First season of UFL goes to the wire

The UFL will be decided on the last day of the season. Al Ahli and Al Ain both can still win the league so concentrate as I give you the scenarios: Al Ahli win against Al Shabab, they win the league n Al Jazira win against Ajman and Al Ahli draw or lose, Al Jazira are champions n Al Jazira draw and Al Ahli lose.

There will be a play-off match between the two clubs. The other end of the table will see either Al Shaab or Sharjah go down. Shaab trail by three points so they have to rely on Sharjah losing to have any chance.

If they finish level on points it goes to a play-off. The final twist on an exciting last day will be in the race for the fourth and final AFC Champions League spot which is between Al Wahda and former champions Al Shabab.

The nothing-to-play-for action, or lack of it, is where I took myself last week to watch Al Wasl v Al Ain.

The games had all the atmosphere of a match on the moon. I went with a friend of mine Tommy Wingrove, who is a Spurs fan or, as they are more commonly known, a long-suffering Spurs fan.

I only tell you this to illustrate that he has had to watch his own fair share of shocking football this season but nothing compared to this. End-of-season, nothing-to-play-for games in front of around 1,000 people are something to be avoided unless you want a nice quiet seat with lots of space around it to read a good book.

The league next season will start broadcasting a game per week in English which is a big step in taking the game to the expat market.

It doesn't matter how much you say you don't like commentators, they add vital colour to the game. This move will no doubt help people get to know players and develop affinity to the various clubs. Al Jazira have led the way showing that stability is key to progress.

Coach Braga has signed a new two-year deal. This is despite the club not being guaranteed any silverware this season. I am sure this will enable them to develop and should be an example to the other clubs that are all too quick to sack coaches.

A player who has played in the English Premier League this season will be in the UFL next season. Villaneuva, a Chilean and soon to be former Blackburn Rovers player, will be joining Al Shabab. Swapping the rain of Lancashire for the sun of Dubai is not too bad an option at all.

Finally, I delayed writing this column to hopefully include a big chunk on Al Shabab qualifying for the group stages of the AFC Champions League.

They didn't and it finishes a dismal campaign for all UAE clubs which saw only two victories from four clubs and Sharjah not even completing their games.

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