Al Jazira Club crowned Volkswagen Junior Masters Middle East 2015 winners for second consecutive year

• 10 teams from across the region participated in the sixth Volkswagen Junior Masters 2015 Middle East youth football tournament
• Abu Dhabi-based Al Jazira Club defeated Al Arabi team from Kuwait in a penalty shootout

Dubai, UAE, 12 March 2015: The 2015 Volkswagen Junior Masters Middle East tournament came to a close this week, with defending champions, Al Jazira Club crowned as regional winners for the second consecutive year with the defending champions defeating the Al Arabi team from Kuwait in a penalty shootout.

The Middle East regional final of the Volkswagen Junior World Masters - one of the largest and most popular youth football tournaments - took place on Saturday, 7th March, at the Etisalat Academy Dubai, where 10 qualifying teams from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar competed for the championship title.

Commenting on this year's championship, Thomas Milz, Managing Director, Volkswagen Middle East said: “Volkswagen is committed to supporting grass root programmes that focus on the development of youths within our community and we aim to unite, encourage and nurture the football players of tomorrow through the Volkswagen Junior Masters tournament.”

Each year, we witness extraordinary talent from young footballers and this year has not been any different. We extend our congratulations to Al Jazira Club, for an excellent performance.”

The winning team received PUMA gift vouchers worth AED 15,000 courtesy of Volkswagen Middle East. At each of the national qualifiers, eight teams participated in a one-day tournament before the winners and runner up from each qualifier were invited to the regional finals in Dubai.

The tournaments took place on two seven-aside size pitches with nine players aside and seven rolling substitutes. The football match and tournament rules followed the international regulations stipulated by FIFA recognized by the UAE Football Association.

This year's participating teams included Al Jazira A &  Al Jazira B (Abu Dhabi); Al Arabi & Kuwait Club (Kuwait); Evo Soccer & Compass International (Qatar); Desert Ranges and Spanish Soccer School (Dubai); Al Jazeera & Professional (Oman).