Play for Life Kicks Off To A Good Start

The opening night of Play for Life’s annual football tournament saw two teams boot five in the net, finishing as the evening’s top scorers. ADNEC topped ICLDC (5-0), while in round three, Daman’s ActiveLife also put five goals home against Injazat’s one (5-1).

In round one, the event’s gold sponsor, Cleveland Clinic played a very strong game against IRENA bagging three goals to one (3-1). Meanwhile, Mubadala and Etihad Rail fought a closely matched first half (0-0), with Mubadala finding some extra thrust in the second half to take the game two goals to one (2-1).

Indeed, the 2-1 scoring was mirrored in the HAAD-SEHA game (2-1), and in the last round featuring YAHSAT versus the silver sponsor, ADFCA (1-2).

But the tournament is not only about the number of goals scored with the opening rounds seeing each winning team notch up three points. The point leaders over night one and two will compete in the Quarter Finals on Wednesday.

The teams are arranged into three groups of four teams playing matches of 15 minutes each way. A FIFA-certified coordinator oversees the tournament.

There are four trophies waiting to be taken home – one for the tournament winner, and one each for best goal scorer, best goal keeper and man of the tournament. The 60 players representing the three final teams – each team can register up to 20 men - will each receive a Play for Life medal.

Play for Life - Football 2013 helps promote a healthy lifestyle creating the opportunity for corporate team members to play together and experience the benefits of exercise.

It is part of Imperial College London Diabetes Centre’s (ICLDC) public health awareness campaign, ‘Diabetes-Knowledge-Action’ under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.

This year, the sixth annual tournament got started with more than 200 players representing 12 Abu Dhabi corporations walking around the Main Stadium at Zayed Sports City in support of Start Walking. the campaign’s grass roots initiative.