Mixed feelings on Maradona's appointment

Dubai: News of Diego Maradona's Al Wasl appointment has evoked mixed reactions in the UAE's football community.

Here are some of the reactions and opinion from coaches, players and officials within the league now to be graced by the presence of a living legend.

Carlo Nohra, UFL CEO, said of El Diego's signing: "It's a big draw for the league and has come as a very pleasant surprise. That a name this big can be associated with our league is huge, but equally important is that Al Wasl treads carefully. Along with a big personality, everything else conducive to bringing success to the pitch should also be attended to. I'm sure the club has already thought that through."

Al Ahli CEO, Ahmad Hammad, whose club was involved in the Fabio Cannavaro signing-hype last summer added: "This shows Al Ahli is leading the way with regards to bringing excellence to the UAE. Other clubs have followed us after Cannavaro. It's most important to keep the league under the international media's eyes and this appointment continues that."

Marketing tool

Asked if Cannavaro had been a success on the pitch as opposed an off-field marketing tool, Hammad said: "From our perspective he has succeeded on both levels and so will Maradona."

Srecko Katanec, head coach of the UAE national football team, said: "100 per cent Maradona will help with the marketing of the club and the league. As per whether it is good for the football we will wait and see. Young UAE national players need to play better and if this can help that, it is to be celebrated. My job depends on the work of club coaches and to see 12 managers changed in a season is crazy. It takes longer than two to three months to understand the mentality. It will be interesting to see what happens at Al Wasl."

Mutaz Abdullah, veteran keeper of Al Wahda, said: "This is a publicity thing. It's nothing special for Al Wasl other than marketing. Al Ahli signed Cannavaro and got nothing from it. His coaching at the World Cup with Argentina was nothing special."

John Burridge, keeper coach and TV pundit, disagreed: "He was the best coach at the World Cup. Okay, he's not the best tactician and he got stuffed by Germany but so did Capello.

"Maradona will be to Al Wasl what Dalglish is to Liverpool, Keegan was to Newcastle and Redknapp is to Spurs. The players will adore the ground he walks upon. They'll run from here to Saudi and back through hot sand. You won't need to understand the team talk with Diego in the dressing room. Heck, you won't need a team talk — his sheer presence is enough."

Khalid Esmail, who scored the UAE's first World Cup goal at Italia 1990, a tournament Maradona also excelled in, said: "No one can question Maradona's ability as a player, he was a star, that is beyond doubt. But as a coach he is inexperienced. This is a difficult league to succeed in. The mentality is unprofessional. He needs a very good assistant. For that reason, I'm not expecting too much."

FACTFILE