Dubai: Former UAE and Al Wasl star Nasser Khamis has commended the role played by the annual Maktoum Bin Rashid Memorial Football Championship in developing local talent in football.
Attending Tuesday’s matches at the Dubai Police Officers Club, playmaker Khamis — one of the stars from the UAE’s squad for the 1990 Fifa World Cup — agreed that the annual tournament has a role to play in tapping young talent from across the country.
“We get teams from all over. This year we have teams from Ras Al Khaimah and even Abu Dhabi. Several of these youngsters are first-time players and this is their chance to get noticed, and hopefully get picked up by the clubs here,” Khamis told Gulf News as last year’s runners-up Bin Darwish and new entrants Team 88 became the only two teams with maximum points after two preliminary round matches.
“In the past we have had youngsters entering UAE clubs after being seen in action here. I am sure this tournament plays a vital role in keeping this initiative going in the future as well,” he added.
In Tuesday’s action, Hassan Yousuf scored a hat-trick to lead Bin Darwish to an emphatic 7-1 drubbing of debutants Al Itikar (Innovation), while Team 88 walked away with maximum points after their opponents Al Nojoom failed to turn up for their Group C clash.
The action was however in the first Group C encounter with Hassan Yousuf finding the nets in the first and third minutes as Bin Darwish took control. Mohammad Taleb came in from the bench and added a quick brace in the 16th and 23rd minutes to make it 4-0.
In the second half, Salem Saeed got his name on the scoresheet on the half-hour mark, while Hassan Yousuf completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute and finally Hatta player Lahej Saleh rounded off the scoring a minute from the full-time whistle.
Former UAE striker Mohammad Omar-led Al Fohood finally came away with full points following a sound 5-0 thrashing of Catalonia Youth. Jasem Mahdi scored an own goal in the 13th minute, while Ahmad Abdul Rahman made it 2-0 two minutes later. Mohammad Omar then found the nets twice in the 27th and 29th minutes, while Mohammad Al Qaidi completed the scoring in the final minute to hand Al Fohood their first win from two matches.
RESULTS
Fohood 5, Catalonia Youth 0
Bin Darwish 7, Al Itikar 1
Rashid Bin Ammar 4, Easy Home 1
Team 88 3, Al Nojoom 3-0 (Walkover)
