Under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Head of the organizing committee of the tournament and Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), Al Jazira U-17 International Friendly Tournament kicks off on Monday 04 April 2011 at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. Six teams will participate in the tournament namely: Al Jazira, UAE National Team, Qatar National Team, Club Africain from Tunisia, Valencia from Spain and Manchester City from England.
In a press conference held at Al Jazira to announce the tournament, Hamad Al Shabibi, Al Jazira Academy Board Member, said that the six teams are divided into two groups. The first group includes Al Jazira, Club Africain and Valencia. The second group includes UAE National Team, Qatar National Team and Manchester City.
The tournament is being held in the system of a league of one round. The first and second of each group will qualify to the semi-final when the first team in the first group plays with the second of the second group and the second of the first group plays with the first of the second group. The winners of the semi-final qualify to play the final match and the losers will play for the third and fourth places.
The matches of the first round will take place on 04, 06 and 08 April; the Semi-Final will take place on 10 April and the Final will be on 12 April. The opening and closing matches will be held at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, whereas the rest of the matches will be held at Sultan Bin Zayed Stadium.
On the first day of the tournament, Al Jazira will play the Africain from the first group and Qatar will play Man City from the second group. On 06 April, the UAE will play with Man City from the first group and the Africain will play with Valencia in the second group. On 08 April, Al Jazira will play with Valencia in the first group and the UAE will play with Qatar in the second group.
It is expected all the teams are to arrive at Abu Dhabi on 03 April to join the tournament. The tournament will be run by international referees and were chosen by the referees committee in the UAE Football Association. Mohammed Al Jallaf will head the referees committee.
The technical meeting of the tournament will be held on 03 April at 7:00pm, when the colors of the six teams will be decided as well as the list of players. The line-up will include 11 main players and 7 substitutes.
Talal Al Hashimi, ADSC Representative, said that alongside the tournament the council will hold workshops for the coaches of Al Jazira and the UAE Football Association that the two coaches of Valencia and Manchester City will deliver the lectures. Other coaches from other clubs are allowed to attend the workshops.
All the participating teams were also invited to attend the Final of the President's Cup between Al Jazira and Al Wahda in Zayed Sports City on 11 April.
Al Jazira Chief Executive Officer Phil Anderton, said that the tournament is a good start in executing a long term program in habilitating youths at the club since the players will have the chance to have contact with high level European and African players.
Andre Wetzel, Technical Director for the Youths Sector at Al Jazira, said: "I am pleased to organize this tournament which is a one-time opportunity for our players to have contact with different football schools. We are working to enhance the level of our players through this tournament. Besides, this tournament comes before opening the new Academy which is due to open in three months period. This shows that we are going on the right passage in preparing a promising generation here at Al Jazira that can serve the UAE football in the future."
Wetzel also noted that Al Jazira U-18 football will participate in a friendly tournament in Holland from 19 May till 25 May which also comes within the category of giving the players the chance to contact other players from around the world.
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