AL AIN // At the blow of a whistle, a stampede of feet broke in the freshly laid turf at the launch of Al Ain FC’s new ground on Friday.
Thousands of fans crowded into Hazza bin Zayed Stadium for the first match there, with the home side – the defending Arabian Gulf League champions – playing against Al Dhafra.
The game marked the second day of the three-day Big Kickoff festival to celebrate the opening of the arena.
Ahead of the match, football fans spoke of their excitement at visiting the new 25,000-seater stadium.
“It is a very nice stadium, the best in the UAE and maybe the Gulf,” said Emirati Abdulla Al Abdouli, an Al Ain fan who travelled from Fujairah to watch the match with three friends.
The colourful pre-match parade saw a giant lizard, camel, horse, falcon and desert hare do a lap of the stadium accompanied by jugglers and stilt walkers, while football fans chanted support for their favourite team.
“Al Ain, Al Ain, Al Ain,” shouted Abod Dardouri, a 33-year-old Moroccan who was cheering on his team with 20 of his friends.
Thousands of families from across the country also attended the festival at the stadium, described by developers as “the region’s most advanced sporting arena” .
The venue was created for families as well as football fans, and a major goal of the project is to promote healthy living.
Activities at the Big Kickoff, which is free to attend and concludes today, include juggling, BMX biking, bungee runs, stamina training, tennis, basketball, table tennis and wall-climbing.
Hussam Bassam Ghazool, 13, visited with his three school friends.
Standing in line for the trampoline, the Syrian said he wanted to play tennis and go on the ‘Big Jump’ giant inflatable.
“We heard about the festival everywhere – the internet, from friends – and we wanted to come,” said Hussam.
Siblings Avery Hamrick, 13, and 11-year-old brother Carter took the plunge and jumped the 10 metres from the top of the Big Jump into the mattress below.
“It was scary but worth it,” said Carter, from North Carolina, in the United States.
Avery said: “When I jumped off, I could not hold my breath until I hit the ground.”
Ghanaian Bassam, 32, a mother of three from Palestine, watched on as her two sons, Yousuf, 10, and Abdulla, 8, showed off their football dribbling skills.
“They have really enjoyed it,” said Ms Bassam. “They see the games as fun and dangerous and they have wanted to do them all.”
Hamda Al Kaabi, a pupil at Al Ain Girls School, was part of the Fazaa volunteer programme that helped to coordinate the children’s activities.
“We love our country so it is important to help out,” the 16-year-old Emirati said.
The festival was divided into five major zones, depicted by desert animals that best represent the different elements of sports.
About 4,000 people attended the festival on Friday, with about 20,000 attending the match.
jbell@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
UAE%20Warriors%20fight%20card
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Bella Fever, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Mike de Kock (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Woven, Harry Bentley, David Simcock.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Fore Left, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Rusumaat, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Beyond Reason, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
The%20specs
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Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Donating your hair
• Your hair should be least 30 cms long, as some of the hair is lost during manufacturing of the wigs.
• Clean, dry hair in good condition (no split ends) from any gender, and of any natural colour, is required.
• Straight, wavy, curly, permed or chemically straightened is permitted.
• Dyed hair must be of a natural colour