(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Western Sydney Wanderers who saw the back of last years champions Guangzhou Evergrande are set to touchdown in Dubai on Sunday.
Ammar Bashir and Ali Al Nuaimi addressing the Press conference to launch the IPIC Cup 2014 at Al Jazira sports and culture club Abu Dhabi on Saturday. — KT photo by Shoaib Anwer
AFC Champions League semifinalists Western Sydney Wanderers will feature in Al Jazira’s International Football Friendly Tournament — the IPIC Cup Al Jazira Club confirmed on Saturday.
Western Sydney Wanderers who saw the back of last year’s champions Guangzhou Evergrande are set to touchdown in Dubai on Sunday.
The Australian club will have a 10-day training camp ahead of their AFC Champions League semifinal first leg against Seoul FC. The Western Sydney Wanderers will also undergo a camp at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.
The IPIC Cup also features hosts Al Jazira and Eastern Riffa of Bahrain. The tournament sponsored by IPIC and backed by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) is set to roll on Monday and ends on September 7. All the three games will be played at the Division of Military Sports Stadium.
The teams will play two games each and the club with the highest number of points will take home Dh 200000.
Al Jazira take on Eastern Riffa in the opening fixture on Monday. Eastern Riffa then take on the Western Sydney Wanderers on September 4 with the last game slated for September 7 between Al Jazira and the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Wanderers return home from their pre-season camp on September 10.
The tournament which began in 2005 has traditionally involved four teams but the Al Jazira club have opted to restrict it to three teams considering that they returned from an extensive pre-season training camp and also with the Arabian Gulf League set to start on September 15.
“For the last two years it was four teams. But this year the tournament will be held just a week before the League commences. So this will work out well. The period is not too long nor too short. It will work well for us. It will also help the coach prepare the squad for the League” Ali Al Nuaimi who is the manager of the tournament said on Saturday.
“The UAEFA will be supporting and providing the referees. With the temperatures being high we will also have a drink break of one minute according to FIFA rules” added Ali Al Nuaimi.
Unlike previous years the tournament will not be broadcasted.
Ammar Al Bashir CEO of Al Jazira Football Company said that they were in the process of renewing sponsorships and will announce them soon. “We are also during a period where we are renewing sponsorships for the season. We will announce them soon when it is done” Ammar Al Bashir said.
Eastern Riffa arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
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