs, FC Bayern München, in their Monday’s semi-final clash at the FIFA Club World Cup- Qatar with Egyptian giants Al Ahly SC.

The arbitration squad, led by International Referee, Mohamed Abdullah Hassan, and assisted by Mohamed Ahmed Yousof and Hasan Al Mahri, are the first all-Emirati refereeing team to officiate in the world championship in recognition of their impressive performance during their previous regional and international participations.

Bayern Munich are one of only four teams with a 100 percent winning record in the FIFA Club World Cup. Internazionale, Milan and Sao Paulo are the other three clubs.

In the meantime, Al Ahly SC will go into Monday’s match full of confidence, with the nine-times African champs now unbeaten in 32 games. The Cairo club is appearing at the Club World Cup for a sixth time, endeavouring to improve on their previous best showing – when they won the bronze medal in 2006, in Japan.

UAE’s giants Al-Ain qualified in 2018 for their first Club World Cup as the champs of the UAE Pro-League. Al-Ain were the first Emirati team to reach the Club World Cup final, as well as the second Asian team after Kashima Antlers in 2016.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, FIFA nominated the Emirati referee, Fahad Badr Al Hosani, to officiate in 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup matches, to be held in Lithuania.

Al Hosani will also participate in a remote workshop held by FIFA via video conferencing for 76 nominated referees, which will start in February 2021 and continue for six months.

FIFA aims to prepare and train the nominated referees to ensure the success of the championship. In August 2021, 38 referees will be selected from FIFA’s shortlist to officiate in the championship.

Al Hosani was nominated after his distinguished refereeing of local and regional matches, including the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship qualification, which was hosted by Vietnam in October 2019.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The National Marine Dredging Company (ADX: NMDC) announced today that it has been awarded an AED600 million contract for the expansion of Lake Manzala in northeastern Egypt.

The company disclosed the value of the award in a letter to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, ADX.

NDMC explained the project will be implemented in partnership with Al-Tahadi Egyptian-Emirati Co, and will be completed in two years.

NDMC posted net profits increased by 53.7 percent to around AED103.5 million during H-1 2020, as compared to the corresponding period of 2019.

Source: WAM – Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The National Olympic Academy has concluded a series of training courses for coaches of the school Olympic programme during the period 9th-20th August 2020.

The courses, which were held via remote video technology, were coordinated with the Ministry of Education and sports federation of seven sports. The specialist courses included Judo, Taekwondo, swimming, fencing, archery, athletics, and badminton.

More than 516 participants took part in the training sessions including teachers and coaches at the Ministry of Education.

The sessions discussed the scientific means of identifying and selecting elite sports talents and how to nurture and polish their skills up to the required physical and technical standards.

The instructors stressed the importance of designing and preparing scientific training programmes tailored to the capabilities of athletes as well as the forecasting of technical preparations and the improved competitiveness in future.

They believe that the selection of gifted athletes hinges on the scientific methods in use, which must include two main aspects, namely the analysis of performance requirements of the specialist sports activity, and the identification of the characteristics of top potential athletes.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Special Olympics UAE launched the Steps Unified Challenge from Wednesday, 19th August, until Saturday, 29th August.

The Special Olympics UAE calls on members of the public to join the initiative by running or walking to help achieve the goal of 52 million steps in 10 days.

Launched in partnership with Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa Region, the challenge is primarily about supporting athletes of determination in the UAE.

For 52 years Special Olympics has been supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities, to celebrate a global movement that has been changing lives and attitudes since 1968 and urges all to work together as a unified community to reach a goal of 52 million steps over the course of 10 days.

By reaching 52 million steps, Special Olympics UAE will be giving 100 POD’s clubs /centres training and sports equipment. This also includes 100 home training kits for Special Olympic UAE Athletes.

Participants from the UAE and abroad can register in both English and Arabic respectively through

Source: Emirates News Agency