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In a press conference following UAE clubs’ workshop The AFC delegation hails the progress in the UAE’s professionalism

 

The Professional League Committee held a joint meeting yesterday morning with the AFC delegation presided over by HE Saeed Abdul Ghaffar chairman of the Professional League Committee in the presence of HE Abdullah Naser Al Junaibi Deputy Chairman of the Professional League Committee, Chairman of the Technical Committee and the official spokesman, Dr. Khalid Mohammad Abdullah the Managing Director, Khalid Al Fahim and Mohammad Saeed Al Nuaimi members of the Committee Board of Directors. The meeting discussed the outcome of the inspection visits to the Committee and the professional clubs and the most important positive points and developments' observations which have been disclosed in the workshop held with the professional clubs, attended by the clubs' representatives and the Professional League Committee administration and followed by a press conference. The meeting was attended by Tokuaki Suzuki head of the AFC delegation and Competitions Director and members of the delegation. Suzuki hailed the efforts exerted by the Professional League Committee and the UAE professional clubs to get to the technical criterion required by the AFC. He assured that UAE has achieved big progress  in applying the criterion of professionalism which saw significant strides in various aspects including the increase in the classification of pitches - increase of stadiums for class "A" to 11 clubs although the required number in this criterion is only two clubs.

Suzuki pointed out saying that the UAE clubs must work hard and seriously to increase the number of spectators to come up to 5,000 spectators per match. He said, "The clubs must create a favourite environment for the families, in addition to the provision of associated events in order to attract more fans".

"The rate of attendance in UAE last season was 2600 spectators per match, and in this season the number has increased to 3200 spectators. We respect and appreciate this increase, but the rate in the AFC is 5000 spectators, therefore you have to work through various associated events with the games to reach this figure", said the head of the AFC delegation.

Suzuki praised the media care and attention given to the UAE Professional League, through increased coverage of news, as well as the television broadcast, which leads to improve the promotion of football in UAE. He added. He said," The UAE media has entered a new stage following the application of professionalism in the UAE League in season 2008 - 2009, in addition to the prominent coaches and professional players, which have great influence and importance in the interest of various media means."

The head of the AFC delegation congratulated the Professional League Committee on their new formation wishing them all the success in serving the UAE football and achieving the desired goals and different criteria of professionalism. He said," Our goal of these visits is not to dictate conditions, but we want to help all Asian Federations and clubs to reach the achieve required. goals and professionalism criteria".

Suzuki declared that the clubs are required to achieve financial income through the sale of tickets, selling some products of the club and not to rely solely on government support and revenue from the television broadcast.

He pointed out that there is a lot of work to be done by the clubs regarding the academies and age teams where there are distinguished technical staffs and that might lead to positive results in various age groups.