In a bid to further strengthen sporting relationship with Africa, Gulf and promote potential soccer talents across the two regions the United Arab Emirates will play to the maiden Gulf African Football Tournament.

The event that would be organised by a Dubai based event management company in conjunction with the Different Box Company and had gotten the permission of Dubai Sports Council has been scheduled to commence early next year from 10 to 25 January 2016.

The event according to release issued by the organisers will commence with the Gulf African Football Tournament Business Summit, (GAFBS) which will take place on the opening day and will have all the participating clubs, scouts, sport consultants, corporate bodies in attendance and the guest speakers would discuss latest developments in the sports sector of the two regions.

Over 480 players from several African and GCC countries will be chosen to take part, following a stringent registration procedure which had started from the 30th of August 2015.

The tourney is open to men under the age of 19 and will consist of 16 teams, with the players representing eight different clubs from the two regions, while private or government football academies are also eligible to participate provided they can afford the registration cost.

“Football has become a platform for promoting peace, unity and development,” said Nasreen Ali Bin Darwish, GAF Tournament Director.

He added that it’s a known fact that the popularity of the sport is immense especially in this part of the world.

“Nations all over the world have united because of football, and the GAF tournament, will in its own unique way help to promote peace, racial tolerance, cross fertilization of expertise and economic empowerment between the two continents”.

Quadri Orobiyi, Co-Founder and executive director at The Different Box, also added that  the primary objective behind organizing GAF is to provide a launch pad for young players to showcase their talents to key decision makers and sports authorities from the two regions.