COME ON YOU GIRLS!

GulfWeekly has teamed up with Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain to launch the first national league competition for the kingdom's growing number of women footballers.

The Arsenal Soccer School Ladies Seven-a-Side League will be staged on Monday evenings. Talented Bahraini and expat players will be competing for the coveted GulfWeekly Ladies Trophy.

The league is being organised by Deena Rahman, a former England international and senior coach at Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain. She said: "The school is looking to develop the women's game on the island and think it will be a great opportunity for ladies to take part in an organised competitive league."

The league will be open to all women over the age of 14 and teams are being urged to sign up. Although details and a starting date are still to be finalised the plan is for the league to run for 12 weeks with each squad consisting of a maximum of 10 players.

The rules will allow rolling substitutes and no offside and to register will cost just BD100 a team, the equivalent of BD10 per player in each squad.

At the end of the league a presentation night will be staged at Med CafŽ in Budiaya and as well as the GulfWeekly Ladies Trophy prizes will be awarded to the runners-up, player of the league and the team judged 'most sporting' in the competition.

Arsenal not only have a side battling to win the English Premiership, the London club also boast one of the world's top women's teams. The game's popularity with schoolgirls and women is also growing across the region.

Shaikha Hussa Khalid Al Khalifa, head of women's football at the Bahrain Football Association, has added her support to the league plan. "We fully support initiatives which promote the women's game in Bahrain. We wish all the teams' good luck in the coming competition."

Local players also hope the league will help bridge differences that have been caused by the recent unrest as sport can be a unifying force for good.

Bahraini banker Reem J. Ahmed, 25, from Hamad Town, is a keen player and soccer enthusiast. She said: "We need to remain productive. Be it through work or through sport. I pray we emerge out of this a greater people, a greater country."

If you would like to enter a team in the league or require more information about how to get involved please contact the Arsenal Office on 17561615 or email Deena on deena@arsenalschoolbahrain.com