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The Rotary Club of Manama (RCM) raised a staggering BD30,000 as a result of its annual six-a-side soccer tournament at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club, writes Asma Salman.
The contest attracted a multitude of players from all over the island with 20 men's teams and - for the first time - five ladies teams participating in the event.
Raj Damani, newly-elected president of the RCM and chairman of the fundraising committee, said: "It was a great day which brought members of different communities together playing football and having fun with a deep sense of charity as the common thread of the event.
"We plan to use a major chunk of the money collected to build a counselling ward at Salmaniya Medical Complex for children with diabetes. The incidence of juvenile diabetes is very high in Bahrain and according to medical experts numbers will double in the next decade."
Along with building the ward additional funds will be used to buy life-saving insulin pumps for underprivileged children visiting the hospital and supporting other local charities on the island.
A total of 55 matches were played amongst various corporate teams. Two hundred and fifty participants played in the tournament over six hours. The Budget rent-a-car team won the men's trophy by beating AUB 3-0 in the final and the women's team from Ibn Khuldoon School took the ladies trophy.
AWA Avengers were judged to have the best supporters. A mŽlange of sale items, food stalls and entertainment kept the crowd entertained between the action on the pitch.
The RCM is affiliated to Rotary International and was the first Rotary Club to establish itself in the Middle East. It was formed in 1965 and has over the years helped various local charities through its charitable endeavours.
