Soccerex official laments lukewarm response

With FIFA and some of the top clubs from all over the world throwing their weight behind the hosting of Soccerex for a second time in the UAE, organisers have been perplexed with the lukewarm response accorded to it by most of the clubs and sports organisations in the region.

Speaking to Gulf News, Duncan Revie, the chief executive officer of Soccerex admitted he is lost for words due to this 'surprising attitude' from the clubs and sports organisations, not only from the UAE, but the GCC region, in general.

"I'm amazed why clubs and bodies associated with the sport here do not feel the need to be a part of such an event," Revie wondered during his two-day visit to Dubai to formally announce the event on Tuesday.

Top, successful European clubs like Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid and Newcastle, among others, have confirmed that they will be setting up stalls during Soccerex 2003. FIFA chief Sepp Blatter and AFC president Mohammed bin Hammam are among the top keynote speakers at the conference.

However, so far, just two clubs in the UAE – Al Wahda from Abu Dhabi and Dubai Club (Al Awir), Dubai – have confirmed their support for Soccerex 2003, which is scheduled to be held at the Jumeirah International on November 29-30. Al Wahda and Dubai Club also participated in last year's Soccerex held in the middle of April.

The war in Iraq pushed the organisers to reschedule the dates of this exhibition cum conference to blend with the opening of the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.

"It will be the perfect time for some across the table business for all concerned with the event. The entire sporting world's attention will be on the UAE due to the FIFA Youth Championship.

"But I somehow get this feeling that clubs here and the people involved with these clubs are simply not enthusiastic about reaping the benefits that go with such an event," Revie observed.

Duncan Revie's father the late Don Revie was a coach with Al Nasr and then the UAE national team during the early 80s. Having grown in the region, the junior Revie has his heart set on the place.

"I would never think of hosting Soccerex anywhere else, despite the fact that neighbouring Qatar, Egypt, India and even Sweden have requested us to bring the show to these countries," Revie said.

"But, I know that Dubai is the perfect, perfect place to host an event like Soccerex," Revie insisted.

Given this backdrop, Revie finds clubs and authorities in Saudi Arabia and Libya keen to usher in these changes in the thinking related to soccer. "The response from Saudi Arabia and Libya has been good. In fact, Saedi Gaddafi from Libya will be one of the speakers during the two-day event. The Libyans are way ahead in their thinking," Revie opted.

Convincing the Middle East as a whole still remains a challenge and priority for Revie. "We need to focus on how to open up more in the Middle East. Soccerex is an opportunity served on a platter to people here and I am surprised they do not want to take it," Revie said.

"What I am trying to figure out is: what is it that successful clubs like Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid are going to get at Soccerex, that clubs in the UAE and Middle East already have got?" Revie wondered.