Sport

Adidas, Duplays partnering up for UAE-wide footy tournament

Jonathan Raymond

February 20, 2014

Big 'ole tournaments are always fun – the FA Cup, college basketball's March Madness, Grand Slam and Major Opens in tennis and golf.

There's just something alluring about the prospect of a Cinderella emerging from a gigantic field and marching through many stages to victory. (Not that it usually happens. Chelsea or Duke or Rafael Nadal usually win, but every now and then, there's a Wigan)

Duplays, with Adidas, are bringing the concept here to the UAE for a nationwide 7-a-side, 8-week-long football tournament, starting on March 16.

Six divisions – universities, youth, corporate, girls, Dubai, Abu Dhabi – will produce winners from among what they're expecting to be 160 teams to compete in a 24-team Champions Weekend at the end of it in May.

There are, of course, plenty of local football leagues around – plenty of local leagues for just about every sport. This, though, is the first attempt I'm aware of at organising a nationally-integrated competition, which is kind of neat.

If you're interested, feel free to check out the tournament's website.

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Scoreline

Switzerland 5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills