YEMEN TO HOST 20 GULF CUP, YFA

SANA'A, April 09 (Saba)- The Yemen Football Association (YFA) said
on Friday that Yemen is completing requirements needed to host the
20th Gulf Cup of Nations.

In a press release, the YFA denied press reports that the 20th Gulf
Cup may be withdrawn from Yemen, calling on all media not to make
Yemen a victim of a media war.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Hamoud Obad said his
counterparts of the Gulf Cooperation Council states had assured him
their unwavering support to Yemen to host the next Gulf Cup.

Speaking to Saba upon his arrival at Sana'a Airport after his
participation in the 33rd meeting of the Council of Arab Youth
Ministers which concluded on Thursday in the Lebanese capital of
Beirut, Obad said that Yemen is currently completing sport
installations to succeed the 20th Gulf Cup to be held next November.

For the Beirut meeting, the Yemeni official said that the
participants had discussed issues concerning the development of
youth sport and attention to youth cases.

"An executive council of Arab Youth Ministers has been formed by the
Beirut meeting", Obad said.

The YFA confirmed that the 20th Gulf Cup will still be held in
Yemen.

"Yemen is ready, economically and security-wise to host this
competition", the YFA said, "Reparation for the Gulf Cup is almost
70 per cent accomplished in many areas".

Oman held the past championship in January 2009.

YA