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The 22nd Annual Six-a-Side Football Tournament, organised by Rotary Club of Manama (RCM), kicks off on March 20 at the Bahrain Rugby and Football Club, in a bid to raise funds to tackle teenage mental health issues over the next two to three years.
The tournament, which aspires to draw 24 sponsored teams, aims to raise BD15,000 to BD20,000 through the event while providing families with a fun-filled evening out.
Each match will be 15 minutes long and the tournament will be played in a knock-out format. There will also be a series of games and events for the entire family to enjoy, along with local food vendors.
At a press conference held in Gudaibiya, incoming RCM president and chairperson of the events committee, Dr Marjan Modara, said: “During a recent health survey, after obesity, suicidal thoughts were some of the top concerns voiced by teenagers. This falls under the umbrella of mental health, which has a lot of stigma around it.
“Youngsters today are under tremendous pressure in an age of social media that we never experienced as children ourselves, and many do not know how to cope or where to turn to for help. We want to offer assistance and support initiatives aimed at helping our young people.
“We are working with the ministry and other stakeholders to identify specific ways in which the funds we raise can contribute towards building awareness and offering support.”
Dr Modara was joined by the club’s current president Khalid Mukhtar and board member Renuka Ravindran, who highlighted previous years’ tournaments which raised funds for a variety of local projects including diagnostic medical equipment for cancer and sickle cell patients and supporting autistic children and those with learning difficulties.
The club, which was founded in 1965 and currently has 58 members, monitors these sustainable projects on a long term basis, setting aside a portion of its annual budget for ongoing capital expenses.
The platinum sponsor this year is National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) with GulfWeekly being one of the media sponsors.
To sign up a team and for sponsorship opportunities, email marjan@marjanspace.com
