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His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Saeed bin Saif Al Nahyan returned to Play for Life for the second time in a week to present tournament first-timers, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) with the Play for Life - Football 2013 Champions’ Trophy (Thursday October 10).
His Highness - who opened the five-night tournament for corporate football teams on Sunday - was joined by ADFCA’s Ali Al Asaad and Imperial College London Diabetes Centre’s (ICLDC) Carol Sansour Dabdoub. ICLDC is the organiser of Football 2013, and ADFCA is this year’s silver sponsor.
After clinching their place in the final by netting two goals against ActiveLife (2-0), ADFCA played a steady game chalking up the two goals that proved to be enough for them to keep the cup out of the hands of HAAD (2-0). HAAD got close to the cup in a (2-1) semi-final win against ADNEC.
But it was the third place play-off match that brought some goal-scoring action to the evening, as Daman’s ActiveLife kept them coming.
After failing to score against ADFCA in the semi-final, ActiveLife switched gear and hit home three in the first half – one just 90 seconds after the opening whistle - and another two in the second half to take the game 5-1 from tournament veterans, ADNEC.
Meanwhile, in a bumper night, ADFCA also produced the Man of the Tournament, Adnan Al Hamadi, as well as the best goalie, Hassan El Hosani.
This year the tournament produced two top goal scorers placing seven goals each in the back of the net over the five nights of play. HAAD’s Mohammed Al Qubaisi shared the spotlight with ActiveLife’s Mohammed Salah.
Play for Life - Football 2013 is part of ICLDC’s public health awareness campaign, ‘Diabetes-Knowledge-Action’ under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
ICLDC’s Marketing, Communications and Campaign Manager, Dabdoub stressed the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
“Diabetes-Knowledge-Action’s message to the community is to spread the word that a healthy lifestyle can to help manage or even prevent diabetes and related complications.
Indeed, it is the participation of organisations and individuals in campaign initiatives – such as Football 2013 – that helps us effectively communicate this message to the nation. We send our thanks to all 240 players who took part. They did a sterling job.”
She advised that the campaign’s next signature event is Walk 2013, the annual walkathon at Yas Marina Circuit scheduled for November 15, the day after World Diabetes Day.
“We expect a crowd of more than 17,000 people to join us at Walk 2013 and again shine the spotlight on the role of a balanced diet and regular exercise on achieving a healthy lifestyle,” she concluded.
Registration for Walk 2013 is now open on www.diabetesuae.ae
