Local fan club in hunt to win Manchester United competition

AMMAN — Jordanian Manchester United fan Ahmad Athamneh has one dream — to meet a player from his favorite team. 

Next Sunday might be a day to remember for Athamnah, because an international event organised by Manchester United’s fan club in Jordan might lead to his dream coming true. 

The local fan club will organise an event that includes screening a match at a local cinema in Amman on Sunday for the Premier League’s next match between Manchester United and Liverpool. 

The event is part of an international competition organised by the English football club itself, and the club winner will have the opportunity to host a number of the team’s players in their country. 

Amer Abu Arkoub, the club’s chairman, said the competition included sharing posts on social media under the hashtag #iloveunited_jo. The participants also have to mention the team’s official accounts on Instagram or Twitter.

“This is an annual competition Manchester United holds. We were chosen as one of the top five supporter clubs and are now competing to win this precious opportunity,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone on Wednesday. 

He said that each fan club has to submit a proposal to the team so that they can be chosen to take part in the competition. 

“Now we are second in the competition and the final results will be unveiled at the end of this season next May,” he added. 

Established eight years ago, the fan club has around 116 official members from all over the Kingdom, Abu Arkoub said, adding that the number of members is different every year based on membership extensions. 

The club usually holds screenings for local fans in Jordan and the proceeds go to charities and institutions. 

Emad Arabasi, another fan and the club’s vice chairman, said that public screenings add more excitement to the matches. 

“Watching a football match in a cafe or home is not enough. You need to be enrolled in other activities during the match to feel a different atmosphere,” he told The Jordan Times. 

Abu Arkoub called on fans all over Jordan to keep posting on social media so that they could win the competition.  

“Our dream is to raise the Jordanian flag inside Old Trafford. If we win, it will be a victory not only for us, but for Jordan,” he added.