Girls show off your skills at E-Sports ladies tournament

Denzil Pinto 09:18 21/09/2014
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  • Relentless action: The tournament format will ensure a glut of goals.

    Female football teams still have time to sign up for a top tournament before Tuesday’s registration deadline.

    Organised by E-Sports, the Ladies International Football Tournament, to be held on Friday, September 26, will be the second edition of the seven-a-side competition.

    Eight teams are already confirmed, including last year’s winners Abu Dhabi Country Club, represented by some UAE national players.

    Taking place at Gems American Academy in Khalifa City A in Abu Dhabi, the format of the tournament is a group stage followed by knockouts. The number of teams to advance to the next round will depend on the number of sides taking part.

    Each match, to be played on astro-turf pitches, will run straight for 20 minutes with no half-time whistle.

    If the match finishes in a tie during regulation time, the outcome will be decided in a penalty shootout.

    With it being a seven-a-side match, rules will be different to the traditional 11-a-side format. Among the rules implemented by E-Sports are unlimited rolling substitutes, goalkeeper only permitted to release the ball by foot, as well as no off-sides; which is good news if you’re a striker and looking to score plenty of goals on the day.

    Following the success of its first edition which saw an excellent standard of play, E-Sports are calling for more teams to sign up for what will be a fun and exciting competition.

    Kaye Smith, the company’s sports development manager, said: “The competition is open to all teams regardless of your playing ability.

    “There are some teams who are semi-professional as well as a mixture of amateur sides.”

    The aim of the tournament is simple: E-Sports are keen to promote women’s football.

    Smith added: “The ability factor doesn’t matter because we just want to grow women’s football in the UAE and in the region.

    “E-Sports are inviting female teams to sign up because there’s a good interest in women’s football in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and we want to maintain that.”

    Entry fee is Dh1,000 per team with a maximum of 10 players in a squad.

    What: Ladies International Football Tournament
    Where: Gems American Academy in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi
    When: Friday, September 26 from 10:00.
    Contact: Registration and more information contact [email protected] or phone 056 314 4939.

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