The Dome is encouraging the capital to get active with a host of new sporting activities
More than 12,000 people visit the Dome@Rawdhat every month to take part in football leagues and tournaments. Now, the organisers have introduced a new Friday Brunch League as well as a number of keep fit classes such as pilates and bootcamp sessions to try and broaden the appeal and attract even more visitors.
We chatted to Hassan Ahmed, the Dome’s new operations manager, who only arrived in Abu Dhabi last August from Rochdale, England, to find out more…
What’s the idea behind the Friday Brunch League?
Basically it’s taking the idea of what happens in England with the amateur Sunday leagues and adapting it for over here. It’s aimed at young professionals who work hard all week and want something to do at the weekend, hence an organised football league.
It’s kicking off on 17th February with games starting at either 9.30am or 10.30am. Afterwards the teams are invited up to the clubhouse lounge [in the Man United Soccer Schools building] where we’ll be laying on complimentary food like hotpot, stew and pie and peas – typical traditional English fare. We’re also putting on children’s activities like movies, bouncy castles and face-painting to create a whole family environment – that’s why we’re calling it the Friday Brunch League.
What will the format be?
Based on the number of teams who sign up, the idea is to have a number of divisions with eight teams in each. They’ll play each other twice during the course of the season and there will also be an FA Cup style competition. At the end of the season we’ll have a black tie presentation evening with a meal and trophies/medals will be awarded to the champions, runners up, top goalscorer and so on. We’re just trying to replicate exactly what we have in England and bring the successful blueprint over here.
What’s the response been like so far?
We’re still drumming up interest and everyone I’ve spoken to has been really enthusiastic. We also run the Rawdhat Abu Dhabi Schools League here and, speaking to all the teachers, the general consensus has been that it’s a great idea. I’m keen to stress that it’s not just expats that we’re trying to attract – we know on Friday’s some of the local Arabs may not want to play but we plan on finishing by lunchtime so that they can still go and pray. We want to get the whole community involved.
What else is the Dome planning?
We’ve got loads of stuff coming up! We’re doing football-themed birthday parties where kids can come and play for a little bit in the Dome before going into the party room for food and activities.
We’ve just started the Rawdhat Bootcamp at 4.30pm on Thursdays, the Streetkings academy kicked off this week and we’ve got the Mini Kickers programme for kids under the age of seven, which runs on Saturday mornings. Of course, there’s also the Rawdhat Abu Dhabi Schools Football League – so all the schools that don’t have pitches and suitable facilities come and play their home games here – and we’ve just started ladies Pilates classes on Wednesday evenings.
Phew! Is that everything?
Basically, it’s just a case of watch this space. We’d love to do things like create a youth club for the youngsters but it’s just a matter of time and planning. We’re desperately trying to do is make the Dome a thriving community sporting hub and I’m convinced we’re moving in the right direction.
For more information about the Dome’s activities, visit www.dome.ae or call 02 449 8480.
