Mcdonald’s, BOCA Juniors launch ‘Yellow League’
12 schools to take part in event
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 30: McDonald’s Kuwait and their partners, the BOCA Juniors football academy, held a press conference today at the Holiday Inn to announce the launch of the “Yellow League”. The “Yellow League” is the first activity on the calendar for the Yellow Alliance and consists of an exciting football league for schools which will start on December 7th 2012 and last until Feb 26, 2013. The “Yellow League” endorsed by the Public Authority of Youth and Sports will be conducted by professionals from the BOCA Juniors Academy and refereed by officials from the Kuwait Football Association.
Boca Juniors is the world’s most decorated football team, which has won 50 titles to-date as well as 18 international titles. Many of the world’s most famous and legendary footballers of all time have played with Boca Juniors: Diego Maradona, Martín Palermo, Rodrigo Palacio and Riquelme to name a few..
During the press conference coaches from all 12 schools were waiting anxiously to find out who they will be competing with first. The format of the league will be of a round robin struc- ture where all schools will play each other one time. Each team can have a roster of 12 - seven on the field and five substitutes -with open substitution available. At the end of the round robin, the top four teams qualify into the semi- finals and there will be a final match to determine first and second place as well as a match to determine third place.
The “Yellow Alliance” between McDonald’s Kuwait and BOCA Juniors is based on bringing the family together through the love of football, and part of McDonald’s ongoing commitment of encouraging and promoting an active and balanced lifestyle.
“The alliance between McDonald’s Kuwait and BOCA Juniors seemed like a perfect fit because both brands share a common core value: both us are strong advocates of healthy athletic living. This league will provide a fun venue for families to get together and cheer for the kids while they partake in the beautiful game of football.” commented George Khawam, Marketing Director of McDonald’s Kuwait.
Twelve schools will be pooled together in a competitive and exciting league starting on December 7th 2012 and will span three months, resulting in the league final being played on February 26th. Families and the school communities as a whole will get to enjoy following their sons every Friday from 3 to 6 pm at the Public Authority for Youth & Sports Grounds in Mishref and engage in many elaborate fun events.
McDonald’s Kuwait continuously supports local youth sports program and is a sponsor of major sports events and focuses on promoting and encouraging an active and balanced lifestyle. McDonald’s has been a proud supporter of the Olympic Movement for the past 40 years and is an official partner of the FIFA World Cup since 1994.
The League is also receiving support from Seif Hospital as medical partners who will be on the ground at each game; Al Mulla Security Services who will provide security during the season; as well as Tanzifco who will provide cleaning services.
Opener Ed Cowan was caught in slips by Jacques Kallis off pace spearhead Dale Steyn for a first-ball duck, before Shane Watson (10) was given out lbw to Vernon Philander on a decision review, after umpire Asad Rauf had turned down the initial appeal.
At the close, the home team were 33 for two, with David Warner on 12 and night watchman Nathan Lyon surviving a torrid examination from Steyn in the final over of the day to be seven not out.
While the South Africans were chasing a score of 300, recalled spinner Robin Peterson, who made 31 with the bat to be the secondhighest scorer behind du Plessis’ unbeaten 78, said the two late wickets had renewed the team’s spirits.
“We have to make it (225) a good score,” he said.
“But after being 6-75, we are pretty happy getting with scoring 225, and especially getting two wickets late in the evening.
“It made 225 look like a decent score, especially if we can get one or two wickets tomorrow morning.”
Batting at number seven, second Test hero du Plessis again played a lone hand in the South African first innings and teamed with the tail to add vital late runs after the Proteas had slumped to 75 for six when they lost five wickets for 14 runs either side of lunch.
Debutant Australian paceman John Hastings conceded the home side had let the visitors off the hook and said the first hour of Saturday’s second day would be crucial to the outcome of the match.
“We let it slip a little bit, but 225 is still a pretty good effort to bowl them out,” he said.
“The wicket will get better and if we can bat well for an hour in the morning, I think it will flatten out nicely.”
Australia were forced to completely revamp their fast bowling line-up for the Bowler John Hastings celebrates after taking the wicket of South African batsman AB Devilliers on day one of the third cricket Test between South Africa and Australia at the
WACA ground in Perth on Nov 30. (AFP) match, with their three pacemen from the drawn Adelaide Test — Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson — all ruled out.
Left-armer Mitchell Johnson was recalled for his first Test in 12 months, Mitchell Starc was promoted after being 12th man for the first two matches in the series, and Hastings was handed his Test debut.
All were in the wickets as they decimated the South African top order.
It was the returning Watson (1-22) who claimed the initial breakthrough, having Graeme Smith caught at first slip by rival skipper Michael Clarke for 16.
Watson made a welcome return from a calf problem, having missed Australia’s last eight home Tests with various injuries, by finding a thick outside edge from Smith to remove the Proteas skipper. Just before lunch, Starc (2-55) struck two telling blows.
Starc removed opener Alviro Petersen (30) when he bowled the right-hander with a full delivery and then found a way through the defence of Kallis (2), who overcame a hamstring injury to take his place in the match, with a similar ball.
Already struggling at 63 for three at lunch, the Proteas crumbled after the resumption, with Hashim Amla (11), AB de Villiers (4) and debutant Dean Elgar (0) all falling in quick succession.