Contenders to the throne

"There's no other league like it." Now, now, now, don't laugh. We know it's hardly Spain, Italy or England. But what Romy Gai the CEO of the UAE football league (UFL) meant was that his task of upgrading an amateur setup to the rank of a professional one in just one season was unprecedented. And we agree, seldom has a football league suddenly materialised from thin air to turn around Dh110 million net revenue within just one season of turning pro.

No choice but to go pro

There are growing pains. The UAE national team has just blamed their failure to qualify for the World Cup on fast food consumption. But all in all, after the Asian Football Confederation's ultimatum to "professionalise by 2009 or lose Asian Champions League (ACL) allocations", the UAE has become one of only ten nations to make the grade out of 42. Consequently, the UFL is now the fifth best league in Asia, having previously lingered at the 11th spot. The goal now is to be among Asia's top three by 2014.

The waiting game

Five years worth of TV rights and league sponsorship have been sold for a total of Dh550 million, and match days are now organised by the same people who deal with the UEFA Champions League. That's a sure sign of intent, but the effects of cash splashing may take a while to trickle down to the quality of play. Indeed, all the effort to professionalise in time to stay in the ACL was in vain last season, as Sharjah pulled out to focus on league survival and Al Ahli, Jazira and Shabab all failed to progress from their group.

Staying on target

In the second instalment of the UFL since turning pro, English language fans are the target. Bums on seats in this wider market, justifies sponsorship, boosts TV ratings and ticket sales, further fuelling interest in the local game. It's not time to bin your Barca shirt for a Bani Yas one yet, but it's a start.

Al Ahli Football Club (1970)

One to watch: Striker Ahmad Khalil, Asia's best upcoming player, has won a trial at Chelsea and has had interest from Portsmouth. Could he become the first Emirati to play in Europe and ditch UFL champions Al Ahli?

Rivalry: They wouldn't want Jazira to be hot on their heels.

EPL equivalent: Chelsea. Made it big by spending the money.
While at Dinamo Bucharest in 1988, Ahli coach Iaon Andone got a year's suspension for dropping his pants in front of rival Steau's chairman Valentine Ceausescu, son of Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu.

Al Ain Football CLub (1968)

One to watch: Bigger names may come in but the fact that Chilean playmaker Jorge Valdivia, nicknamed 'The Magician', has vowed to stay, is a major boost. He played an integral part in their cup double last year.

Rivalry: Will need to stop Ahli and Jazira from running away.

EPL equivalent: Man United. In need of a new trophy cabinet.

While coach of Cameroon at the African Nations 2002, Al Ain boss Winfried Schafer fought with riot police while trying to protect his keeper coach, who was arrested for putting a voodoo charm on the pitch.

Ajman Football Club (1974)

One to watch: Moroccan left winger Tarik Sektioui brings his experience from European big guns Porto. His career has spanned France, Switzerland, Portugal and Holland. This one-year deal nets him Dh6 million.

Rivalry: Released by Al Nasr, Moh'd Omar will want revenge.

EPL equivalent: Hull City. They've risen and held their own.

The only thing Ajman boss Ze Mario hasn't done in his 30-year coaching career is stay at a club longer than three seasons. He's crammed in 21 clubs and three national teams across six countries.

Bani Yas Football Club (1978)

One to watch: Fawzi Bashir's international experience in midfield with Gulf Cup winners Oman will complement former UAE defender Ali Massari well. The pair should create a strong backbone to the team.

Rivalry: Emirates, Dhafra and all other relegation contenders.
EPL equivalent: Wolves. Can't quite maintain top flight status.
Their nickname should be The Royals because Bani Yas was the name of a leading UAE tribe who built a coalition with other respected UAE clans from which the Al Nayhan and Al Maktoum families descend.

Dhafra Football Club (2000)

One to watch: The Ivory Coast-born Abdoulaye Cissé qualified to play for Burkino Faso, spent six years at Montpellier before moving to Qatar, then Saudi. He joins Dhafra from Qatari club Al Sailiya and could be a useful addition.

Rivalry: Has beef with fellow Abu Dhabi strugglers Bani Yas.

EPL equivalent: Sunderland. Back after a second tier spell.

Dhafra were the only team to put their faith in an Emirati coach last season when Eid Baroot was left to steer the club through a relegation dogfight following the resignation of Syrian Mohammad Kwid.

Emirates Football Club (1969)

One to watch: Maziar Zare, an Iranian midfielder, is highly sought-after. His nickname 'The New Ghayeghran' derives from similarities in his style to the late, great Sirous Ghayeghran, a legendary football figure in Iran.

Rivalry: Vital they get ground over Dhafra and Bani Yas.

EPL equivalent: West Ham. Can't keep a good man down.

Ex-Emirates wingback Hossein Kaebi was one of four Iranian players apparently given life bans by Iran's national team for wearing green armbands during a match in protest to Iran's disputed presidential election.

Al Jazira Football Club

One to watch: The signing of former AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliviera from Spain's Real Betis for Dh72.5 million breaks the UFL transfer record and improves Jazira's chances of lifting a title on their third time round.

Rivalry: Has major beef with Abu Dhabi island rival Al Wahda.
EPL equivalent: Liverpool. Always end up empty-handed.

Last season's league top scorer Fernando Baiano told Jazira he wanted more than double his Dh10.3 million salary to stay. When they declined he sneaked off to city-rivals Al Wahda and joined for much less.

Al Nasr Football Club

One to watch: Ecuadorian attacker Carlos Tenorio, who once bagged ten goals in a Qatar Cup match and two at World Cup 2006, heads to Al Nasr with the intention of ending their 28-year championship winning drought.

Rivalry: The Zabeel derby with Al Wasl can get overheated.

EPL equivalent: Everton. A middle of the road type team.

Mohammad Omar, last season's highest Emirati goalscorer (13) was released to Ajman on a free transfer after badmouthing his Al Nasr team in a TV interview. The club said he had crossed the line.

Al Shabab Al Arabi Football Club (1958)

One to watch: Carlos Villanueva, Chile's 2007 Footballer of the Year, finally has the chance to shine after a duff loan move to Blackburn Rovers from Audax Italiano saw him confined to reserve and cup matches.

Rivalry: Al Nasr should expect hostility for stealing their keeper.

EPL equivalent: Blackburn. Have fluke winning seasons.

Goalkeeper Ismail Rabea's Dh15 million move to Al Nasr has prompted members of Shabab's interim board to consider resignation after fans got irrate about the decision to sell such a prized asset.

Al Sharjah Football Club (1966)

One to watch: Fined Dh1.51 million for pulling out of last season's ACL and barred from the next competition. Sharjah also have to compensate any loss of income to the opponents they failed to show up against. So don't expect any hot transfers.

Rivalry: Refusal to play in the 2008 ACL led to many enemies.

EPL equivalent: Tottenham. Need to rediscover glory days.

Former Sharjah team members Fayez Juma and Mohammad Najeeb, along with Fayez's brother Mousa, face death by firing squad for the murder of a man who gave them a 'strange look'.

Al Wadha Football Club (1974)

One to watch: Brazilian striker, Fernando Baiano, last year's UFL top scorer with 25 goals, joins from Al Jazira, bringing with him a wealth of experience from the Brazilian, German and Spanish leagues to strengthen Wahda.

Rivalry: Trying to crawl from under Al Jazira's shadow.

EPL equivalent: Arsenal. A while since they've done anything.

Wahda's Ismail Matar, 26, who won man of the tournament at the 2003 World Youth Championships, upstaging the likes of Tevez and Iniesta, now admits he may never get to fulfill his dream of playing in Europe.

Al Wasl Football Club (1974)

One to watch: Panama winger Blas Perez aka 'Super Raton' joins after great form at the 2009 Concacaf Gold Cup. Panama took eventual finalists USA to extra time in the quarters, losing narrowly 2-1.

Rivalry: Zabeel ain't big enough for both Al Nasr and Al Wasl.

Blas Perez may have joined because of the low crime rate in the UAE. Days before signing, his Nissan 350z was run off the road and heavily damaged by bandits in Panama and he just managed to escape.