UAE's a natural when you talk beach balls

That song could easily apply to the UAE as this week, Dubai hosts the Beach Soccer World Cup. If there was ever a place more suited to the event than the shores of Arabia then I challenge you to find it.

Young players in Dubai love to play in bare feet and obviously when kicking about with their mates have little choice but to do it on sand. I think this could have been to the UAE's advantage in the event. But despite hopes being high, the UAE are out of the tournament having lost to Portugal and Uruguay.

The event needed the UAE to reach the knockout phases to generate the same excitement as previous events in Brazil and France. But entry is free on Friday and it will still be worth a trip to Jumeirah Beach Park to catch a bit of the action.

Back to grassroots

The great Brian Clough did say football was meant to be played on grass so let's return to the green stuff for the rest of the column.

Youth is the way forward is the message as seven of the Under-20 World Cup team have been selected for the senior UAE squad. It is no surprise really as the UAE have consistently under-performed at the senior level but the junior squads have punched well above their weight in youth World Cups and even won the Asian Championship. The sooner the young hungry players get into the squad the more it will give football the shot in the arm it needs at international level.

Looking back at the World Cup qualifiers, if a tiny nation like Bahrain can go so close to the World Cup then there is no reason why the UAE can't repeat the success of their neighbours.

Spreading the word

Last weekend I was involved in a youth football tournament for mainly expat players that was hosted at Al Nasr Football Club. They have excellent facilities down there but I was amazed at the number of participants that didn't even realise there was a football stadium there. More people knew the nightclub nearby than the football club.

This does show that the UFL has a long way to go to promote the game to the expatriate community. Al Nasr have pushed ahead with this by opening up to the expats and hopefully they will reap the rewards.

Early running

There is a break in the league this weekend and it's a good time to give an early report on the teams. Top of the table is dominated by Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Most people expected Jazira and Al Ain to be there or thereabouts but Al Wahda have done well this season. The firepower of former Al Jazira striker Baiano has given them the extra impetus.

Sharjah and Bani Yas have both punched above their weight this season and currently lie fourth and fifth respectively. Al Shabab and Ajman have disappointed this season lying as the bottom two clubs.

Ajman have not gained a single point so far and look like being cast adrift at the bottom of the table even at this early stage. Al Ahli have been cursed with the same affliction as previous champions Al Shabab and Al Wasl. The hangover from title celebrations has proved too much and they sit in the lower reaches of the table.