World Footy News

This month AFL Middle East will begin its inaugural season. Below we reveal the fixture and preview the tournament and its six competing clubs.

The season kicks off on the 24 October with clubs from three countries participating. Due to a shortage of large grassed areas, matches will be nine-a-side and held mostly at rugby venues. All rounds in Dubai with have a "family" theme, with Auskick clinics before the main event.

Stephen Nugent, Commercial Manager of AFL Middle East makes it clear that whilst this first season will give them an idea of what does and doesn’t work, it isn’t a trial and the league is here to stay. “Our main aim is to get all games played as per our schedule and get the first season under our belts.”

Establishing a football league, especially one that spans numerous countries is not easy, but fortunately several individuals and organisations have helped out. “Chairman of AFL Middle East, Mr. Ian Simm, who is a well known Australian businessman based in Dubai put up the initial funds to incorporate the company. That really got things moving.”

The AFL has helped out too. “We are delighted that we are fully affiliated and endorsed by the AFL and we look forward to working closely with them to develop the game here in the region.” They also plan to use the AFL’s high profile to increase awareness of the local competition and get people involved.

Even AFL club president Jim Stynes, who met with Nugent when he was in Melbourne, has generously offered to assist AFL Middle East get up and running (ironically an Irishman assisting another Irishman get an Australian Football competition underway in the Middle East). If everything goes to plan, former Melbourne footballer David Neitz will head to the Middle East at the end of 2008 to hold a few coaching clinics for the local teams. “The Melbourne FC has very patiently answered my many questions with regard to league structure, coaching suggestions and so on. It’s great to have an actual AFL club we can contact for guidance whenever we need it.”

But perhaps most importantly has been the support of the involved clubs. “The league is run by the clubs for the clubs. We’ve made sure we aren’t bogged down by politics. Everything is agreed upon mutually and everyone is working together for the greater good of the game. All team representatives are all great guys; passionate, dedicated and easy to work with.”

It wasn't all smooth sailing however. All teams except the Falcons struggled to secure suitable venues. Luckily everything looks like being resolved in time for Round 1. The also had initial difficulty finding a major sponsor, but Victoria Bitter (Foster's Group) has since come on board as title sponsor, with teams competing for the "AFL Middle East VB premiership trophy". A local Real Estate company, Cougar Real Estate which is Australian-run is the league's offical Real Estate partner. Nugent is also on the verge of signing, "a sponsorship deal with a Five Star hotel chain and a local restauraunt chain." Furthermore they have formed a media partnership with 7Days, a local publication with a very high circulation.

The 7Days partnership is particularly important as something that eludes many foreign Australian Football leagues and clubs is mainstream media exposure. Fortunately, “Middle Eastern press has a huge interest in sports and the sports pages in our daily newspapers are second to none.” Nugent is confident AFL Middle East matches will receive coverage in all mainstream newspapers, television and radio stations throughout the season with full match reports, pictures and scores.

Showing just how keen they are to make this league work, they are already laying the foundation for future years. Turkey’s recently established club the Karşiyaka Dockers, have already been contacted by the league and told that, “when they are ready we will be delighted to have them join the league.” And that applies for other Middle Eastern clubs too, “we look forward to having teams from neighbouring Middle Eastern countries join the league in the next few years and both the league and the participating clubs will be happy to assist fledgling clubs in any way we can." The league will have officially launch the season with a function for team captains, coaches, sponsors and the local media at Yalumba Restaurant at Le Meridien, Dubai on the evening of 15 October.

Fixture

Round 1: 24 October 2008
Doha Kangaroos vs Dubai Dingoes
Muscat Magpies vs Abu Dhabi Falcons
Dubai Heat vs Dubai Dragons

Round 2: 14 November 2008
Doha Kangaroos vs Muscat Magpies
Dubai Dingoes vs Dubai Heat
Abu Dhabi Falcons vs Dubai Dragons

Round 3: 12 December 2008
Abu Dhabi Falcons vs Doha Kangaroos
Dubai Dragons vs Dubai Dingoes
Muscat Magpies vs Dubai Heat

Round 4: 15 January 2008
Doha Kangaroos vs Dubai Heat
Dubai Dingoes vs Abu Dhabi Falcons
Muscat Magpies vs Dubai Dragons

Round 5: 6 February 2008
Doha Kangaroos vs Dubai Dragons
Muscat Mapies vs Duabi Dingoes
Dubai Heat vs Abu Dhabi Falcons

Grand Final: 27 February 2008

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