Sharif for review of junior scheme

Dubai: Former UAE national champion Esmail Sharif has called for an immediate review of the UAE Golf Association's (UGA) Junior Development Programme (JDP).

"It is really sad to see that none of our UAE golfers have managed to qualify for the Dubai Desert Classic," Sharif told Gulf News on the eve of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Saudi Arabian golfer Othman Al Mulla is the only player from the Gulf region who will be playing in this year's competition.

"We have a player from Saudi Arabia playing in our tournament. We even had players from Oman and Bahrain vying for qualifying, but we did not have anyone from the UAE," lamented the seven-time UAE national champion.

"I am disappointed with the UGA and the way they have gone about their task of seeking out genuine local talent. After more than 10 years of the existence of the UGA, we should have had at least 10 UAE players," Sharif said.

"Not having a UAE national in the tournament means we have gone wrong somewhere. The best thing we can do, though a bit late, is to sit down and discuss what needs to be done in the future."

Though part of the UAE squad that won the individual and team titles in the Arab Golf Championship in Syria in 2005, Sharif has taken a back seat of late. In January 2005, he turned into a professional to take over the UAE junior squad.

"I offered my services to the team, but they did not want it. My offer to the UGA is still open. We need to sit and talk and be more professional with the way we take the sport to a higher level, with the juniors in mind," Sharif said.

"A couple of years back, we had only the Dubai Desert Classic. Now there are three tournaments - Abu Dhabi and Qatar included. This would give our youngsters an opportunity to play in three of the best events."