Bin Bisher crowned top gun at Dh1m Fazza Youlah Championship

Bisher Rashid bin Bisher was crowned the winner of the Dh1m Fazza Youlah Championship inside the heritage quadrant at Global Village late on Fridayevening.

Bin Bisherr polled 180,360 votes compared to the runner-up Rashed bin Harmash Al Mansouri’s 126,950 at the closing ceremony of the 11th edition of this event, which is organised and supervised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC).

“It really is a dream come true,” an elated Bin Bisher commented afterwards. “I’d like to extend my thanks to everybody that has supported me, including my family, friends and the general public, since I first participated in this programme eight years ago now.

“I will continue to compete in this tournament in the coming years to emphasise our connection to our nation’s precious heritage.

“I’d like to dedicate this win to the very first supporter of this tournament, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and all of the other participants.”

His Excellency Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC), attended the gripping finale to the TV show on a night that began with the UAE national anthem and a special profile report on His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC).

The report highlighted the pioneering role Sheikh Hamdan, who is also known as ‘Fazza,’ has played in endurance, equestrian and heritage sports – among others – and how that, in turn, has inspired young people here in the United Arab Emirates.

Bin Dalmook explained: “Based on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, this competition aims to strengthen our national identity among young people, develop their skills and assist in their maturing from teenage boys to adult men.”

The renowned Emirati recording artist Eida Al Menhali also sang a song entitled “The only health” to an enthralled live studio audience that had travelled from all seven emirates to witness Bin Basheer’s coronation.

“I participate in all of the events organised, supervised and produced by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center as the maintenance and revival of our rich Emirati culture and heritage is very important to me,” Menhali said.

“First and foremost, we must do the role that is expected of us to support our heritage, especially as these events attract media coverage in the UAE and GCC press.

“To play a part in the Fazza Youlah Championship and other such UAE heritage events are the most important assignments among all of the events in my annual calendar.”

Fayez Al Saeed, who helped compose Menhali’s contribution as the show’s ‘Ambassador of Songs’ and performed the self-penned ‘The Joy of Dubai’ himself, stated: “I’ve composed a lot of melodies over the last 12 years as the creator of the main song of the tournament and the songs that will be sung by the artists at the conclusion of the tournament.

“It has been an absolute privilege to contribute to the show and I wish happiness and joy to everyone that has contributed to its success.”

Hussein Al Jasmi, who performed ‘The Pride of the Arabs,’ admitted: “I’m really very happy and deeply proud to have participated in the closing ceremony of the Fazza Youlah Championship, which is as a confirmation of our pride in our heritage – a heritage that represents the image of the UAE, its culture and its history.

“This demonstration of our heritage is important in all of our lives, especially for our young people who deserve our encouragement as an integrated society that is supportive of all initiatives that benefit the country and its citizens.”

Souad Ibrahim Darwish, the Director of Championships at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC), added: “We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of the winners in this year’s edition of the tournament and we hope to see them participating again in the coming years alongside new faces to compete against each other in the revival of our heritage, which we all hold dear. I must take this opportunity to thank everyone that had an impact on the success of this tournament, especially the artists, the members of the jury and all of the journalists that have followed this programme from the first day and contributed to informing the show’s large audience on its issues.

“The successful staging of this tournament is the fruit of a collective effort and it’s the right of each one of us to be immensely proud of it.”