16 teams set for soccer draw

The draw for this year's Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Soccer Championship, to be held from December 10 to 27, is set to take place today.A packed programme has been prepared for tonight's function, to be held at 7pm at the Bahrain City Centre in Manama.The draw, which will feature musical and entertainment shows, will be witnessed by representatives from the participating teams, as well as tournament sponsors and other guests.Bahrain Football Association's administrative director Hassan Ismail will supervise the draw, to be presented by Bahrain TV Channel's Bader Mohammed.The draw will feature the participation of captains and famous Bahraini athletes who achieved outstanding results in their respective disciplines during this month's First GCC Games (Bahrain 11) held in the kingdom.A final rehearsal of the draw and the side programmes were held last night at the same venue where a special stage was installed as well as other equipment, in co-operation with the Bahrain City Centre's management.The draw will be held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.The organising committee, meanwhile, has approved 16 teams for this year's prestigious event, to be organised for the fifth successive time, in line with Shaikh Nasser's directives.Among the participants are former champions Victorious, captained by Shaikh Nasser, and Forever, led by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.Other teams in the fray are defending champions Al Nawayef, Al Zelzal, Saqr Al Jazira, Al Fakhar, Montreal, Marines, Durrat Al Bahrain, Companies team, Al Nomas, Riffa Fort, Neural Stars, Al Farooq and World Bank.The tournament has also received support from the private sector, with 13 companies signing sponsorship deals with the organisers.Supporting this year's event are Al Sharif Group, E K Kanoo, Durrat Al Bahrain, Bapco, Mena Telecom, Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Behbehani & Brothers and GPIC.Other sponsors are the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Eamonn and Co, Batelco, Montreal Cars Agency, Kia Motors and Bahrain Sports Channel, which will provide live broadcast of all the matches.A total prize of BD3,000, a record award for any soccer tournament in Bahrain, will be given away this year by the organising committee to supporters who will attend the matches.