Abu Dhabi: Marwan Bin Galita, voted as the President of the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) for the next four years on Saturday, told Gulf News that he planned to make the federation the ‘best’ in Asian Football Confederation within his term.

Currently the head of Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), Bin Galita had presented a four-point agenda for a revamped administration of the UAEFA – one of the main points of which is allotment of 25% of the UAE FA’s revenue for the smaller football clubs of the UAE. There are 18 clubs in all from the first and second division football in the UAE.

The new President said he would throw his weight behind Mahdi Ali, the UAE coach, to prepare better in critical next stage of 2018 World Cup qualifiers. “All resources have to be allocated for qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and I absolutely support Mahdi Ali in his task to prepare better our national team for the World Cup,” Bin Galita said.

Bin Galita pledged to develop a strong administrative system of the association that prevents any errors and the development of a smart system to match the prevailing development in all areas, the rationalisation of expenditure in all areas, rationalisation of employment of executives, reducing the number of committees, relying on the professional work force, and seek to improve regulations to become commensurate with ambitions.

Bin Galita vowed to establish better communication system with all members of the general assembly, stressing that he did not see that effective communication for the last four years during his membership of the general assembly of the football association. He also pledged to provide financial support for clubs after procuring more resources through development projects and restructuring to create sustainable financial and administrative system.

Bin Galita said his referee development programme is meant for training, retaining and developing enthusiastic and committed Emirati referees with support and coaching in a constructive learning environment. “The fundamental goal is to enable Emirati referees to flourish in refereeing, get well-deserved payment and benefits and be accountable.

“Setting up a system for assessment of referees by a relevant committee and technical officials, and review the feasibility of an additional referee, so that our referees keep up to our expectation. “Like players who perform badly, referees will be rested if their peformances are below par,” Bin Galita said.

The new UAEFA supremo also vowed to work hard to increase the pool of football players to 10,000 as a goal to be achieved during his term, so that “we can create a broad and strong pool of football players with review of professionalism system in an effort to cut on its costs.”

Bin Galita also pledged to increase the number of Pro League teams to 16, with the possibility of increasing it further in the future, pointing out that it is necessary to expand the pool of the first amateur league, and increase the number of the teams to participate in the first league.

He suggested that one foreign import is enough in the First Division, with the use of three (resident) players born in the UAE, to reduce expenses.

He said youth empowerment is also crucial in his development plan, citing the example of Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, located on the opposite side of the UAE Football Association and made up of a group of young Emirati officials, to be a model that he would strive to follow in the coming days.