Football: Second World Military Football Cup sponsors announced

Muscat: The organising committee of the 2nd World Military Football Cup Championship 2017, which will be organised in the Sultanate from January 15 to 28, announced the companies sponsoring the championship.
The announcement came at a press conference was held at Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat.
Said bin Hamad Al Ghailani, member of the media committee welcomed, Air Ccommodore Maktoum bin Salim Al Mazro'ai, assistant chief of staff for training and joint exercises who is the chairman of the organising committee, officers, members of the organising committee, representatives of the sponsoring companies and representatives of the media institutions.
The Sultanate was offered to host the championship on May 7, 2014 during the 69th general meeting of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).
The first military football championship was organised in 1946, in the Czech Republic under the supervision of the Armed Forces Sports Council, where United Kingdom won the title. However, the first edition of CISM World Cup was organised in Baku four years ago.
Sixteen teams are taking part in this championship, which are classified into four groups.
Group A comprises Oman, Guinea, Bahrain, and France, while Group B include teams of Algeria, Germany, Iran, and North Korea.
Group C has teams of Ireland, Mali, Qatar, and USA, while Egypt, Poland, Canada and Syria are in Group D.
On the other hand and as part of the preparations of the organising committee for the championship, director of military sports–acting at SAF Headquarters who is also the vice-chairman of the organising committee met with the referees who will officiate in the championship. The referees would undergo an intensive programme during the coming days to ensure their readiness for the event.
The opening ceremony of the World Cup will be held on January 15 with the matches to kick-off the following day.
Meanwhile, at the press conference, it was announced that Saud Bahwan and Ericsson will be the main sponsors, while the other supporting sponsors are Al Maha, Omantel, OMPC, Suhail Bahwan Group, Thales, Towell, Muscat Pharmacy, Al Fairuz, Teejan, OHI, Mustafa Sultan, Denel and MSA. — ONA