‘Road to Anfield’ tournament is part of the recently launched Standard Chartered Bank campaign that took placed in March and April promoting the Standard Chartered Gulf Air Falconflyer Credit Card. Interested footballers interested to take part in the tournament, were requested to successfully apply for the credit card in Bahrain. Successful members were entitled then to form their own teams to compete against other in a local tournament. The winning team ‘The Keekers’ played against 15 other teams during a day that included 24 seven-minute matches; two 10-minute semi matches and the final which was a 15-minute match, including half time. The Final match that was between “The Keekers” and “Al Majed” team ended with a nail biting finish. Both teams could not score any goal against each other during 15 mins match. In a penalty shootout both teams ended with 4 – 4 goals each. The match was then advanced to a ‘sudden death’ round where one goal from a player made “The Keekers” winners of tournament.
In addition to representing Bahrain in the tournament, the winning team received flight tickets, airport transfers, a four-night hotel stay at Liverpool as well as the chance to attend the final Liverpool Football Club match at the English Premier League against QPR, a training session at the Liverpool FC Academy and playing at Anfield. The team was also able to meet LFC’s Manager, Brendan Rodgers, at an introductory dinner organized by the Bank – in which Rodgers congratulated the teams for reaching the finals and encouraged them to do their best and enjoy the game.
In addition to Bahrain, competing international teams include those from India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, Thailand and South Korea.
Training and practice for all 12 international teams will take place on Monday at the Academy while the official finals tournament will be on Tuesday. The winning team will be celebrated at a formal dinner that evening.