To kick off annual Imperial College London Diabetes Centre’s Play for Life corporate football tournament

Hot on the heels of last week’s World Health Day, ‘Beat Diabetes’, Sunday 17th April will see the start of this year’s highly anticipated Play for Life Football Tournament in which 12 corporate teams from across Abu Dhabi battle it out to be crowned sporting champions of football.

The competition is expected to attract more than 240 players and will attract hundreds of spectators and supporters. Spectators will take part in fun pitch side activations around healthy living, the importance of exercise, a balanced diet and maintaining a normal bodyweight.

This year’s tournament sees competitors coming together from across the city and Emirate, and welcomes new Gold Sponsor, Saif Bin Darwish, an Abu Dhabi based trading company of more than 40 years. Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi again re-affirms its commitment to the tournament as a Silver Sponsor.

Mubadala’s companies are strongly represented, including teams from its world-class healthcare network of Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Healthpoint and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Mazen Al Dahmani, General Manager from Imperial College London Diabetes Centre said, ‘It is inspiring to see companies, employees and supporters coming together

from across Abu Dhabi for another Play for Life Tournament, which raises awareness of diabetes and instils healthy behaviour in players and spectators alike. Diabetes is one of the major health and social challenges of our time and it is only through coming together as a community to promote long-term healthy living changes that we can realistically tackle the disease. I am proud that events like these can play a small part in this.’

Darwish Ahmed Alketbi, Director from Saif Bin Darwish said, ‘Healthy living and building camaraderie among our employees is at the heart of our company values, and we are delighted to extend our support to this exciting Abu Dhabi initiative and worthy cause. We wish all the participants the best of luck.'

Hamad Al Dhaheri, acting Executive Director from Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi commented, ‘Nothing is more important to Abu Dhabi than a healthy and active society and we are honoured to once again be supporting this excellent sporting initiative in our community.’

The tournament is a centrepiece of Imperial College London Diabetes Centre’s public outreach campaign, Diabetes.Knowledge.Action under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.

This year, the Centre, which is part of Mubadala’s network of world-class healthcare providers, marks its 10th anniversary and has touched the lives of over a million people through its prevention, education, awareness and treatment work. To date, the tournament alone has seen more than 2000 players take part from all backgrounds with 20,000 spectators cheering their sides on.

www.diabetesuae.ae www.icldc.ae

Play for Life - Football 2016 Schedule:

* Nightly, from 7pm, April 17-21 2016 at Zayed Sports City

* 12 teams will be divided into three groups to compete in seven-a-side matches, each of 30 minutes duration

* The top eight teams will progress to the quarter finals

* The final will be played on April 21, with the awarding of:

- Football 2016 Tournament Trophy

- Best Goalkeeper

- Best Player

- Top Goal Scorer

- Fair Play Team Award

Play for Life 2016 – Teams:

1. ADNEC

2. Activelife by Daman

3. Arwa

4. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

5. Dolphin Energy

6. Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (Silver Sponsor)

7. Health Authority Abu Dhabi

8. Healthpoint

9. Imperial College London Diabetes Centre

10.Mubadala

11.Saif Bin Darwish (Gold Sponsor)

12.Yahsat