18 teams will take part in the fourth edition of the Sharjah Ramadan Futsal Championship.

For indoor football fans, and sports enthusiasts, the wait is over. Sharjah Ramadan Futsal Championship (SRFC)’s largest edition yet begins on Wednesday. The first two matches will bring four teams head-to-head – one from the U-14 league and the other from the senior league – at the Sharjah Sports Club Arena in Al Hazana Branch.

The games will kick off at 9.30pm, and on day one’s match timetable are teams Rich Target and Sport 4 All who will be playing in the U-14 category. The first contest in the senior category will be between Al Mufaja’a and Sharjah Sports.  

The championship is held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and the current edition has brought 18 teams together; 12 senior squads and six U14 sides.

On Thursday fans will be rooting for their favourite teams in four more games, one featuring Talento vs. TG in the U-14 category.

The senior leagues have a lot of excitement in store with three fierce contests planned between six teams. The first match will be played between AJ90 vs Embrator; the second will see Al Hamriya take on APL Group and finally, Sport 4 All vs Al Shabab will be the third game.

Team groupings for this edition’s senior leagues have been confirmed as follows: Group A features ‘Al Mufaja’a’, ‘Sharjah Police’ and ‘Fuhood Al Zabeel’; while Group B has AJ90, Al Embrator and Al Bahri. Group C comprises Al Hamriya, APL Group and Al Wahdan; while Group D represents Sport 4 All, Al Shabab and Khorfakkan. Two group divisions in the U-14 contingent have assigned Sport 4 All, Fast and Quattro to Group A; and Talento, TG and Wasit Youth to Group B.

The SRFC 2019 Organising Committee has announced a cash prize of Dhs200,000 for the winning side of the senior leagues, and Dhs100,000 for the runners-up.

In the U-14 category, Dhs50,000 will be awarded to the winner and Dhs30,000 to the runners-up. Special prizes have also been allotted for the tournament’s most valuable player, highest goal scorer and the best goalkeeper.

Additional prizes allocated by the SRFC 2019 Organising Committee include a series of gift items, cash prizes and live competitions allocated for all visitors, audiences and spectators of all ages. This comes as part of the committee’s recognition for their dedication and support in turning the tournament into one of the most popular sporting events during the Holy Month.

Sharjah Sports Channel was launched in 2007 under the umbrella of the Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC), as a specialised and independent sports platform to provide media and field coverage to an array of local, regional and international sporting events, tournaments and championships. The professional teams will play in a four-group futsal knockout competition, and the six junior sides, which are clubbed in two groups, will compete in a head-to-head format.

The draw for the competition was recently held at the Sharjah Sports Channel headquarters.

Rashid Al Obaid, Director of Sharjah Sports Channel and SRFC manager, stressed that the tournament has gained in popularity and prestige in local sports circles, being a unique platform for both professionals and young aspiring footballers to showcase their talent at a world-class competition.

He said: “SRFC pumps fresh talent into local football clubs and the national team. The aim of this indoor football championship is to offer our athletes a platform to come together and practise a sport that embodies unity and team spirit – qualities all practising Muslims try to enhance during Ramadan. It is a great way of bringing the UAE community together too, to enjoy one of the nation’s favourite sports.

“The tournament is a true reflection that local sports have come a long way in their developmental journey; particularly indoor soccer, which has been gaining tremendous momentum to become a regional and global sporting phenomena. We focus every effort into the individual development of players, and hope this year’s edition will meet the aspirations of both our competitors and our loyal audiences,” he added.