The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

The ninth edition of the Maktoum Bin Rashid Ramadan Football Championship started at the Dubai Police Club on Friday.

Around 19 teams are taking part in the tournament held in Holy Ramadan since 2011 in the memory of late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Last year, hosts Dubai Police retained the eighth Maktoum Bin Rashid Memorial Football Championship title following a 5-4 dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Ebrahim Al Marouf team.

After the preliminary rounds, the top two teams from each group will advance to the knock-out quarter-finals.

The winners stand to win Dhs100,000 while the runners-up will get Dhs75,000 and the third-placed team will receive Dhs50,000. Individual prizes of Dhs3,000 will be awarded to the best goalkeeper, top scorer and best player.

In addition to the football tournament, there are competitions open to all nationalities in gym rowing, power lifting, 3,000 metres running race and Cross Fit challenge.

Brigadier Khalid Shuhail, Director of the Community Happiness Department, thanked General Abdullah Khalifah Al Muhairi, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police and the General Directorate of Community Service of Dubai Police and the Department of Sports Affairs, which provided all the requirements needed for hosting the event.

Colonel Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Director of the Department of Sports Affairs of Dubai Police, commended the role played by the annual Maktoum Bin Rashid Memorial Football Championship in developing local talent in football.

“When we saw the response of teams from as far as Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, we thought it best to allow everyone to participate in this competition,” said Tournament coordinator Lieutenant General Nader Rashid.

“This tournament has traditionally been an attraction for some of the national team stars playing alongside the upcoming players from across the country. There are some of these players who have gone on to be spotted by local clubs and that is one of the highlights of this tournament since the past seven years now,” he added.

The ninth edition of the Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Memorial Football Championship is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.