DSC gives free gym and sports hall access to vaccinated people
Ater a stellar campaign at the AFC Champions League, a resilient Sharjah will look to emulate the same performance in the domestic tournament as the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) resumes on Monday.
Sharjah automatically qualified for the Round of 16 ater emerging as the toppers of their group in the Asian Champions League (ACL).
Unlike the continental championship, Sharjah’s domestic campaign has been marred by a series of misfiring performances and injuries of late.
A buoyant Sharjah will look to revive their AGL campaign with victory over botom-placed Hata. They will look to carry forward the ACL form into the domestic competition against the minnows, who have been fighting for their survival in the top flight.
“We are looking forward to build on the morale of the players ater our performance in the ACL. We will like to continue the same rich vein of form.
“We will try to exploit the physical fitness and forms of the players, who are coming into the league afresh from ACL,” said Sharjah coach Abdulaziz Al Anbari.
Sharjah have quite a lot of catching-up work to do as they slipped to fourth spot owing to a series of underwhelming shows in the earlier rounds when their key players were absent due to injuries.
“All the remaining matches are of great importance for all teams as they are looking to end their campaign according to their aspirations. We are striving to achieve victories and reap the full points in all the remaining matches,” added Anbari.
“Hata are a good team and they have always given us a tough fight. And what makes this contest more difficult is the desire of the opponents to avoid relegation,” said Anbari.
Hata have just nine points in their kity ater two wins, three draws and 18 losses from their 23 outings. A win every game can still save their season.
Meanwhile, leaders Al Jazira, who are siting at the top of the standings with 50 points, will look to extend their lead when they take on Ajman, who are 11 places adrit of them.
Al Jazira coach Marcel Keizer is upbeat with the prospect of returning to the action ater a month’s break. He said the team is eager to face Ajman. With only three rounds remaining he is looking to tighten their grip on the top.
“We are very excited to return to action ater a long break. Everyone is eager to play against our next opponents Ajman and beat them to collect all three points,” said Keizer.
“We are wary of Ajman’s fighting spirit and it will not be an easy game. They will play aggressive football as they want to climb up the standings and move to the safe zone. With all due respect to Ajman, I am confident that we can pull it off and return with all three points,” he added.
Keizer ruled out using any excuse in case of a setback by an unpredictable Ajman.
“We will not use the long break as an excuse for any upset we might suffer. A 30-day break in the league at this junction was a not a pleasant thing to happen as it breaks the momentum. But we accepted the challenge and I believe we handled it very well,” he added.
In the top of the table clash, second-placed Bani Yas will lock horns with Shabab Al Ahli, who are six points adrit and siting at the third spot in the league. Bani Yas coach Daniel Isaila also said they are excited to be returning to the league ater a long break.
“We return ater a long break. We will look to continue with the same passion and form, which was exuded before going into the break,” said Isaila.
“We will strive to achieve all possible points in the upcoming match and we will see what happens at the league,” he added.
Bani Yas have emerged as a surprise package this year as they are keeping hot on the heels of Al Jazira. They trail the leaders by just one point and with three rounds remaining, the batle looks set to go down to the wire.
“The pressure will be on all the top teams, whether on it is Bani Yas or Al Jazeera. We must fight until the last breath in the league to compete for the title,” he explained.
He also predicted a tough match against Shabab Al Ahli, who have just returned form ACL.
“We know it will not be an easy match, as we have previously played with Shabab Al Ahli this season and we have not won yet. So we will try and break the jinx,” he concluded.
DUBAI: Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has announced the launch of a new initiative, “Everyone is Responsible for Everyone”, that will reward those who have completed their two doses of COVID-19 vaccines with free access to some of Dubai’s top fitness centres and sports halls.
The initiative, launched in cooperation with some of Dubai’s top fitness centres and sports academies and clubs, including Gold’s Gym, Fitness First, The Warehouse, Fitness 360, The Sevens, Just Play, and Zabeel Ladies Club, will start from May 3 and continue until May 13.
The pioneering initiative has been launched to encourage members of the community to embrace a physically active lifestyle, through proper guidance from some of fitness industry’s biggest names.
The initiative also rewards all the members of the community who have received their full dose of COVID-19 vaccines.
The clubs, gyms and fitness centers participating in the initiative will open their doors for free, starting from May 3 for two weeks, to everyone who produces a COVID-19 vaccination certificate approved by the Ministry of Health or the Dubai Health Authority.
DSC is keen to strengthen its cooperation with the private sector, and strongly believes in the private sector’s role in supporting development efforts and the health and happiness of all members of society through sport.
The Council also seeks to spread the culture of sports and a physically active lifestyle by working alongside different government and private entities, and encouraging these institutions to join its community initiatives and supporting the vision of the wise leadership to transform Dubai into the safest and most physically active city in the world, and also to achieve the Council’s vision of creating a vibrant, healthy and happy community.
Earlier, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Binmohammedbinrashidalmaktoum,crownprince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, honoured master developers Nakheel with the Sports Imprint Award at the 8th Watani Emirates Award for Humanitarian Work on Wednesday evening in Etihad Museum.
One of the 12 awards given at the 8th Watani Emirates Award for Humanitarian Work awards ceremony, the Sports Imprint Award is a joint-initiative of the Watani Al Emarat Foundation and Dubai Sports Council,whichhonoursindividuals,clubsandorganisations who spread positive values in society through their humanitarian initiatives in the sports sector.
Oneoftheworld’sbest-knownmasterdevelopers, Dubai-based Nakheel won the 2021 Sports Imprint Award for its commitment to ongoing initiatives which promote a physically active and balanced lifestyle in the community by providing modern sports amenities like cycling and running tracks, and other facilities that cater to many different sports, as well as health clubs and plenty of green spaces in their developments, which include Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Village, Al Furjan, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Jebel Ali Village, Warsan Village, International City and the upcoming Deira Islands among others.