SHARJAH: The UAE will host former football legends, including Brazilian goalie Dida, Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf and Italian striker Francesco Totti, at a padel tennis event, as well as the region’s first official footgolf tournament.
The 16 retired stars from around the world will compete in a padel tennis contest at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa.
They will also take part in the launch of the Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament, which is being held from Jan. 12-14, Emirates News Agency reported on Wednesday.
Some of football’s biggest names, including Dida, Seedorf and Totti, who remains the top goalscorer and most capped player in the history of AS Roma, will travel to Sharjah along other stars such as Diego Fuser, Beppe Signori, Ibrahim Ba, Enrico Annoni, Stefano Eranio, Donadoni, Cristian Zaccardo, Luca Antonini, Massimo Oddo, Cristian Brocchi, Sebastien Frey, Dario Marcolin and Costacurta.
The region’s first tournament of its kind will be held at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al-Qasimi, crown prince and deputy ruler of Sharjah.
The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority in collaboration with Air Arabia invited the football stars in an initiative to promote Sharjah’s events and highlight the emirate’s tourist destinations, while also encouraging the exchange of cultures through sporting activities, such as padel tennis and footgolf.
Khalid Jasim Al-Midfa, SCTDA’s chairman, said: “In Sharjah, the government is committed to organizing and hosting events that align with the overall development goals of the region, address the needs of the community, and promote healthy and enjoyable lifestyles through sports.”
The two-day padel tennis event, which kicks off on Jan. 13, will include eight teams, each with two players.
SCTDA is organizing the first official footgolf tournament in the region, with 140 players from more than 20 nationalities competing for total prizemoney of $40,000.
Footgolf is a hybrid sport that combines the rules and principles of golf with the skill and athleticism of soccer. It is played on a golf course, but instead of using clubs and balls, players kick a soccer ball toward a hole in the ground or a barrel.
Football heroes to compete in Sharjah padel tennis event
https://arab.news/8rnqk
Football heroes to compete in Sharjah padel tennis event
- Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf among 16 former stars in lineup
- Players will also take part in launch of Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament
Elysee Palace silver steward arrested for stealing thousands of euros’ worth of silverware
- The Sevres Manufactory — which supplied most of the furnishings — identified several of the missing items on online auction websites
- Investigators later found around 100 objects in the silver steward’s personal locker, his vehicle and their home
PARIS: Three men will stand trial next year after a silver steward employed at the official residence of the French president was arrested this week for the theft of items of silverware and table service worth thousands of euros, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
The Elysee Palace’s head steward reported the disappearance, with the estimated loss ranging between 15,000 and 40,000 euros (($17,500-$47,000).
The Sevres Manufactory — which supplied most of the furnishings — identified several of the missing items on online auction websites. Questioning of Elysee staff led investigators to suspect one of the silver stewards, whose inventory records gave the impression he was planning future thefts.
Investigators established that the man was in a relationship with the manager of a company specializing in the online sale of objects, notably tableware. Investigators discovered on his Vinted account a plate stamped “French Air Force” and “Sevres Manufactory” ashtrays that are not available to the general public.
Around 100 objects were found in the silver steward’s personal locker, his vehicle and their home. Among the items recovered were copper saucepans, Sevres porcelain, a René Lalique statuette and Baccarat champagne coupes.
The two were arrested Tuesday. Investigators also identified a single receiver of the stolen goods. The recovered items were returned to the Elysee Palace.
The three suspects appeared in court Thursday on charges of jointly stealing movable property listed as part of the national heritage — an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000-euro fine, as well as aggravated handling of stolen goods.
The trial was postponed to Feb. 26. The defendants were placed under judicial supervision, banned from contacting one another, prohibited from appearing at auction venues and barred from their professional activities.
