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FOOTBALL fans across the island will be setting off to Amwaj Island this weekend as The Dragon Resort prepares to stage a football festival to celebrate the climax of the European Champions League.
The final sees the best teams in England and Spain meet, as Manchester United and Barcelona lock horns at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday in a re-run of 2009.
Soccer-crazy Chiara Giardini marketing and guest relations manager, is helping to co-ordinate the resort’s coverage with an array of big screen TVs being set up and plenty of party fun.
She said: “The Dragon Resort, building on its well-established record of hosting successful fun-filled events, plans to give soccer fans a night to remember.
“For a virtual front row seat to the heart-pounding action there’s simply no better place to watch the action, in comfort and with great service, than at one of these venues - under the stars at the Dragon Resort pool, while having dinner at Muju Restaurant or at Yamin Jana Mediterranean Seafront Lounge.
“Already we’ve been inundated with calls from fans who want to celebrate the occasion in style.”
To liven up matters even further there will be a half-time quiz sponsored by Citibank. Fans will be arriving from 7pm, with kick-off scheduled for 9.45pm.
Other venues and members’ clubs across the island are also planning to stage similar events as the football fiesta has captured the imagination of football fanatics throughout the kingdom.
Both sides have clinched their domestic titles, and at no point during this season’s premier European club competition has it looked like there would be anyone other than these two teams battling it out for the crown.
The 2009 final in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome saw a Lionel Messi-inspired Barca outplay United, and the Spanish side will go into this encounter as favourites. But soccer pundits believe Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will have learned its lesson from the heartache
of defeat and will be much more aware of the Blaugrana-style of play that has heralded so much success and acclamation.
Chiara, 26, however, is backing Barcelona, saying: “I’m a passionate football fan and love watching a great game and European football is a passion for many people in the Middle East. I’m well aware that this final will be a showstopper, therefore, I wanted to create an event around it.
“What could be better than sitting in the luxury of the hotel and its outlets and enjoying world class footy? I wanted to bring fans together to share the suspense and action as a group, because it’s much more exciting and fun that way!
“I’m a Barcelona fan, without a doubt, and have been one since I can remember. They are indisputably the best team boasting the three best players in the world at the moment, namely Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.
“This team has their own philosophy and even their own unique playing technique called tic-tac, which basically consists of short passes and 1-2s. See, I get all technical, but once the excitement and admiration for such a great team pulse through my veins, it’s impossible not to get all worked up!”
She predicts a Barcelona 2-1 win. Manchester United and the club’s fans may have other thoughts.
