Back of the net: Passion makes for a real people's game

Dubai: Dubai derby day has a nice ring to it and the atmosphere is enough to leave your ears ringing. The Al Wasl v Al Nasr game last week had an electric atmosphere.

These are two teams with very little to shout about in the last few years but the passion for the "across Shaikh Zayed Road" derby was intense and the crowd proved more entertaining than the football.

The fans when on song in this part of the world can rarely be beaten. The co-ordination and effort that goes into supporting the team requires military precision.

The UFL has a wide variety of supporters cheering for their teams in unique and interesting ways. This week I give you some of my favourites.

- The Al Ain fan who for the cup final sprayed a Range Rover Sport purple - instantly devaluing it by Dh100,000. Al Ain won but at what cost to good taste.

- The Bani Yas fans' club apron. The fans of Bani Yas are issued with what only can be described as a dinner lady's apron complete with huge club badge. It looks shocking but they don't get any food down their dishdashas.

- The Al Jazira band that includes a woodwind and percussion section.

- The Al Wasl cheerleader who saves his vocal chords by bringing an amp into the stadium.

- The Al Jazira synchronised clapping section - all in club shirts and with more rhythm than the entire Motown back catalogue.

- The Al Ain cheerleader who supported his team to the point of collapse versus Al Ahli. I think he lost half his body weight that night - he was actually sweating more than the players.

I love the kind of support that a football team gets here, it is like the sport used to be in England. The English Premier league is now a sterile experience. It's talked about as a product and that has taken away the game's soul.

The UFL is similar to South America (without the violence) with passionate fans and here it is still the people's game. I hope it never loses that charm.

Devoid of soul

This weekend the game that sticks out is Al Nasr v Al Ahli. This could see Al Ahli become yet another club to part company with their coach if they don't get a positive result tomorrow.

This weekend there's a very good chance Oliveira will score.

I am not sticking my neck out too much here. There are three Oliveiras playing in the league this year, one each at Al Jazira, Al Wasl and Sharjah.

They have all scored in the last two weeks so I have made as near to a dead cert of a prediction as possible.

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