Dubai: Al Ahli Club has officially endorsed four of its members as candidates during the next phase of general elections to sports associations in the UAE.
Ahmad Al Kamali, Executive Council Member of The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), will contest for a second consecutive term as president of the UAE Athletics Association (UAE AA), while Amer Ali is pitching himself as the president of the UAE Volleyball Association (UAE VA) for the next four years.
Meanwhile, Nasser Abdul Razaq has shown his willingness to re-contest for the top post in the UAE Karate and Taekwondo Association and Esmail Al Gergawi is aiming to be president of the UAE Basketball Association for another term.
"These are all past presidents and their achievements and experience of heading their respective sports in the past years is a testimony that they are the best candidates to run the affairs of sport in the UAE," Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, Chairman of Al Ahli Club told media here late on Thursday.
"We are not trying to market them as their success in the past is proof of what they have achieved. We are here to stand behind them with all our support as we believe they can truly achieve a lot of things in their respective sports and this is what we have come here for today.
"Every candidate will speak about his programme and convey to the public on his objectives and goals in leading his respective association at a later date."
Four-year terms
The current boards of directors to the various sports associations in the UAE have all completed their four-year terms and, as per regulations, the General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare (GAYSW) has urged all bodies to elect new boards of directors within the next two months (April-May).
"There are other contenders from other clubs as well and the elections will be a fair game. So whoever thinks he can come and get elected to any of these posts is welcome to do so if he is of the belief that he can contribute to the sport in the UAE," Al Naboodah said.
Amer Ali, President of the UAE VA, said: "Our biggest achievement during this period was the establishment of the FiVB Beach Development Centre, the first of its kind in the world."
