The Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah announced on Wednesday the launch of the sixth edition of the "Sharjah Labour Sports Tournament".
The much-anticipated tournament will start on January 7, 2023, and continue until March 18, 2023, with the participation of about 1,500 players distributed to 140 teams. This was announced at a press conference held at the LSDA headquarters.
The press conference was attended by LSDA Chairman His Excellency Salem Youssef Al Qaseer, Saeed Al Ajil, a Sports Expert at the Sharjah Sports Council, and a large number of LSDA officials and representatives of other government departments, strategic partners, and sponsors.
The matches will take place every Saturday at the sports fields of Sharjah National Park, opposite Sharjah International Airport, from 7 am to 5:30 pm. LSDA is hosting the tournament in cooperation with the Sharjah Sports Council, and the organizing company Reach Target.
The tournament will have strong competition among 140 labour teams in five sports disciplines.
40 football teams, 35 cricket teams, 25 basketball teams, 20 volleyball teams, and 20 hockey teams will compete in the tournament. Teams will be divided into groups, of which the first and second teams will be selected to play in the final rounds. Like the previous editions, the sixth edition will have a closing ceremony, to honor the winning teams with cash prizes and gifts amounting to 200,000 Dirhams.
LSDA Chairman His Excellency Salem Yousef Al Qaseer expressed his confidence that the sixth edition will witness a great turnout and wide participation as the previous five editions. He said, "This first-of-its-kind tournament in the region, presents sports as a way of life for workers, and as a means of entertainment that complements the general sports scene in the Emirate of Sharjah. By holding the tournament, LSDA aims at contributing to the sports boom in Sharjah, attributed to the support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. His Excellency also attributed the remarkable success and great turnout of the previous editions of the tournament launched in 2018 and continues for the sixth consecutive year, to the direct follow-up of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council.
He added, "This great success of the tournament is not a surprise for the Emirate of Sharjah, which excelled in organizing various types of local, regional, and international sports tournaments, for the importance of the role that sport plays in the development."
On his side, Tariq Salem Al Khanbashi, Founder and Director of Reach Target, expressed his gratitude for LSDA which has selected Reach Target as the organizing company. He said, “The success of the previous editions of the tournament will motivate the success of this edition. Our main scope of this cooperation with LSDA is to come out with a successful event that contributes to the boost of labour sports in Sharjah as a healthy lifestyle.” The tournament also aims to spread the sports culture in the work environment.” He said, emphasizing the company’s keen interest in organizing an excellent tournament.
LSDA has called on all companies and establishments in Sharjah to contribute to the success of the tournament by encouraging their workers and staff to participate in it as it is held on Saturdays.