Call for increased professionalism in UAE football

Abu Dhabi: The Professional League Committee (PLC) started gearing up for the new 2013-14 season early with a seminar for the professional players and a workshop for the scheduling of the matches of the new season. Both events were organised in Abu Dhabi Rocco Forte Hotel on Saturday.

A large number of professionals from Abu Dhabi clubs — Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Wahda, Bani Yas and Al Dhafra — attended the seminar in which experts, including Kaita Sugihara, the Head of the AFC Development Programme, Brendan Schwab, from Fiofapro, Gerard Houllier, the former French coach of Liverpool and Aston Villa, and Mohammad Abutroika, the Egyptian player of Bani Yas, spoke on various subjects.

Colin Smith, the CEO of the PLC, said in his opening speech that it’s a two-way channel of communication between the local players and the experts to increase the players’ sense of professionalism.

“The players should involve himself in the football community and take his role as a professional very seriously, for the good of his club and his country,” Schwab told the seminar.

“Football is the biggest sport in the world and is followed closely by millions, so professional footballers have a responsibility to set a good example. A successful football career is not based purely on talent but on the quality of the players’ attitude.” Houllier added.

Abutroika had a word of advice for his fellow players. “Players must use their talent, good spirit, strong character and determination to succeed in the game,” he said

The seminar was followed by the scheduling workshop, headed by Abdul Nasir Al Junaibi, member of the PLC Technical Committee, and Mahdi Ali, head coach of the UAE national team, in addition to coaches, managers and representatives of the professional clubs.

The objective was to plan for the matches of the new season, bearing in mind the obligation of the national teams for the AFC Champions League, other regional and international competitions.

It was recommended that the Super Cup, the official curtain raiser, be held on August 30 and the league to commence on September 14-15. A change in the format of Etisalat Cup, to be held as a round robin competition from September 3 to May 23, was also mooted.