Nokia introduces 'Defend Your Street' to UAE's youth

The tournament, which will be known as The Nokia Defend Your Street Challenge, kicks off today with a recruitment phase open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 25. Willing participants are encouraged to register as teams of eight players within the deadline of October 25th. There are no goalkeepers but three substitutes are allowed during each game.

A series of knock-out rounds between 144 teams will take place on November 2 in Dubai. The final winning team will play the 'Boys from Brazil', a select team of young footballers who have demonstrated excellent skills playing street football in Brazil, and have been handpicked by Hatrick - a football talent agency from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Nokia's Marketing Manager for the UAE, Mohammed Sukkar, said, "The project involves connecting youth to their dreams, encouraging them to keep focused on their goals and desires, as well as remain on top of their game - all through the medium of football! The enthusiasm that each player brings to the game and the resulting team-work out on the field is really something. We're hugely excited to see the good that a project like this brings to the UAE as nothing seems to unite quite like football does!"

He explained that the Nokia Defend Your Street project aims at delivering a sense of real involvement and interaction with young people, by tapping into their optimism and confidence to take on all comers...and win.

He added, "By challenging youth in a project such as this, it really empowers them to be active, to go after their goals and to be successful, while making friends, having fun and offering a chance to exercise and be healthy. In a nation where the majority of the population is young, it's great to be able to give everyone the chance to join in such a strong community-themed project."