Sparky’s Column

Countdown to the new season

The best thing about watching football on television is the montage. The part at the end of the show that is set to dramatic music, featuring players slide tackling in super slow motion, managers gesticulating, celebrations and inevitably a child with his face painted. The Pro-League's new season's draw last week took the humble montage to a new level. The music was a full orchestral, tons of net busting goals and managers in various states of excitement or anguish. The buzz is building for the new season and the month we have had without football seems like a long time.

We can all look forward to the first day of the season. It is a very special day in every fan's calendar. The excitement of football for the first time in months is coupled with it being the only time that everyone is happy. Let me explain... at this, and only this moment, this season will be better than the last, every signing will be a superstar and this will be your year. The realisation that you are wrong is usually just 90 minutes away but the pre-match feeling at the start of the season is a moment to cherish.

I sat in the Official Draw for new season last week and something unusual caught my overly observant eye. This maybe the stat of all stats - no league in the world can claim to be whiter than white except maybe the Pro-League. This is because half the teams will be wearing a white strip. Emirates, Al Ain, Al Jazira, Sharjah and Baniyas will be getting plenty of wear out of their away kits. The rest of the League will have no need of a second kit as there are no colour clashes amongst the remaining sides in the top division. If there is a Hall of Fame for statistics, then I deserve a place at the top table for that one alone.

The worst kept secret in football was finally confirmed last week with the announcement of Fabio Cannavaro's retirement. The second year of his playing contract becomes that of a technical advisor and ambassador for the Club. In reality he may have more to offer off the pitch than on it due to his persistent knee injury. He has won four league titles in a row in two countries as well as the World Cup. That level of expertise and experience needs to be put to good use by Al Ahli from the youngest players in the Club right through to the senior squad.

There's plenty to look forward to in the coming season. I am watching the clock in the countdown to kick off. I have worked out that we have 67 days until the start of the season, that is 1608 hours or as I like to time things, 134 episodes of CSI Miami to watch on Fox before we can finally turn over to some live football.