QFA president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani (R) shakes hands with Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, president of Gulf Football Organising Committee, at the signing ceremony yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil
Sports Reporter/Doha
Qatar, who staged the Gulf U-23 tournament last year, will also host the 2011/2012 edition following an agreement with the Gulf Football Organising Committee here yesterday.Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani and GFOC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa signed the contract at a function held at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters. Also present on the occasion were QFA general secretary Saud al-Mohannadi and Ahmed al-Naimi, GFOC general secretary. The six-team tournament will be held from August 6-16 at the Aspire. Hosts Qatar take on Group A rivals Saudi Arabia in the tournament’s opening match. Kuwait are the other team in the group. Defending champions UAE, Oman and Bahrain are in Group B. Top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will take place on August 13. The final will be on August 16.QFA president Sheikh Hamad, promising the best possible environment for the tournament, stressing on the need to expand the tournament, with a revised set of regulations. “Last year was a big success. I am confident the tournament will further grow in stature,” he said.“Age group tournaments hold much importance, giving an opportunity to highlight the emerging talents,” he said, adding that Qatar as the hosts have a chance to give it another shot to the tournament.“Our participation in the past  failed to return good results,” he noted. “So this provides us with another opportunity to highlight new talent and we hope to take advantage of it.”Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Salman said, “The choice of Qatar is not at all surprising after a successful tournament it put together last year.” Sheikh Salman also said the tournament, to be played inside the Aspire Dome, offers the participating teams optimum conditions to perform at their best.Claiming the tournament as being the pride of the Gulf region, he said the union is continiously working to raise the standard of the tournaments. On top of the sponsorship deals, GFOC will provide the hosts with $200,000 in financial support for the region’s biggest youth tournament. The winners will pocket $250,000, while the runners-up will receive $125,000. Besides, the teams will receive $50,000 for each game they play. “The union has made great strides over the years, hosting one successful tournament after another. It has also streamlined regulations,” said Sheikh Salman, who is also the president of Bahrain Football Association. “The tournament is now valued more than last year.”