Italian duo, Iensa and Astengo snatch gold and win the inaugural DAFL Summer Padbol Cup.
Tuesday 2 nd August 2022 was a date to remember as DAFL (Dubai Amateur Football League) staged
their inaugural Summer Padbol tournament, won after a fun and action-packed evening, by the
Italian pairing of Michele Ienso and Fulvio Astengo. The event was staged in association with DAFL’s
official Padbol Partners, EPP (EmiratesPadPro Sports Academy), the company bringing the exciting
new sport of Padbol to the GCC region, and was staged at EPP’s sparkling new Padbol arena in Al
Quoz.
Brilliantly set up and handled by EPP, the event was played over the seven purpose-built courts and,
with prizes worth 2,200 UAE Dirhams each for the top two teams, proved to be fast, fun and, as the
games developed and the players adjusted to the rules and strategies of the new sport, increasingly
skillful and enjoyable to watch. Teams of two, with all players coming from the 9000 plus players
registered within the DAFL ranks, and coming from such diverse origins as England, Morocco, Egypt,
Algeria, Iran, Italy, East Africa and France, battled it out in two groups with the top two teams in the
groups facing off in the semi-finals.
The gripping semi’s saw the English pair of Parker and Misslehom lose out to the eventual winners
and the Egyptian brothers Ahmed and Yousef Hossam, working hard to overcome the athletic East
African pair of Eman and Junior. The final was a really close fought and entertaining battle with the
Hossam brothers constantly threatening to take the title but the Italians digging in and eventually
holding their nerve to win at the death.
DAFL’s Madyar Chizari, who played in the tournament, commented, ‘it is a fantastic sport; it is fun, it
keeps you fit and any footballer with a basic level of skill can play. Whether you just play socially with
friends or competitively like tonight, it is the perfect complimentary sport for all football players.
I really loved it’. Semi-finalist, Scott Misslehom, added, ‘Up to the end of the third game, I had already
burnt 1000 calories just having fun and doing what I love, kicking a ball. I go to the gym, work hard
for a tough hour and burn just 250 calories. As a league footballer, Padbol will keep me sharp, fit and
is great fun to play. I will be back for sure’.
Winners Iensa and Astango were delighted with their medals and cup and agreed that their first time
at Padbol won’t be their last. ‘We had a lot of fun. I really like this game!’ added a smiling Fulvio
Astango as he carried the inaugural DAFL PadBol Summer Cup home.