His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Saeed bin Saif Al Nahyan led more than 320 players in a walk around the Main Stadium at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City as Imperial College London Diabetes Centre’s (ICLDC) Play for Life 2014 football tournament kicked off.
His Highness was accompanied in the pre-tournament walk by Bashar Al Ramahi, ICLDC’s CEO, as well as the participating teams representing 16 of Abu Dhabi’s leading organisations.
The walk was followed by a collaborative pledge in support of a healthy lifestyle, as Mr Al Ramahi addressed the players, all eager to sign the pledge wall and start the tournament, which is now in its seventh year.
Play for Life is part of ICLDC’s public health awareness campaign, ‘Diabetes-Knowledge-Action’, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Saeed bin Saif Al Nahyan endorsed the pledge wall and took the first kick of the five-night tournament as he confirmed his support of the campaign’s healthy lifestyle message.
“I thank everyone who has joined me tonight as together we place the spotlight on the importance of embracing a healthy lifestyle,” Sheikh Saif said.
Mr Al Ramahi confirmed that a healthy lifestyle is possible by embracing the smart, simple steps of a balanced diet and regular exercise. He also stressed that it is important to maintain a normal body weight.
Following the walk, the annual Play for Life tournament got underway with a feast of goals.
The biggest score came from SEHA who netted 12 goals unanswered in their 30-minute match against ICLDC.
Elsewhere, Takreer overcame Abu Dhabi Securities, defeating them with a comprehensive 5-1 victory, while Injazat surprised Cleveland Clinic by cruising to a 4-0 triumph.
Three of the evening’s eight matches ended in a draw, including the Yashat v ActiveLife, which ended in a 2-2 draw after Yashat scored a dramatic equaliser with just 18 seconds remaining.
Meanwhile, tournament first-timers, twofour54 battled hard against IRENA but failed to score, with IRENA running out 2-0 winners.
With three points on offer to the victors, the leaders over nights one and two will compete in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The teams will be arranged into four groups of four teams, playing matches of 15 minutes each way, with a FIFA-certified coordinator overseeing the tournament.
There are five trophies waiting to be taken home – one for the tournament winner, and one each for best goal scorer, best goalkeeper, man of the tournament and fair play.
The 60 players representing the three final teams will also each receive a Play for Life medal.
ICLDC’s Marketing, Communications and Campaign Manager, Carol Sansour Dabdoub said that since Play for Life’s football tournament kicked off in 2008, more than 1,400 players and in excess of 7,000 spectators have taken part, helping to spread the ‘healthy lifestyle’ message.
