For too long now, the city’s amateur football enthusiasts have been an under-loved bunch, resigned to shouting feeble words of encouragement at their heroes on TV, while the more active fanatics make do with a few keepy-uppies in the street. But not any more. Following this week’s announcement of the city’s first amateur football league, every man, woman and child in the UAE has the opportunity to channel their passion in an actual, genuine competition, due to take place at The Dome on Airport Road between January and May next year.
There’ll be separate seven-a-side, round-robin tournaments for men, women and under-14s, while under-12s can take part in a six-a-side competition. But this isn’t just some glorified Saturday morning kick-about. Supported by the UAE Football Association, the league is governed by the stringent rules and regulations of FIFA, and there’s even prize money in store for the adult leagues.
Keen? You’ll need to register your interest at http://www.adfl.ae/ by December 20 to get involved, after which you’ve got two more weeks to get your men (or women) together before the player registration deadline on January 4. Best of luck to you.
