Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The Arsenal Soccer School Ladies Seven-a-Side League is going international this season as a new squad will be travelling from Saudi Arabia each week to compete for the coveted GulfWeekly Premiership Trophy.
The Eastern Flames of Aramco, a squad made up of American, British and Saudi players, were first introduced to the contest after participating as invited guests in last season’s mid-term knock-out cup competition.
Eastern Flames coach, Kaye Smith, said: “We had so much fun taking part in the cup challenge we decided it would be great to apply to participate in the actual league.”
Last season’s inaugural 12-week tournament featured five teams but this time round seven sides have signed up. The competition was organised by Bahrain’s newest citizen Deena Abdel Rahman.
She said: “It is great to be starting up our ladies league again in conjunction with the kingdom’s favourite newspaper GulfWeekly – this time with seven teams involved. We hope to develop ladies football in the region and it is especially encouraging that a team will be travelling from Saudi Arabia.”
International commitments mean that Rahman will likely take on a full-time coaching role this time out and her team will now be known as Arsenal Blue.
The major challenge to the champions is likely to come from knock-out cup holders and league runners-up Joga Bonito who are said to be determined to seize the crown.
Joga Bonito are made up of a group of friends from BTI University, under the guidance of striker Alaa Al Durazi. They said also won the ‘Fair Play’ award for showing great sportsmanship last season.
The Arsenal Red girls have been harnessing their skills each Wednesday evening. Captain Rama Salem has also been featured across Bahrain on billboards promoting national carrier Gulf Air.
The St Christopher’s Intermediate Girls are growing in confidence as well as in size. The team of teenagers entered the league to gain valuable experience playing against adults and improved strongly throughout last season. A St Christopher’s Senior side will also be joining the league.
The other new girls will be the Bahrain national team’s Under 16 side. The league will kick off on September 26 and matches will be held every Monday at 7pm at the Batelco Sports Ground in Hamala. For more information call 17561611.
